Pride and the Fall

Does an ax exalt itself above the one who chops with it? Does a saw magnify itself above the one who saws with it? It would be like a staff waving the one who lifts it! It would be like a rod lifting up a man who isn't wood. Isaiah 10:19

God was going to use Assyria to deal with His people but the Assyrians we're proud in themselves thinking they were great and God was also going to deal with them. Verse 5 says: woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger- the staff in the hands of my wrath.

Verse 7 tells us: but this is not what he intends; this is not what he plans. It is his intent to destroy and to cut off many nations.

We are really tools in Gods hands and to think we are the success, or we are the reason things are happening is pride. Yet we are God's chosen vessels and we are sent to do a task. Keeping perspective is important. It is good for God to praise us, speak over us but good for us to stay humble and allow Him to exalt us.

Jesus Himself told parables around this theme. He said it was better to sit lower on a table lest we be asked to move lower and be humbled. It is much better to be invited up the table.

Assyria was being used to conquer but thought it was all their doing. Therefore they were digging a trench for themselves. Pride does indeed come before a fall and we need to take this lesson to heart.

Estimating ourselves correctly is good. Amen!