The Jesus Bible Reading Planනියැදිය

MISPLACED HOPE

People are created to have hope. Be it a person, a place, a thing, a status or a destination — everyone hopes in something or someone. God’s people, the Israelites, were supposed to hope in God, but they frequently struggled to do so and instead placed their security in alliances with foreign nations.

God promised to bring down the neighboring nation of Egypt, and then Judah would no longer look to them as a source of hope and help. God took seriously his people’s tendency to misplace their trust and hope. Jesus rebuked those who trusted in anything other than God — those who trusted in riches (Mt 6:19 – 21), in religious heritage (Mt 3:9) or in their religious activities (Mk 13:1 – 2). Confidence in anyone or anything other than God is an issue of misplaced hope. Like the Israelites before, all of God’s people must learn to trust him today.

Jesus, I see so many friends and loved ones putting their hope in foolish things. Help me to trust and hope in you alone—and to lead others to do the same. Amen.