the ax

This week in class we discussed a large chunk of the Isaiah chapters in 2 Nephi, and one verse in chapter 20 stuck out to me. In this chapter, the king of Assyria is boasting of his great strength and ability to torture and destroy surrounding nations. The Assyrian king believes that "by the strength of my hand and my wisdom I have done these things" (v. 13), but the Lord's response in verse 15 says otherwise:

"Shall the ax boast of itself against him that heweth therewith? Shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? As if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself as if it were no wood!"

The Lord did not allow Assyria to overthrow Jerusalem, and soon Assyria's reign collapsed. They had no real strength in and of themselves, and this was evident when Babylon overthrew them.

Just like an ax has no strength without the arm that hews it, we have no strength without God, and I have learned this many times throughout my life. It is only by Him and through Him that we can do anything. God is the ultimate source of power, and it is by Him that we are able to accomplish great things. When we allow ourselves to be instruments in His hands, He can use us for good and make us mighty. God has a great plan, and He uses us to bring about His work when we are humble and remember to rely on His strength and mercy.