What other scriptures warn against misplaced trust in human strength or alliances? Setting the Scene: Egypt’s Broken Reed (Ezekiel 29:6) “Then all who dwell in Egypt will know that I am the LORD. For to the house of Israel you have been a staff made of reed; when they grasped you with the hand, you splintered and tore open their shoulders. When they leaned on you, you broke and made their backs to give way.” God exposes Egypt as a flimsy crutch. The moment His people leaned on that empire, it failed and injured them. Scripture repeats this warning in many voices and settings. Echoes in the Prophets • Jeremiah 17:5 – “Thus says the LORD: ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD.’” • Isaiah 30:1-3 – “Woe to the obstinate children… who set out to go down to Egypt without asking My advice… Pharaoh’s protection will become your shame.” • Isaiah 31:1-3 – “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses… The Egyptians are mere men and not God; their horses are flesh and not spirit.” • Hosea 5:13 – “When Ephraim saw his sickness… he went to Assyria, yet he could not heal you.” • Hosea 7:11 – “Ephraim is like a dove, easily deceived… they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.” These passages underline one truth: every foreign alliance that sidelines the Lord eventually collapses. Wisdom Literature Speaks • Psalm 20:7 – “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” • Psalm 118:8-9 – “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man… than to trust in princes.” • Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” The wisdom books shift the warning from nations to individuals: self-reliance is just as hollow as political alliances. Historical Snapshots • 2 Chronicles 16:7-9 – King Asa hired Syria instead of seeking God; the prophet Hanani declared, “Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand… the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro throughout the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is fully devoted to Him.” • 2 Chronicles 32:7-8 – Hezekiah encouraged Jerusalem against Assyria: “With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.” The city stood because it leaned on God, not on external aid. These accounts move the theme from prediction to experience: history proves the prophets right. Broader Reminders • Micah 5:10 – “In that day… I will remove your horses… and destroy your chariots.” God pries away every potential idol so His people rely on Him alone. • Zechariah 4:6 – “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts.” The post-exilic community could rebuild only through divine enablement. Threads That Tie the Verses Together 1. The object of trust matters more than the size of the problem. 2. “Flesh” (human strength, political leverage, wealth, technology) will always splinter under eternal pressure. 3. God often allows the collapse of false supports to redirect hearts to Himself. Living the Lesson • Identify any modern “Egypt” we instinctively run to—connections, savings, reputation. • Choose to treat God’s promises as concrete reality, not religious décor. • Rest in His proven track record; every verse above is a receipt of past faithfulness. All of Scripture sings the same chorus: people, horses, and nations crumble; the Lord alone stands firm. |
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