What other scriptures warn against trusting in human alliances over God? Setting the Scene: Lamentations 5:6 “We submitted to Egypt and Assyria to get enough bread.” The survivors of Jerusalem looked to the very empires that had enslaved and ravaged them, trading dependence on the LORD for the illusion of human security. Prophetic Warnings Against Political Deals • Isaiah 30:1-3 – “Woe to the obstinate children,” declares the LORD, “who carry out a plan that is not Mine… They set out to go down to Egypt without consulting Me… Pharaoh’s protection will become your shame.” • Isaiah 31:1-3 – “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help… but do not look to the Holy One of Israel… The Egyptians are men, not God; their horses are flesh, not spirit.” • Jeremiah 2:18; 36-37 – “What do you gain by going to Egypt to drink the waters of the Nile?… You will be put to shame by Egypt as you were by Assyria… the LORD has rejected those you trust.” • Hosea 7:11 – “Ephraim has become like a silly dove, without sense; they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria.” • Hosea 8:9 – “For they have gone up to Assyria, like a wild donkey wandering alone; Ephraim has hired lovers.” • Ezekiel 29:6-7 – “All the inhabitants of Egypt will know that I am the LORD, because you have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel… when they leaned on you, you broke and tore their shoulders.” Historical Lessons from Israel’s Kings • 2 Chronicles 16:7-9 – Hanani tells King Asa, “Because you relied on the king of Aram and did not rely 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 over all the earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him.” • 2 Kings 18–19 (contrast) – Hezekiah refuses alliance money, trusts the LORD, and is miraculously delivered from Assyria, illustrating the opposite response to Asa’s. • Deuteronomy 17:16 – Future kings are warned not to “multiply horses for himself or send the people back to Egypt to multiply horses,” underscoring that military build-up and Egyptian partnerships reveal misplaced trust. Wisdom Literature’s Timeless Reminder • Psalm 118:8-9 – “It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.” • Psalm 146:3 – “Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal man, who cannot save.” • Proverbs 3:5-7 – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding… Be not wise in your own eyes.” • Proverbs 21:31 – “The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is of the LORD.” Take-Home Themes • Human alliances may look practical, but God calls that approach rebellion when it sidelines Him. • Throughout Scripture, Egypt becomes shorthand for any self-made safety net. • God offers stronger security than any treaty; His “eyes roam to and fro” seeking hearts fully His. • The pattern is consistent: when God’s people rely on human strength, they lose; when they rely on Him, He acts powerfully on their behalf. |
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