Nationalism/National pride and huberis

Big Erik Won’t Be on Top Forever. Isaiah 10:15.

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. BigContinue reading “Big Erik Won’t Be on Top Forever. Isaiah 10:15.”

MAN’S GREATEST WORKS ARE A TOWER OF BABEL. Revelation 20:11-21:1,5.

A.I. image. It is easy to be swept up in humanity’s little dramas. The Olympics is a stunning spectacle—193 nations and a dozen non-nations competing in events that have their own storied history (consider ancient events like archery, marathon running, and wrestling). Athletes carry a flame, light a torch, and promote peace. It is allContinue reading “MAN’S GREATEST WORKS ARE A TOWER OF BABEL. Revelation 20:11-21:1,5.”

ARCHITECTURAL ZERO. Zechariah 4:10.

Adolf Hitler loved architecture. Albert Speer, his architect, writes that Hitler was forever coming up with plans for buildings and monuments. The drawings were not bad, but the designs dwarfed everything else. Hitler dreamed of making Berlin a partial copy of Paris, but making everything larger: a wider main boulevard, a taller victory arch, andContinue reading “ARCHITECTURAL ZERO. Zechariah 4:10.”

Break the Chain of National Pride that Takes Credit for Things God Has Done. Ezekiel 32:10.

God used Babylon to humble Israel. Then when Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, grew proud, God used Darius, King of Persia, to humble Nebuchadnezzar. This is a common pattern in Bible history: God lifts up one nation to humble another. But then the nation God raised up become proud, and God lifts up a third nationContinue reading “Break the Chain of National Pride that Takes Credit for Things God Has Done. Ezekiel 32:10.”

EGYPT. Ezekiel chapters 29, 30, 31.

Egypt. How was the dynasty eclipsed by Greeks, Romans, and the British Empire? Today the Land of Pyramids is a has-been. But Egypt once ruled the world. Besides allowing transportation up and down the continent, the Nile’s seasonal flooding spread water and nutrients across the delta. Soon the plow was invented, allowing people to build housesContinue reading “EGYPT. Ezekiel chapters 29, 30, 31.”

EGYPT: AN INTERNATIONAL NOBODY. Ezekiel 29:15; James 1:17.

You don’t hear much about modern Egypt. The nation on the Nile once ruled the world. Through Joseph, Egypt saved the world from famine. The nation built the pyramids—glorified tombs listed among the Seven Wonders of the World. They built the Sphinx. They invented hieroglyphics. They filled King Tut’s tomb with a billion dollars inContinue reading “EGYPT: AN INTERNATIONAL NOBODY. Ezekiel 29:15; James 1:17.”

Watch Out for the Sin of Egypt. Ezekiel 29:15

Ever wonder what happened to Egypt? The nation once ruled the world. Today it is on the sidelines. But it was proud, and God does not ignore pride. When Egypt said, “the Nile is my own, I made it for myself,” God promised judgment. He said: Egypt will be the lowliest of kingdoms and willContinue reading “Watch Out for the Sin of Egypt. Ezekiel 29:15”