Isaiah 13:17-19

Isaiah 13:17-19 (ESV): “17  Behold, I am stirring up the Medes against them, who have no regard for silver and do not delight in gold. 18  Their bows will slaughter the young men; they will have no mercy on the fruit of the womb; their eyes will not pity children.19  And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the splendor and pomp of the Chaldeans, will be like Sodom and Gomorrah.”

God deals with the arrogant in His timing. He will not let pride continue unchecked. Just as He confronted Satan’s arrogance when he sought to be like the Most High God, so too will the Lord deal with the pride of nations and individuals.

Isaiah prophesied the downfall of Babylon more than a hundred years before it happened. At the time of his prophecy, Babylon hadn’t even overthrown the Assyrians yet. But once they did (around 609 BC), Babylon’s arrogance reached the heavens—and God sent the Medes and Persians to bring them down (around 539 BC). Daniel further prophesied hundreds of years in advance that the Medes and Persians would be conquered by Greece, and then Greece by Rome. And it all happened exactly as God said it would. The prophetic Word is trustworthy.

On a scale from 1 to 10, how prideful are you? Now, how do you think God would rate you? Pride is a pitfall that will bring you down, friend. Just as we’ve seen God humble world powers, so He will deal with every individual who thinks too highly of themselves. The Lord has long warned us: He resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Make sure to keep your heart in a posture of humility—lest the Lord have to humble you Himself.

Father, forgive us for our pride. Manifest the humility of Your Son in our hearts so that we may fulfill Your will in our lives. May we exalt You and not ourselves. We pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.