Crosswinds Family and Friends,
It is so good to continue to see people out and about. Physical distancing is not really social distancing. We can be in growing relationships without standing right next to each other. However, I for one, am ready for unrestrictive gatherings. Everything in its time.
I have begun to look over the past few months and make some personal evaluations. I have allowed God’s Word to search me. One passage that I came across has been particularly helpful in this process, Isaiah 30:1-18. This passage warns the people of Judah not to seek deliverance from Egypt. Some context. The Assyrian army was attacking Israel and Judah. The northern kingdom of Israel would be conquered by Assyria and taken into exile. The Assyrians would then come against the southern kingdom of Judah. Because of this threat, the leaders of Judah looked to Egypt for protection against the Assyrian invasion. God warns them not to seek help from Egypt.
What’s the big deal for Israel seeking help from Egypt? After all, they need help. It's a good thing for one to understand their need for help. It's even good to be willing to look outside one's self for help. The problem is that Judah's need led them to look to Egypt, instead of the Lord. The people of Judah were seeking counsel and making plans without seeking God's wisdom and direction.
Not only were they not seeking the Lord, but they were also seeking help from a people who had historically held God's people in slavery. It makes no sense to seek help from Egypt, a known killer, for help against Assyria, a potential killer. Rejecting God has dire consequences. Placing our trust in something or someone other than God leads to disappointment and harm. This does not mean that God does not use things and people to fulfill His purpose and bring help. He used Moses to lead His people out of Egypt many years before this event in Judah’s history. But, we are to put our trust in the Lord and follow His lead first and foremost.
We discover in Isaiah 30:18: “
Therefore, the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore He exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him.” Catch this. Judah is in a difficult situation, and we discover the Lord is waiting to do things in their lives. He desires to exalt Himself by showing mercy to them. Mercy exalts the one who gives it. God is just and blesses those who wait on Him.
When we do not wait for God, He chooses to wait for us to come to our senses. We know that ultimately He will conquer the world to bless His people as Christ overcame death to bring us eternal life. The key for me is to come to my senses and place my trust in the Lord first and foremost, believing He is good and working for my good.
As I have been evaluating how I have reacted to this pandemic, I have asked: "Have I sought help from an 'Egypt' in my life? Have I sought elsewhere for what God alone can provide? Have I trusted God first and foremost in all things?” My answers are for me to know. But, I will say I have decided to make sure I am not looking from help elsewhere, causing God to choose to wait on me to come to Him. I will trustingly wait on Him, believing He is good and working for good. I choose to humble myself before God, who desires to shower me with His love and mercy.
Let me encourage you to take some time to look back over the past few months and allow God’s Word to search your heart. Please, don’t cause God to choose to wait for you to come to your senses. Trust Him first and foremost. Allow Him to bless you to bring glory to Himself as well as use you to be a blessing to others.
I love you and continue to keep you in my prayers.
Believing with you,
Craig Cooper
Lead Pastor
