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Topic: Help From Above
[DCLM Daily Manna 21 September 2019 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]
Text: Isaiah 18:1-4 (KJV)
1 Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia:
2 That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled!
3 All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye.
4 For so the LORD said unto me, I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.
Key Verse: “For so the LORD said unto me, I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest” (Isaiah 18:4).
MESSAGE:
Our text reveals God’s displeasure towards Ethiopia’s request from Judah. Ethiopia, which Isaiah described as a major world power at that time, ruled Egypt and was a major rival to Assyria. Through its ambassadors, who sought for an alliance with Judah, Ethiopia demanded that Judah should send swift messengers to align itself with it against Assyria. But God rejected such alliance, informing that as Judah’s Lord, He was more than able to deal with the Assyrians Himself. He wanted Judah to trust Him.
God noted that He could destroy the Assyrian army completely to the extent that they would be left as prey for the mountain birds. As God felt that Ethiopia’s request was unnecessary, Isaiah the prophet also announced that a day would come when the Ethiopians would come to worship the Lord and bring gifts to Him. So, instead of Israelite’s messengers bringing news to Ethiopia for an alliance against Assyria, the Ethiopians would, one day, come and worship God at Mount Zion.
There are so-called Christians who seek help where there is no help. Idol worshippers and occultists, who actually need help, have now become consultants to some believers. What a pity! Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego never sought for Nebuchadnezzar’s help at the moment of their trial. Jesus never implored for Pilate’s assistance at the “downturn” of His life. Paul the apostle never beseeched King Agrippa for help when the Jewish leaders moved against him.
Who do you take after? Are you abandoning God and seeking help from those you are indeed supposed to help? Are you not supposed to stand for God, no matter whose ox is gored, so that unbelievers will turn away from their sin and come to Christ? If you are truly a Christian, be a model in this evil and adulterous generation.
Thought For The Day: There is no limit to God’s ability to save to the uttermost.
The Bible In One Year: Proverbs 15–17
