13/12/2021 - FORTIFY YOURSELF WITH PHARAOH’S STRENGTH?

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Who walk to go down to Egypt, and have not asked My advice, to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! Isaiah 30.2

God speaks of the Israelites’ mistake in exchanging God’s fortification for that of Egypt. As a result, they became weak before the Chaldeans: So, shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west and His glory from the rising of the sun; when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. (Isaiah 59.19). To forsake the Almighty or to forget Him, is to err irremediably.

If they had made the decision to strengthen themselves in the Most High (Ephesians 6.10), they would see the same God fighting on their behalf. Jesus Christ taught us the secret of victory: If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you[b] will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you (John 15.7). Whoever strives to fulfill the biblical conditions becomes an overcomer.

The Israelites might have remembered King Hezekiah when he was attacked by Sennacherib, the Assyrian king who besieged Jerusalem with the best of his army, demanding his surrender. However, Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah prayed and the Lord sent an angel who destroyed the valiant and important officials of the adversary (2 Kings 19.35-37). God repeats the signs whenever necessary, and the people believe what He says. The Lord will solve your problems, if you believe!

Why go down to Egypt, symbol of sin, if they lived in the Promised Land? Whoever doesn’t serve God submits to the hellish spirits. The people of Judah did not want to serve the Most High, but the Babylonian gods. Why exchange the good Lord for the devil´s servants, who will disturb your life? The Father will give those who seek Him the shelter and the power to overcome evil.

Who can strengthen but God? Who can keep, but the Guard of Israel? We need to believe in Him to see His wonders in our days. Jesus wept over Jerusalem, declaring: O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! (Luke 13.34). Watch and pray!

To trust in the shadow of Egypt is absolutely foolish. We can only hope in the Lord and in the strength of His power. He never denied His Word nor failed to give an answer to those who sought Him. God is greater than all gods, who together or apart are nothing but demons defeated by Christ in their own house. Now, the Savior descended into hell and defeated Satan and his spirits. Hallelujah!

Man is powerless before the diabolical force, defeated on the cross of Calvary by the Savior (Colossians 2.15). Christ took the keys from the devil of his house (Revelation 1.18), and did it for us. Now, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Romans 8.37). Do not fear the enemy, but defeat him with the assurance of victory!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares