In 1979 when the U.S. severed its diplomatic ties with Taiwan and switched its relations with Chinese, many Taiwanese emigrated to America or other countries in that they dreaded China’s invasion and took over the island. Later in 1996 China unprecedentedly launched toward Taiwan to intimidate the country and influence the presidential election. Similarly many Taiwanese fled to other countries to avoid the possible Taiwan Strait war. As wars or disasters come most people will flee and try to find shelter if they can; they’ll run to other safe places or even other countries. America is always an asylum for most emigrants and refugees, because it has been considered the most democratic and super-powerful country.

Like America in this modern world, Egypt in ancient times was a powerful nation which possessed the mighty power—its horses and chariots, and charioteers unparalleled to other nations. God’s people, the Israelites, often ran to her for help in times of trouble. Egypt indeed provided protection for the Israelites if directed by God if they needed. In the Old Testament Abraham moved to Egypt for a while because their home town was in drought and famine. Joseph took Mary and Jesus to Egypt because the angel of God appeared to him and told him to do so.

Nevertheless the Lord was always the only protector and shelter for the people of Israel. God warned his children from looking for human protection. In Isaiah 31 it is written, “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the Lord” (v.1)! In this verse the Israelites sought protection from Egypt because they Egypt had a strong defense system on which they could count and they didn’t even think of what they God could do to them. Thus God said to them, “The Egyptians are man, not God, and their horses are flesh, and not spirit.

Living in this visible world most people think this world only is true and real. What their eyes can’t see can’t exist and depend on, so when troubles or disasters come they’ll surely seek human protections. Yet in the eyes of God the invisible realm is for more tangible and true. For children of God we need to distinguish what is real and what is unreal and what we can count on or not. God is for real.