TEXTS AND APPLICATION: Have you ever stopped to consider how much we do in our own strength and according to our own plans? Far too often, we act first, and expect God to bless our work.
In today’s reading is a reminder of the Hebrews fortifying their city walls and building a needed reservoir in the face of an attacking enemy. Neither act was in itself wrong, but the prophet Isaiah points out the problem:
Isa. 22:10-11 You counted the houses of Jerusalem so that you could tear them down to fortify the wall. You made a reservoir between the walls for the waters of the ancient pool, but you did not look to the One who made it, or consider the One who created it long ago.
It’s the last phrase that most arrests me: the people took steps to defend themselves, but they did not look to the God who created the waters, the pool, etc. They made their own plans. They depended on their weaponry and their ingenuity rather than God. In fact, they even celebrated when they should have been mourning (Isa. 22:12-14). How far off must we be when we live only for ourselves and only for the moment?
My fear is that most of us act this way sometimes. We put forth our maximum effort to accomplish something, but we leave God out of the conversation. Only when/if we fail do we then turn back to Him. That’s not very smart.
PRAYER: Pray that you and I would not approach a single problem today without first seeking God. Ask Him to bring to mind this commitment whatever we face today.
TOMORROW’S READING: Isaiah 23-27
