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Reflect
Every day, every hour, we face the temptation either to put our faith in God or to establish other gods that we feel might be better suited to ground our trust in. This temptation is often stoked by our doubt and insecurity in the unseen, and fueled by the pressures of the trials and circumstances that we often encounter. Worse yet, the temptation to over rely on our own strength and ability can lead us astray, and leave us at odds with God’s will and plans for our lives.
The Babylonians are an example of what can happen when our faith and trust is placed anywhere but with God. In the text, we find Isaiah prophesying to the Babylonian Empire. While they may have won the battle and carried the Israelites off into exile, their faith and reliance on gods other than “the Holy One of Israel” (v 4) lead them to mistakenly assume that their victory was of their own accord. Their pride and arrogance have brought upon them God’s righteous judgment and wrath (vv 8-11).
Similarly, when we rely too heavily on anything other than God, we run the risk of finding ourselves in a similarly destructive place. Our own pride and arrogance have the potential to lead us down the path to destruction as well. However, the good news here is that though God may leave us to our own devices, he remains sovereign and he never forgets us or the designs he has for our lives. The prophet Isaiah demonstrates this in his rebuke of the Babylonians noting that not they, but God, was in control the whole time (v.5-7).
Respond
Heavenly Father, Forgive me today for relying on anything or anyone but you. Though I mistakenly sometimes let the distractions of life lead me astray, I pray that in your sovereignty you would continue to guide my steps and superintend my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Arthur Satterwhite III
Arthur L. Satterwhite III serves as the National Movements Ministry Mobilizer at American Bible Society where he currently oversees the organization’s work with Protestant denominations, para-Church ministries, and Christian events and conferences. In this role, Arthur leads ABS’ efforts to serve, equip and collaborate with Christian leaders in order to positively shift individuals’ perception of the Bible and drive their constituencies toward active Bible engagement.