When I was in junior high my friend Chris got jumped by a kid named Mike at the 7-11. The two were in the grass outside the store fighting when Big Erik, a much larger, much older boy came along and attacked Mike. Fortunately for Chris, he happened to be losing that particular fight. Big Erik said as much: “Lucky for you, you were on the bottom. ‘Cause I always take the side of whoever’s losing.”
Once Big Erik intervened, the fight was over and Mike went home. I know the situation: Mike was bullying Chris. What I don’t know, but can assume, is that Mike had also been bullied. He probably had an older brother or cousin or maybe a grown man, a stepfather perhaps, who bullied him. It is not unusual.
Here’s the thing: you’re not going to stay on top forever. You may be the winner today, but you’ll be the loser tomorrow. Mike might have had the upper hand on Chris. But he couldn’t handle Big Erik.
You can’t win ‘em all, and you can’t stay on top forever.
God is interested in the nations. He chose Israel to be his “chosen race” or “chosen people.” But he used them to bear witness to other nations—sometimes from a place of strength, other times from a place of humility.
For centuries, Egypt was on top, wielding overwhelming power. But following the miracles, the plagues, and the exodus of this “nation” of slaves, the people of Egypt were so amazed, they showered the Jews with gifts and plunder.
Next the Philistines were on top. They were a constant thorn in Israel’s side. But God used Samson, David, and even the ark of the covenant to humble the Philistines.
Then God gave Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon power over the captive people. Babylon was on top. But God used miracles and prophets to humble Babylon.
Then Persia was on top. But the Persian king gave the Hebrews their freedom. (King Cyrus the Great of Persia was one who did not have to learn the hard way.)
Then Assyria was on top. While the kingdom was divided, God used Assyria to humble the northern kingdom (which called itself “Israel”). God called Assyria the “Rod of His Anger” because he used the cruelty of Assyria to humble Israel.
“O Assyria, the rod of mine anger, the staff in your hand is mine indignation. I will send [Assyria] against a hypocritical nation [Israel], and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets” Isaiah 10:5-6.
God will employ Assyria like a rod to discipline Israel—just as God previously used Egypt, Philistines, Babylon, Persia, and others. But then God will turn his attention to … Assyria.
“Wherefore, it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks” Isaiah 10:12.
Assyria became prideful. God never tolerates pride.
“Shall the ax boast against him that swings it? Or shall the saw magnify itself against him that uses it?” Isaiah 10:15.
What is an ax or a saw? A tool. Assyria is a tool in God’s hand. God loves Israel. But he uses Egypt, the Philistines, Babylon, Persia, Assyria, and others to humble his people. And then God sends others to humble the nations God had sent to humble Israel.
“He makes nations great and destroys them. He enlarges nations, then disperses them” Job 12:23.
Be humble. You may be on top today, but you can’t stay on top forever.
“God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble” James 4:6.
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