“We got really good,” Raleigh Becket bragged. He and his brother piloted a “Jaeger,” a huge battle robot that fought massive, dinosaurlike creatures named Kaiju as depicted in the movie Pacific Rim. In their arrogance, the brothers defied orders and went on a reckless mission battling a huge Kaiju alone. The massive beast destroyed their Jaeger, causing it to come crashing down in defeat. Raleigh’s brother was then killed by the monster while his brother could only watch in horror.
The prophet Obadiah knew all about arrogance. Called by God to deliver words of condemnation to the nation of Edom (Obadiah 1:1), he proclaimed, “You have been deceived by your own pride” (Obadiah 1:3). The people of Edom lived “in a rock fortress . . . high in the mountains.” But God revealed that even the perceived security of their lofty lair couldn’t save them. “I will bring you crashing down,” He told the Edomites (Obadiah 1:4).
God was angry with Edom, for they had failed to help His people in Judah when they were defeated and Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians. The people of Edom lived in a land near Judah and were descendants of Esau (the brother of Jacob whose 12 sons and their descendants became the 12 tribes of Israel), so God said that they had betrayed their “close relatives” and “stood aloof, refusing to help them” (Obadiah 1:10-11).
God’s prophetic words came true. Just 33 years after Jerusalem fell to Babylon (aided by Edom), the Babylonians burned the Edomite cities to the ground. The not-so-mighty had fallen.
Pride will ultimately destroy you even if you think you’re “really good.” Don’t test God—humble yourself under His “mighty power” today (1 Peter 5:6).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: John 13:1-20
More:
Read Proverbs 29:23 and consider what it says about the divergent destinations of the prideful person and the humble one.
Next:
What does pride do to your fellowship with God? How can you seek to stay humble even when things are going your way?
Gary Shultz on September 12, 2014 at 6:53 am
I guess the word and warning serves as well for a country as an individual. We can’t seem to get enough of ourselves… Thanks for the reminder
Tom Felten on September 12, 2014 at 10:32 am
Gary, I know my own heart. The sinful pride that wells up in the hearts of human beings as well as nations—made up of human beings—is so toxic. It leads to battles, disagreements, sin. May God continue to humble me and all of us—breaking us down so that His beauty and glory might be built up in our lives. He alone is truly “good”!
ghchong on September 12, 2014 at 5:06 pm
Who knows what’s really in the heart of people? To tank with insults or to return favors with trouble.
poohpity on September 12, 2014 at 12:03 pm
Pride the hardest to admit to and the hardest to get rid of but Jesus knew and went to the Cross in spite of.
Tom Felten on September 12, 2014 at 3:01 pm
So true, poohpity. From original sin to the origin of many sins today, our pride requires that we humble ourselves daily before Jesus, take up our cross, and follow Him. We serve a Savior who washed the feet of His disciples. What an amazing example!