DCLM Daily Manna 14 March 2022 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Tragedy Of Arrogance
TOPIC: Tragedy Of Arrogance
TEXT: Isaiah 9:8-21 (KJV)
8 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.
9 And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart,
10 The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.
11 Therefore the Lord shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together;
12 The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
13 For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the Lord of hosts.
14 Therefore the Lord will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day.
15 The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.
16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.
17 Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
18 For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke.
19 Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother.
20 And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:
21 Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
KEY VERSE: “The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.” – (Isaiah 9:10)
MESSAGE:
The sin of arrogance and pride s tragic with fatal consequences. It brought down Lucifer and some other angels. Pride also destroyed Korah and his gang, as well as Ahithophel. It is the height of transgression because it attempts to place those ensnared by it on the same pedestal with God. Thus, the proud seek to play the Creator of heaven and earth.
The same was the case with the nation of Israel. The land had become prosperous, with the leaders and their people feeling self-sufficient. They believed this material satisfaction positioned them independent of God. In a theocratic society like Israel, this was a dangerous national outlook. It was arrogance that plunged the whole society into sin. This, needless to say, brought swift judgment on the land and its leaders.
But as it has been with the sin of pride, the people’s response to God’s chastisement was dismal. It pushed them into more acts of rebellion. They felt they did not need God and could stand on their own. When the Lord chastened them, they said: “The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.” The Bible says they acted “in the pride and stoutness of heart”.
God has great love for His children; thus, He continues to warn the haughty who shun the “quiet and meek spirit” that should characterise them. It is a broad path that leads to perdition. When punishment comes from God to whip us into line, we must accept it thankfully as the gentle rebuke of a caring Father.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Only negligent parents ignore their erring children.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Jeremiah 28-30
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
