Can I interest any of you in some woe today? That's right,
I said "woe". Woe is defined as sorrow, great distress, calamity, affliction,
and grief. Not interested, you say? Then why do you think it is that people
often feel there is security to be gained outside of God? Yes, even Christians…
Isaiah 30:1 (KJV)
Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but
not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that
they may add sin to sin.
It was often the fault and folly of the Jews that when they were troubled
they sought help, counsel, and guidance from others instead of looking
up to God. Times have not changed much, for it is often our fault and
folly as well! Men have always been prone to leaning unto their own understandings,
yet according to this verse, what is the end result? Adding sin to sin!
What a mess we make of things when we don't go to the Lord first and foremost
in our lives! What woe can only result from such poor choices. We literally
choose misery for ourselves over the counsel of the Lord. Why? Because
we aren't willing to sit at His feet or quietly submit to God’s perfect
will; we are reluctant to rest in the Lord and His goodness to safely
guide us.
Isaiah 65:2 (KJV)
I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which
walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;
What cover are you covering with today, dear lady? Is it the Lord's Spirit,
His counsel? I was convicted of this matter today and asked the Lord to
show me those places in my heart that are covered with the WRONG covering
- my own understanding or thoughts about my sin – and not His Spirit,
His way of looking at it. You see, if I don't see my sin through the Lord's
eyes, I will just add more to the sin that is already there! This can
only end up in a woeful life for me….
Consider Adam and Eve for a moment. When their eyes were opened to their
sin (their rebellion toward God) they sewed fig leaves together to cover
themselves. That was the wrong covering, amen? That was their thinking
of how to fix the situation and it was a covering of self-effort. Such
action could only result in them adding sin to an already sinful situation.
Many fig leaves would be needed to cover such a multitude of sins…
Genesis 3:16-24 (KJV)
Unto the woman he said, I will greatly MULTIPLY THY SORROW and thy conception;
IN SORROW thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to
thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. [17] And unto Adam he said,
Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten
of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of
it: CURSED IS THE GROUND for thy sake; IN SORROW SHALT THOU EAT of it
all the days of thy life; [18] THORNS ALSO AND THISTLES shall it bring
forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; [19] In the SWEAT
OF THY FACE shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for
out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou
return. [20] And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the
mother of all living. [21] Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord
God make coats of skins, and clothed them. [22] And the Lord God said,
Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now,
lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat,
and live for ever: [23] Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the
garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. [24] So he
DROVE OUT THE MAN; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubim,
and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree
of life.
Though this is a very familiar text, I think it's important to read this
portion of scripture from time to time to remind us of the woe that Adam
and Eve suffered from forsaking the Lord's counsel in their lives, the
fruit of their own rebellion. There are some today who think "rebellion"
is a harsh word, but ladies, it is a Bible word! We must get back to using
the Lord's definition for our behavior, amen? It is REBELLION when we
turn away from heeding God's Word. Be certain that you are taking counsel
of the Lord in order to prevent woe from coming into your life... Psalm
91 is a wonderful picture of those who would seek to trust in God rather
than take confidence in themselves and live rebelliously.
Isaiah 30:2 (KJV)
That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen
themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!
Imagine this scene… Your house is located on a hill. Right next door to
you is a humble abode where lives God. A few doors down at the bottom
of the hill lives Pharoah who knows not God, but he sure has lots of informative
books in the library of his big, fancy house and he himself has big muscles
and appears to be successful. He even has access to many soldiers that
could protect you. His house seems to be the most popular in the neighborhood,
so you decide that with the recent trial in your life this is the best
and fastest way to seek help. But in order to get there, you have to pass
right by God's throne, the One who knows all. You package up your trust
for the brief excursion and hurriedly walk by, not even bothering to say
one word about your situation to God at all. You don't even lift your
eyes in His direction either, for you are focused down below on Egypt.
Upon arrival, you promptly and confidently deposit all your trust right
onto the front porch of Pharaoh’s house. Ladies, this is a picture of
a prayerless life headed straight for woe to those who, "have not asked
at my mouth" - the very mouth of God!
Isaiah 31:1 (KJV)
Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust
in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are
very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek
the Lord!
Seeking alliance with certain individuals in order to guarantee self-protection
is vain… Men who forsake God to follow their carnal confidences run into
great dangers! I wonder how many of us are guilty of bypassing the Lord,
shirking access to His throne, the all-knowing, all wise, all loving God
who saved us, and taking the downward direction of seeking the counsel
of Egypt. God's people are frequently guilty of trying to figure their
lives out apart from prayer and without their Father’s counsel! In our
pride, we foolishly think that there is security to be gained outside
of the Lord. The Bible clearly states this approach is not of God's Spirit.
In fact, the result is found in verse 3 of Isaiah 30:
Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh shall be your shame, and to trust
in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.
Shame and confusion and woe - all experienced apart from God! Stop and
think about it… Is that what you really want in life?? You see ladies,
there is no shame when you take the time to seek God or godly counsel
and there is no confusion whatsoever! Neither is there any woe. Instead,
we find direction, peace, and healing for our lives! It's our choice though
- are you certain you are making the right one?
2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)
If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and
pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear
from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Psalm 71:1 (KJV)
In thee O Lord, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
So dear lady, are you experiencing any woe in your life these days? Could
it be it's because you never sought the Lord's counsel in the matter to
begin with?? Do you have a habit of bypassing God and going elsewhere
for assistance? There are many women whose lives are full of insecurities
because of this very reason. I hope that those of us who have found refuge
in seeking the counsel of the Lord will be faithful in our counsel to
others in the midst of their woes. We need to inform people of the reason
for their troubles, amen? Sin added to sin... Teach folks to place their
sense of security in the Lord - but not before you make sure you are doing
it yourself! Life cannot end up any other way than woeful when God is
left out.
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2004
