Chapter 10 of Iaiah talks about the destruction that Israel has experienced at the hand of Assyria. God has used this pagan coutry to destroy and get the attention of His people. But the rulers of Assyria have let it go to their heads. They have become convinced that the world revolves around them and that is about to change – big time. The tables will be turned and life is about to go upside down. One key issue – pride. Here is the problem they face – they believe “I’ve done all this by myself. I know more… I’ve wiped out…I’ve walked in…taken anything I wanted…I charged in…I reached out…I gathered”. Detect any issues here. Pride means that “I” has taken center stage. That is certainly the case here. These folks believe they are god. They have let their success go to their head and now they will pay a huge price for it. Scripture says that they are like giant trees but God’s “ax will make toothpicks of that forest”. They are going down.
The flip side is what remains in the “ragtag remnant” of Israel. Scripture tells us that now that they have been beaten down and broken, “They’ll lean on GOD”. Finally they get the picture. They understand that all that has happened in their past – parting seas, defeating enemies, blessings and miracles – that stuff is all from God. And they will return and “come back to the Strong God”. But why does it take almost utter destruction before they remember? Are we like that? Forgetting what God has done and where the true source of power for life comes from? We need to lean on God every day, every moment because He alone is truly the source of life. The world does not revolve around you or me. It is not about us at all. This is God’s world and we are blessed to be able to be a part of it, but the story is not about us. We are a mere part in His big story. We need to learn to lean and lean hard. Anything less will lead us down a path similar to the Assyrians. God is in control. It is His world and His book. We best get that straight.
Posted by asorensen 
