Some 2,700 years ago, the prophet Isaiah delivered a warning to a proud and arrogant Israel Nation:

The bricks have fallen down, But we will rebuild with hewn stones; The sycamores are cut down, But we will replace them with cedars. -Isaiah 9:10

At the time Israel was in rebellion against the Creator Yahweh (God). Israel, like all of humanity, had free will. Yahweh desired and commanded Israel to follow His statutes and walk in relationship with Him. When Israel remained faithful, they received blessings. When Israel strayed, Yahweh sent warnings, which if left unheeded, became further judgments.

In the case above, Isaiah describes the aftermath of an enemy’s attack against Israel. Per the technology and tactics of the times, an attacking army often seized (surrounded) a city as they continued the fight in overtaking it. While the city was under siege, the aggressors cut down local timber to resource and sustain their army. Once the army breached a section of the defending city’s walls, the battle was soon over.

With the raid complete and the attackers withdrawn, the surviving Israelites, rather than repenting and returning to Yahweh, elect to trust in themselves. Regarding the rubble of bricks that was once their city wall, they’d rebuild with larger and stronger hewn stone from a nearby quarry. The cleared vineyards of sycamore trees would be replanted with solid cedars.

Simply put, Israel vows to “build back stronger.”

Despite robust stones and stronger trees, Israel would soon experience the fate of trusting in man rather than man’s Creator.