The Self-sufficiency of Babylon May 8, 2016

Isaiah 17:10New International Version (NIV)

10 You have forgotten God your Savior;  you have not remembered the Rock, your fortress.
Therefore, though you set out the finest plants and plant imported vines,

The nations in the time of Isaiah were filled with turmoil. The city of Babylon is seen throughout both the Old and New Testaments as a city plagued with pride and self-sufficiency. Babylon symbolizes the world powers arrayed against God’s kingdom. Throughout the ages, we see other cities and nations plagued by self-sufficiency, finding no need for God. And as individuals, we also fall prey to self-sufficiency. We tend to forget God, our Savior; we forget our Rock, our Fortress. 

(Isaiah 17:10) Yet, when we catch but a glimpse of God’s glory, His holiness, and His majesty, we are forever changed. Thank God for His transforming Presence in our lives! Pride is the besetting sin of humanity. Adam and Eve fell prey to pride when they ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. They wanted to know as much as God. The nations fell into confusion when their pride caused them to build the tower of Babel to be like God. Often I do a “pride” check. I forget that it is the Lord who calls me, the Lord who enables me to do His will. Like the Israelites, I forget to give God the glory for my accomplishments: My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water. (Jeremiah 2:13) God’s people had forgotten Him and had become self-sufficient. They no longer asked where their God was who brought them out of Egypt, and they worshipped idols.

It is easy for us to forget it is the Lord who works in and through us – that we can do nothing apart from Him. (John 15:5) Always do a “pride” check when you are accomplishing great things. Remember that it is the Lord who causes all of us to prosper and who grants us success.

Thought for today:  What areas of my life are stunted by pride?