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God Has A Handmill For Every Proud Person

"Caught up in the pursuit of power and pleasure, Babylon believed in its own greatness and claimed to be the only power on earth. Babylon felt completely secure. Nebuchadnezzar, its king, called himself 'god,' but the true God taught him a powerful lesson by taking everything away from him...Our society is addicted to pleasure and power, but these can pass away quickly. Look at your own life, and ask yourself how you can be more responsible with the talents and possessions God has given you. How can you use your life for God's honor rather than your own?" - The A To Z Guide To Bible Application

What comes to mind when you hear or see the name "Babylon"? Words like "great," "mighty," "rich and luxurious living," or "Nebuchadnezzar"?

Most would have to admit that they do not know much about this once great kingdom, yet it is the opinion of this writer that Isaiah 47 should be read and studied by all Christians as much as any other familiar passage in the Holy Bible.

There are so many pertinent truths to be gleaned in this chapter of the Word of which every Christian needs to be taught and made aware. A true picture of God's Hatred for Pride and Self-Sufficiency is evident and should be known by all as to avoid the same results or judgments.

The Almighty has not changed. He is forever the same. What He did to Babylon He will do to any and all nations, peoples, or individuals who live for their own honor rather than His. We can be sure of it!

• Psalm 119:18 - So gather the children together, assemble at the family altar, and read and study Isaiah 47, pleading with the Holy Spirit to open up His Word so that you may "behold wondrous things" out of it for your learning and admonition.

• Isaiah 47:4 - In the midst of this great chapter stands the "Redeemer" - "the Holy One of Israel," not as a Deliverer but as an Avenger for His people.

In what way?

• Isaiah 47:6 explains further that God "was wroth" with the Israelites for their backslidden ways. Their Sin provoked Him to "pollute His inheritance" - to strip them of the glory that they once had as His chosen people. Their temple and city were destroyed as a result.

It is a known fact throughout Scriptures that God employs one wicked nation to discipline another. The scourging nation may even be more wicked than the one being punished. Then when they are through carrying out God's assignment, He, in turn, judges them for their evil ways.

Babylon was such a nation selected by God to smite Israel for their sins.

However, The Lord had a case against these Chaldeans as they were called. They were cruel and merciless toward the Israelites. Their position and power went to their head, so to speak. They went overboard in their punishments. Now it was time for God to deal with them. And were they ever going to reap the consequences!

• Isaiah 47:5 - Here is this great nation called "The lady of kingdoms." In other words, she was considered the "mistress of the world"(Barnes' Notes).

• Isaiah 47:8 - She was "given to pleasures" - corrupt, licentious, and effeminate debauchery(sensuality) - and "dwellest carelessly" - living in vain security, totally devoid of any concept of danger or alarm.

• Isaiah 47:7-8, 10 - She was proud, arrogant, and self-confident - "And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever...that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me..."

• Exodus 3:14 - It is important to interject here at this point and mention that there is only One Who is the "I AM THAT I AM," and that is the Lord Jesus! As much as Babylon was exalted to the highest position as ruling nation of the world, she was not and would never be God or stand in His place of authority over the kingdoms of this world!

• Isaiah 47:10 - Babylon "trusted" in her own "wickedness." What does this mean?

• Isaiah 47:9-10 - She openly professed that "None" - not even the Almighty - "seeth me." Her "wisdom" and "knowledge" - great power, advantages, wealth, "multitude of ...sorceries," "great abundance of ... enchantments," frauds, as well as her acts of oppression and cruelty - "perverted" her into becoming her own god and source of strength and help.

What would be her outcome?

• Isaiah 47:1 - This beautiful, "tender and delicate" "virgin daughter," who was never captured by the surrounding armies, would be reduced to the lowest place of a slave or captive.

• Isaiah 47:1-3 - The Prophet Isaiah declared - "Come down, and sit in the dust...sit on the ground: there is no throne...for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate...Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers. Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen..."

This self-proclaimed "I am" would be reduced from her position of magnificence, power, luxury, and ease to "the ground."

• Instead of a "throne," she would "sit in the dust."

• Instead of luxury and ease, she would be driven to do the most strenuous work assigned to slaves - grinding grain on a handmill.

• Instead of passing in style across the river, she would be forced to wade across its waters in shame and nakedness as she gathered up her long flowing robes, exposing her legs and thighs.

  • Isaiah 47:3 - No amount of prayer could change God's heart concerning her - "...I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man."

  • Isaiah 47:13-14 - The "astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators" in whom she once confided would be as useful to her now as stubble before a fire - "the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame..."

  • Isaiah 47:7,9,11- This one who boldly declared - "...I shall be a lady for ever..." "...in a moment in one day..." would suffer the "loss of children, and widowhood..." Metaphorically speaking, she would no longer be a great power. Suddenly and unexpectedly, she would lose it all - "desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know."

• There is one verse of Scripture that we want to pay close attention to at this time.
  It is verse 7 - "And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it."

Because of her great prosperity and false security in her position, resources, and own strength, she grew proud and self-confident, never considering the consequences of her evil actions. She failed to heed the warnings or learn from the fate of other nations who met the same end.

"...Thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it."

These same words will be said of us, our families, churches, ministries, businesses, communities, cities, or nations unless we regard the lessons and heed the warnings given here by the Holy Spirit.

God hates Pride! There is no question about it!

Matthew 23:12 - Whoever commits this awful Sin is "abased" by the hand of God. And He is no respecter of persons.

Perhaps it would help us to remember the "handmill" today.

If we choose to walk around in a proud array like Babylon, exalting ourselves above others as though we are "little gods," then the Lord Jesus will have no other recourse than to prepare for us a "handmill" of His own choosing. This "handmill" will be a reduced place of seeming slavery or servitude. It comes in all shapes and sizes. But one thing about it, after "milling grain" at this "God-appointed place or situation," we will be deplete of any and all Pride if we know what's good for us!

May none of us provoke the Lord God today to prepare a "handmill" for us because we have a haughty spirit.

May we learn from the lesson of Babylon and graciously accept the fact that there is and always will be only One "I AM," and that is the Lord Jesus.

Today may we all show Him our total allegiance by bowing low at His feet, asking Him to make us humble so that we may from this day forward always be found "walking humbly" before God and men.


May God Bless His Word.
Connie

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