Misplaced Trust, but Our Righteous God
by Casey Norton
Man is no stranger to putting trust in the wrong places. We placed our trust in a piece of food in the garden, and we see how that turned out for us. That should have been enough to teach us that we cannot rely on anything or anyone other than God. Our world was immediately subjected to sin, death, disease, pain, and loss—yet we continue to choose folly over faith in God daily. The good news is that our God is righteous, patient, and merciful.
In Isaiah 31 and 32, the nation of Judah demonstrates its relentless trust in Egypt:
“Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel” (31:1).
The people of Judah were placing their faith in their military and Egypt’s strength instead of relying on God for protection. But as Isaiah points out, no human power or resource can match the strength of God. Trusting in these things leads to failure because they are temporary and flawed, unlike God.
Today, our misplaced faith may look different from Adam and Eve’s rebellion or the Israelites' trust in Egypt, but the heart issue remains the same. We trust in our jobs to give us security, in our achievements to give us value, and in our money to solve our problems. Some people put their trust in their own moral behavior, thinking that being a “good person” is enough to get by in life or earn favor with God.
Despite our constant failure, God is patient with us. He doesn’t give up when we put our trust in the wrong things. Instead, He lovingly calls us back to Him. In Romans 2:4, we are reminded that it’s God’s kindness that leads us to repentance. Even when we’ve wandered far, God invites us to return to Him, offering forgiveness and grace.
Isaiah 32:3-4 speaks of a time when, under God’s righteous rule, people’s eyes will be opened, and their hearts will understand:
“The eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen. The fearful heart will know and understand.”
This is the transforming power God promises when we let go of our pride and put our trust in Him.
For the Christian, God’s call to repent is not condemnation, for we are secure in Christ. Rather, it’s a reminder to keep our faith in Him and not in ourselves. Repentance begins with humility, the opposite of pride.
We all struggle with the temptation to trust in ourselves, to rely on our own strength, and to chase after worldly security. But Scripture warns us that this path leads to emptiness and failure. God, in His grace, calls us to repentance, inviting us to place our trust in Him alone. When we humble ourselves and turn back to Him, He is faithful to transform us, opening our eyes to the truth and giving us the peace and security that can only come from Him.
In Isaiah 31 and 32, the nation of Judah demonstrates its relentless trust in Egypt:
“Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel” (31:1).
The people of Judah were placing their faith in their military and Egypt’s strength instead of relying on God for protection. But as Isaiah points out, no human power or resource can match the strength of God. Trusting in these things leads to failure because they are temporary and flawed, unlike God.
Today, our misplaced faith may look different from Adam and Eve’s rebellion or the Israelites' trust in Egypt, but the heart issue remains the same. We trust in our jobs to give us security, in our achievements to give us value, and in our money to solve our problems. Some people put their trust in their own moral behavior, thinking that being a “good person” is enough to get by in life or earn favor with God.
Despite our constant failure, God is patient with us. He doesn’t give up when we put our trust in the wrong things. Instead, He lovingly calls us back to Him. In Romans 2:4, we are reminded that it’s God’s kindness that leads us to repentance. Even when we’ve wandered far, God invites us to return to Him, offering forgiveness and grace.
Isaiah 32:3-4 speaks of a time when, under God’s righteous rule, people’s eyes will be opened, and their hearts will understand:
“The eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen. The fearful heart will know and understand.”
This is the transforming power God promises when we let go of our pride and put our trust in Him.
For the Christian, God’s call to repent is not condemnation, for we are secure in Christ. Rather, it’s a reminder to keep our faith in Him and not in ourselves. Repentance begins with humility, the opposite of pride.
We all struggle with the temptation to trust in ourselves, to rely on our own strength, and to chase after worldly security. But Scripture warns us that this path leads to emptiness and failure. God, in His grace, calls us to repentance, inviting us to place our trust in Him alone. When we humble ourselves and turn back to Him, He is faithful to transform us, opening our eyes to the truth and giving us the peace and security that can only come from Him.
More from the blog:
A Radical Christian is an Ordinary Christian
March 2nd, 2026
I grew up in the “Radical” era of Christianity as a teenager. A faithful young man discipled my friends and I by going through David Platt’s book Radical. I love that book and even taught it to youth as a young man. It made me ask the serious question: would I still follow Jesus if I did not have anything? It gave examples of real Christians who had to hide and travel long distances to gather for ...
Love Your Neighbor As Yourself
February 23rd, 2026
The Law of Leviticus boils down to this, and Jesus’ explanation and interpretation of the new covenant also has it at its core: Love your neighbor as yourself. This command in the 19th chapter of Leviticus is cited in three of the four Gospels as Jesus reiterates to the Jews the most important commandment - for it sums up the Law. But what I find interesting is that Jesus doesn’t seem to be tellin...
Finding the Right Foundation for Your Life
February 16th, 2026
Foundations are important. My husband and I discovered this first-hand when we were looking for our first house. The real estate agent took us to a “bargain” fixer-upper property with foundation problems. When we stepped into the house, we quickly saw that the foundation problems were indeed serious. Many of the floors were visibly slanted. Some of the doors were difficult to open. And when I plac...
Sojourners in the Flesh
February 9th, 2026
“This world is not my home, I’m just ‘a passing through.” These words open a lesser known hymn of the early 1900’s, and it seems like the sons of Jacob, and Jacob himself, echo this refrain. As the 70 persons of Jacob’s family come into Egypt, they do so as sojourners. When Pharaoh asks them what their job is, they reply, as instructed by Joseph, “Shepherds.” They go on to say, “We’ve come to sojo...
Suffering is Not Pointless
February 2nd, 2026
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and ob...
Recent
Archive
2026
2025
February
March
April
September
October
November
2024
March
April
September
October
2023
April
May
July
No Comments