Have you ever put your trust in something that failed you? It may have looked reliable, capable — but in the end, it didn’t come through. In Isaiah 30, Scripture points out that the Israelites chose to take refuge in the shade of Egypt rather than in the shadow of the Almighty. They formed an alliance with Pharaoh instead of consulting God.
What they thought would be their protection ultimately became their shame.
Years ago, my husband Darian and I decided we wanted to become house flippers. This was during HGTV’s heyday — we had watched a few too many flipping shows and got carried away. So, we went to the bank, got a loan, and dove in. We bought a house, tools, appliances, and completely renovated the structure. The bank’s vice president personally gave us the loan and assured us everything would be fine. It was an interest-only loan, with the plan to convert it into a mortgage once the project was complete.
I’ll spare you all the details. In short, we finished the renovation and asked the banker about converting the loan. He told us we had plenty of time and not to worry. This continued for a couple of months. Then, our lives shifted — we were preparing to move out of state. Still, the banker insisted we should leave the loan as-is. It didn’t feel like the right decision, and we tried several times to transition the loan, but we were young. The banker was older and much more experienced with money. So, we trusted him.
Late one Sunday evening after we moved, we got a call that the FDIC had just acquired the bank — and our loan would be due at the end of the month. We had 30 days to pay off the house or get a new loan.
We didn’t have the money to pay it off. We had just planted Your Place Church in Pryor, Oklahoma, and invested most of our resources into it. By putting my trust in that banker, I felt like one of the Israelites who trusted in Pharaoh. That protection turned to shame real quick.
But God. He is so good. Psalm 91:1 (NIV) says, “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”
Sometimes, we find ourselves abiding under the wrong shadow. Pharaoh may have seemed strong and powerful in the natural, but he was no match for God. It’s so easy to put our trust in money, relationships, education, the economy, government, media — anything that appears important by the world’s standards. Yet every time we do, we end up just like the Israelites. That false shadow never brings rest. It only brings shame.
When Darian and I received that call from the banker, it didn’t take us long to repent and seek the Lord. We quickly stepped out from the shade the banker offered and ran to the shadow of the Almighty — and He came through. In the middle of that economic downturn, the Lord turned that house flip around and worked it out for our good. He’ll do the same for you.
Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV) clearly tells us where to place our trust: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
I understand why the Israelites trusted Pharaoh. He was right in front of them. They saw his mighty horses, his armies, his chariots. His pyramids were magnificent. He seemed unstoppable. Consulting him felt like the obvious choice.
We often fall into the same trap. People, money, education — they’re visible and feel like the easy answer. But they are not God. They are distractions. According to Isaiah 30, trusting in them only leads to our shame.
There are many shadows we could abide under — but only one offers trustworthy power, protection, and true rest. Let’s choose to abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Time and time again, He has protected, healed, and provided for me. He is my safe refuge.
Whatever you need today, trust in the Lord. Consult Him. Stay in His shadow. And instead of shame, you will find rest.
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