“Egypt is a beautiful heifer,

but a gadfly from the north is coming against her.

Even the mercenaries among her

are like fattened calves.

They too will turn back;

together they will flee, they will not stand their ground,

for the day of calamity is coming upon them—

the time of their punishment. vs20-21

There is no strength, power, or might against the Lord. We can fight all we want, but we will be defeated. Our strength is to sit still and rest in Christ, or He’ll fight against us [Isa 30:15]. It is not by human ingenuity that man prevails. The battle is the Lord’s, and victory belongs to Him.

First, do not look to yourself. All human wisdom is vain. Sit still, believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will BE saved!

Salvation is not what you contribute - never - not at the beginning, in sanctification, or at the end; it is God’s gift performed in us by the Spirit [Heb 4:10].

Abraham believed and was justified… he believed and brought the fruit of sanctification (Isaac,) also; it was not man at all, so that God can get the glory.

Without weakening in his faith, he acknowledged the deadness of his body (since he was about a hundred years old) and the lifelessness of Sarah’s womb. Yet he did not waver through disbelief in the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” [Rom 4:19-22]

Secondly, rest, and He’ll be faithful to you. He is a faithful God to those who have no might.

Today, I heard about Samson, very thirsty, and yet gaining strength!

So God split a hollow place in the ground at Lehi, and water came out of it. After Samson drank, his strength returned, and he revived. That is why he named it, ‘The spring of one who cried out,” which is in Lehi to this day. [Judges 15:19]

God delivered him by hollowing the ground, and when we’re empty - when we are nothing - He will deliver us too [2 Cor 12:11]: He’ll pour out the Spirit and water of life.

On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’” He was speaking about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. [John 7:37-39]

He’ll be faithful to us, because He delights to provide everything to everyone who trusts Him. Look at Jesus Christ trusting God, then go and do likewise. Be nothing in yourself, and He’ll be all in you.

Thirdly, if we refuse this counsel, then it will not go well.

Egypt is a beautiful heifer,

but a gadfly from the north is coming against her.

Even the mercenaries among her

are like fattened calves.

They too will turn back;

together they will flee, they will not stand their ground,

for the day of calamity is coming upon them—

Like Egypt, boasting in her strength, a tiny fly from Babylon will destroy her! Like a mighty cow killed by an insect, no human strength can stand against God.

Deut 1:42, But the LORD said to me, “Tell them not to go up and fight, for I am not with you to keep you from defeat by your enemies.”

Try all you want, but you CANNOT make yourself righteous! Try even harder, but you can’t produce the fruit of the Spirit, and blessed is the man that realizes it and stays in weakness. He will be helped, but God will fight against everyone else - exposing sin and discontentment, chastising and hiding His face, and giving discomfort even by good gospel sermons because of unbelief!