Where is Your Faith Placed?

Lately, I've been going through Isaiah and one big question that God always seems to point at the Israelites is "where is your faith being placed?" Is it with the Great Shepherd, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords? Or is it with earthly things? Is it with people, security, confidence, or even acceptance?

As you read through Isaiah, you'll see where the Israelites placed their faith. It is anywhere but in the Lord. Here are some examples:

"The Lord stripped away the defenses of Judah,

and you looked in that day

to the weapons in the Palace of the Forest.

You saw that the walls of the City of David

were broken through in many places;

you stored up water

in the Lower Pool.

You counted the buildings in Jerusalem

and tore down houses to strengthen the wall.

You built a reservoir between the two walls

for the water of the Old Pool,

but you did not look to the One who made it,

or have regard for the One who planned it long ago."

- Isaiah 22:8-11

Where is the faith of the Israelites placed? As we read through the list of preparations made by Judah⁠—the storing of water, the reinforcement of the walls, and their arming themselves of weapons⁠—what do they forget to do? As it says in the final lines: "but you did not look to the One who made it, or have regard for the One who planned it long ago." They had done seemingly everything they needed to do to protect themselves, but they forgot one thing. They forgot to look to the Lord.

Another example shows up in Isaiah 31:

"Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,

who rely on horses,

who trust in the multitude of their chariots

and in the great strength of their horsemen,

but do not look to the Holy One of Israel,

or seek help from the Lord.

Yet he too is wise and can bring disaster;

he does not take back his words.

He will rise up against that wicked nation,

against those who help evildoers.

But the Egyptians are mere mortals and not God;

their horses are flesh and not spirit.

When the Lord stretches out his hand,

those who help will stumble,

those who are helped will fall;

all will perish together."

- Isaiah 31:1

Again, Judah attempts to prepare and protect themselves by allying with Egypt. They "do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the Lord." And what does God say to those people? "Woe to them." Why? Because their faith rests on mere mortals rather than in God. In their flesh rather than in the Spirit. They've prepared in a way that seems reasonable. But they've forgotten the most important thing; they've forgotten to consult the Lord.

As we read through the tragic stories and shortcomings of Judah, let us not think highly of ourselves. For we are often in those situations ourselves, where we will do all sorts of preparations and receive all sorts of advice and think we've gotten it down to a science. But we've forgotten something; we've forgotten to consult the Lord. So the next time you are faced with a major decision—or maybe even a minor one—ask yourself: Where does my faith lie? What am I making this decision on the basis of? Is it the Lord? Or is it something else?