LEANING UPON HUMAN ARM Because leaning on human arm is a serious issue that can destroy faith in human life along the ages, there is no wonder that the prophet Isaiah has dealt with it several times from different angles. Here he stresses the danger of descending to Egypt, to seek the protection of Pharaoh, instead of lifting the heart to the Holy God, as the true Stronghold, and Helper of His people. 1. Resorting to Pharaoh 1-3. 2. God, Protector of His children 4-5. 3. An invitation to return to God 6- 9. 1. RESORTING TO PHARAOH Isaiah presents to us a remarkable spiritual thought. The issue of resorting to Pharaoh, is not just a political military plan, but is a theological issue that touches man’s life and his eternal destiny. Who leans on humans, whatever their numbers, possibilities or great strength (Is. 31: 1) attaches himself to mortals, to become like them a mortal; while he, who attaches himself to the Savior, the Holy One of Israel, the unchangeable and the eternal, will have with Him eternity. Our relying on humans will unite us with them to perish, while relying on God unites us with Him to share His eternal glories. That is what he meant when He warned them, saying, “But the Egyptians are men and not God; their horses are flesh and not spirit. When the Lord stretches out His hand, both he who helps will fall, and he who is helped will fall down; they all will perish together” (Is. 31: 3) Let us then lean on the eternal Creator, not on the weak helpless creation, incapable of helping even itself. “Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.” (Psalm 146: 3) Through a kind of weakness of the human soul, when man falls into affliction, he gets despaired as far as God is concerned, and chooses to lean on human arm. If somebody falling in affliction is told: ‘There is someone who can set you free,’ he would instantly smile, rejoice, and his morals will get lifted up. But, if he is told, ‘God will set you free,’ he would fall in a state of despair! You would rejoice when you receive help from a mortal, so how would you become sad when you get it from the Creator? When you get a promise to be set free by someone, who himself is in need to be set free, together with you, your morals get lifted up, as though you have got a great help. Now, you are getting a promise from God who sets people free, and is not in need of anyone to set Him free. Despite that, you despair, as though you are getting nothing. Woe to them, who harbor such thought, they are misled; they are filled with inside dreadful bitter death. “His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; in that very day his plans perish.” (Psalm 146: 4) “I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a native green tree. Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more. Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.” (Psalm 37: 35, 36) All those are expected to die, to vanish fast. So, what should we otherwise do instead of asking the help of humans or rulers? “Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help” (Psalm 146: 5); not this or that man; nor this or that angel. Jacob had a great helper, God, who made Israel out of him. He is now Israel (the beholder of God)! You too, if you remain here too and do not deviate from beholding God, if you get God as your helper, you will turn from Jacob to Israel, to behold God; then all your troubles, confusions, and sighs will come to an end, leaving their places to joyful praises. Let your hope be in the Lord your God. Let your hope be in Him1.S t. Augustine 2. GOD, PROTECTOR OF HIS CHILDREN If the devil likens a “roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5: 8), “the Holy One of Israel” is “the Lion of the tribe of Judah,” (Revelation 5: 5) who does not devour but protects. He grants the soul His royal features, to make out of His believers “kings and priests” (Revelation 1: 6), granting them His eternity and fellowship of His glories. God is trustworthy, capable of protecting and also caring for us; that is why He likens Himself to the lion, the undefeatable king of beasts; and, at the same time, to a bird hovering over its young (Is. 31: 5). Our Christ cares for us on His cross, like “a lion that lies down; and as a lion, which shall rouse him” (Genesis 49: 9), and the enemy can neither approach him2 nor us. 3. AN INVITATION TO RETURN TO GOD The prophet reveals the goal of God’s work. God destroyed Assyria by a supernatural way, not to show off His divine might, but in order to draw the souls of those who deny Him, saying, “Return to Him, you have so greatly revolted against, O Israelite... Assyria shall fall by a sword, not of man; and a sword not of mankind shall devour him.” (Is. 31: 6, 8) Is that not a portrait of God’s salvation, that took place on the cross, where the devil has fallen, not by human thought, nor by a material sword, but through delivering His life as a trespass sacrifice for us, and a burnt offering of love for our credit. Thus the enemy got devastated beneath our feet, and we returned to God with new depths, not experienced by men of the Old Testament. 1 On Ps. 146.
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