"...the cornerstones of her peoples have led Egypt astray." -- Isaiah 19:13
To be crystal clear about 'cornerstone', Wikipedia says, "The cornerstone (or foundation stone) concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure."
With this definition in mind, let's move on. This verse really came as a wake up call to me. Only few weeks back our pastor was talking about the importance of being rooted up and being built up in Christ, especially in these end times. But of course, the effect of a sermon dies away exponentially with time :P , if its not followed up by effective quiet times. Two important references in that sermon were Isaiah 54:10 and Isaiah 51:1. They didn't strike me on my head when I read them in church. But when I began reading Isaiah again and came to the verse 19:13, it all came back to me.
What could have been the cornerstones of Egypt?? To name a few, her idols, her wealth, her wisdom, her skills, her army, her glory, her buildings, her overall power. Are we any better off today, when compared to them. Haven't we too set at least one of the aforementioned things as our cornerstones!!? But God is warning us through 54:10: in these end times, everything, no matter how great or how strong in the eyes of the world (like mountains), is going to be shaken. Every cornerstone is going to shake. Naturally, everything built up on a shaky cornerstone is also going to shake and ultimately collapse and be destroyed. Every stone, except One, in 51:1, Christ the Solid Rock. What is built up on Christ is not going to be moved or even shaken, simply because Christ is the cornerstone. As we pass through these times, what is our focus set on? If we are going to be focused on the things of the world, then we better be wary, because they are all going to shake, and with them, we ourselves too, if our focus is on them. But with our focus rightly set on Jesus Christ, who Himself is unshakeable, we cannot be shaken.
So let us not be led astray by any cornerstone other than Jesus Christ. Let's ask ourselves, "What really is our cornerstone?"
Grace, peace and mercy to all from the Lord.
To be crystal clear about 'cornerstone', Wikipedia says, "The cornerstone (or foundation stone) concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure."
With this definition in mind, let's move on. This verse really came as a wake up call to me. Only few weeks back our pastor was talking about the importance of being rooted up and being built up in Christ, especially in these end times. But of course, the effect of a sermon dies away exponentially with time :P , if its not followed up by effective quiet times. Two important references in that sermon were Isaiah 54:10 and Isaiah 51:1. They didn't strike me on my head when I read them in church. But when I began reading Isaiah again and came to the verse 19:13, it all came back to me.
What could have been the cornerstones of Egypt?? To name a few, her idols, her wealth, her wisdom, her skills, her army, her glory, her buildings, her overall power. Are we any better off today, when compared to them. Haven't we too set at least one of the aforementioned things as our cornerstones!!? But God is warning us through 54:10: in these end times, everything, no matter how great or how strong in the eyes of the world (like mountains), is going to be shaken. Every cornerstone is going to shake. Naturally, everything built up on a shaky cornerstone is also going to shake and ultimately collapse and be destroyed. Every stone, except One, in 51:1, Christ the Solid Rock. What is built up on Christ is not going to be moved or even shaken, simply because Christ is the cornerstone. As we pass through these times, what is our focus set on? If we are going to be focused on the things of the world, then we better be wary, because they are all going to shake, and with them, we ourselves too, if our focus is on them. But with our focus rightly set on Jesus Christ, who Himself is unshakeable, we cannot be shaken.
So let us not be led astray by any cornerstone other than Jesus Christ. Let's ask ourselves, "What really is our cornerstone?"
Grace, peace and mercy to all from the Lord.
