...God Giveth More Grace to the Humble...
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| Stories of pride in the Bible |
The Bible is filled with stories of individuals who fell
victim to pride, and as a result, suffered the consequences of their actions.
From the famous example of Lucifer's fall from grace; to the
lesser-known stories of Absalom and Vashti, pride has time and time again
proved to be a dangerous and destructive force in the lives of those who
succumb to it.
But what can we learn from these stories? How can we avoid
falling into the trap of pride and disobedience?
In this blog post, we will explore the stories of pride in the Bible and the lessons we can learn from them; so that we can live a life that is pleasing to God and free from the pitfalls of arrogance and self-importance.
So, let us open our hearts and minds to the wisdom of the Scriptures and seek to grow in humility, obedience, and faithfulness to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Discover: 9 Subtle Signs Of A Prideful Christian and How to Overcome them.
What does Pride Mean in the Bible?
According to the Bible, pride is a sin that involves an
excessive focus on oneself, often accompanied by a sense of superiority or
entitlement. Pride can manifest in many different ways, such as arrogance,
self-righteousness, rebellion, and defiance.
Pride in the Bile is often associated with the downfall of individuals and nations. Proverbs 16:18 says, "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall."
In the book of Ezekiel, the
prophet condemns the pride of the city of Tyre, saying, "Because your
heart is proud, and you have said, 'I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods,
in the heart of the seas,' yet you are but a man, and no god" (Ezekiel 28:2).
Pride as we see in the new testament is a barrier to repentance and salvation. In the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9-14), Jesus tells of a proud Pharisee who boasts about his own righteousness, while a humble tax collector asks God for mercy.
Jesus says that
the tax collector, not the Pharisee, went home justified before God.
The Bible teaches that pride is a sin that
separates us from God and others, and that we should seek to cultivate humility
and obedience to God. As 1 Peter 5:5-6 says, "God opposes the proud but
shows favor to the humble.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that
he may lift you up in due time."
Discover: The three little sins that almost took my Joy: guess what pride is chiefly one of them.
25 Stories Of Pride In The Bible
- The
story of Lucifer: In the book of Isaiah (Isaiah 14:12-15), it is said that
Lucifer, a fallen angel, was cast out of heaven because of his pride and
desire to exalt himself above God.
- The
story of Nebuchadnezzar: In the book of Daniel (Daniel 4:28-33), King
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon is punished by God for his pride and boasting
about his own achievements. He is driven out of his kingdom and forced to
live like a wild animal until he humbles himself and acknowledges the
power of God.
- The
story of Pharaoh: In the book of Exodus, the Pharaoh of Egypt refuses to
let the Israelites go and is punished with ten plagues. Despite witnessing
the power of God through these plagues, he remains stubborn and proud,
leading to the eventual destruction of his army in the Red Sea.
- The
story of the Tower of Babel: In the book of Genesis (Genesis 11:1-9), a
group of people attempts to build a tower to reach the heavens and make a
name for themselves. God punishes their pride by confusing their language,
causing them to scatter and form different nations.
- The
story of King Uzziah: In the book of 2 Chronicles (2 Chronicles 26:16-21),
King Uzziah of Judah becomes proud and attempts to enter the temple to
burn incense, a task reserved for the priests. As a result, he is struck
with leprosy and is forced to live in isolation for the rest of his life.
- The
story of the Pharisee and the tax collector: In the Gospel of Luke (Luke
18:9-14), Jesus tells a parable about a Pharisee who prays loudly in the
temple, thanking God for making him righteous and better than others, and
a tax collector who humbly asks for mercy. Jesus praises the tax collector
for his humility and condemns the Pharisee for his pride.
- The
story of Korah: In the book of Numbers (Numbers 16:1-35), Korah, a Levite,
becomes envious of the authority given to Moses and Aaron and leads a
rebellion against them. God punishes Korah and his followers by causing
the ground to swallow them up.
- The
story of Haman: In the book of Esther, Haman, an advisor to the Persian
king, becomes enraged when Mordecai, a Jew, refuses to bow down to him.
Haman plots to kill all the Jews in the Persian Empire, but his plan is ultimately
thwarted by Esther, a Jewish queen, and Haman is executed.
- The story of the rich fool: In the Gospel of Luke (Luke 12:13-21), Jesus tells a parable about a wealthy man who plans to build larger barns to store his crops and live a life of ease. However, God calls him a fool for storing up riches for himself but not being rich toward God.
- The story of the prodigal son's older brother: In the Gospel of Luke (Luke 15:11-32), Jesus tells a parable about a younger son who squanders his inheritance and returns home to be welcomed by his father. However, the older son becomes jealous and refuses to join in the celebration, saying that he has always been obedient and deserves more recognition. The father reminds him that he already has everything he needs, and that his brother was lost and now is found.
- The story of Peter's denial: In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus predicts that Peter will deny him three times before the rooster crows. Despite Peter's protestations of loyalty, he does indeed deny Jesus three times, showing his pride and self-reliance.
- The
story of the Israelites' rebellion: In the book of Exodus, the Israelites
rebel against Moses and Aaron, complaining that they have brought them out
of Egypt only to die in the wilderness. God punishes them with plagues and
sends fiery serpents to bite them, but also provides a way for them to be
healed by looking at a bronze serpent on a pole. This story demonstrates
the dangers of prideful complaining and the importance of trusting in
God's provision.
- The
story of Simon the sorcerer: In the book of Acts (Acts 8:9-24), a man
named Simon the sorcerer tries to buy the power of the Holy Spirit from
the apostles. Peter rebukes him, telling him that he cannot buy the gift
of God with money and that his heart is not right with God.
- The
story of Gehazi: In the book of 2 Kings (2 Kings 5:20-27), Gehazi, the
servant of the prophet Elisha, becomes greedy and takes gifts from Naaman,
a Syrian commander who has been healed of leprosy. Elisha confronts him
and Gehazi is struck with leprosy as punishment.
- The
story of Herod Agrippa: In the book of Acts (Acts 12:20-23), King Herod
Agrippa is praised by the people of Tyre and Sidon as a god. He does not
correct them and is struck down by an angel of the Lord, dying a gruesome
death.
- The
story of the Pharisees' hypocrisy: In the Gospels, Jesus often rebukes the
Pharisees for their pride and hypocrisy. In Matthew 23, he delivers a
scathing indictment, calling them hypocrites, blind guides, and
whitewashed tombs.
- The
story of the Tower of Siloam: In the Gospel of Luke (Luke 13:1-5), Jesus
tells a story about a tower that fell on eighteen people, killing them. He
asks if they were worse sinners than others, and says that unless people
repent, they too will perish. This story warns against prideful
self-righteousness and emphasizes the importance of repentance and
humility.
- The
story of Nebuchadnezzar: In the book of Daniel (Daniel 4:28-33), King
Nebuchadnezzar becomes prideful and boasts about his accomplishments,
saying that he has built Babylon by his own might and power. God humbles
him by causing him to live like an animal in the wilderness for seven
years, until he acknowledges God's sovereignty.
- The
story of King Uzziah: In the book of 2 Chronicles (2 Chronicles 26:16-21),
King Uzziah becomes prideful and tries to burn incense in the temple, a
role reserved for the priests. God strikes him with leprosy, and he
remains a leper until his death.
- The
story of King Herod: In the book of Acts (Acts 12:1-19), King Herod kills
James, the brother of John, and imprisons Peter. He does this to win the
favor of the Jewish leaders, and is filled with pride when the people of
Tyre and Sidon praise him as a god. However, God strikes him down and he
dies.
- The
story of the rich young ruler: In the Gospel of Mark (Mark 10:17-31), a
rich young ruler comes to Jesus and asks what he must do to inherit
eternal life. Jesus tells him to sell his possessions, give to the poor,
and follow him. The young man is unwilling to do so because of his great
wealth, revealing his pride and love for material possessions.
- The
story of the Pharisee and the tax collector: In the Gospel of Luke (Luke
18:9-14), Jesus tells a parable about a Pharisee and a tax collector who
both go to the temple to pray. The Pharisee boasts about his righteousness
and looks down on the tax collector, while the tax collector humbly asks
for mercy. Jesus commends the tax collector and rebukes the Pharisee,
showing that humility and repentance are pleasing to God.
- Queen
Vashti, as described in Esther 1:1-22, is known for her prideful refusal
to appear before King Xerxes and his guests, resulting in her removal as
queen. Her behavior serves as a warning against pride and disobedience,
and emphasizes the importance of humility and obedience in serving God.
- Goliath,
as described in 1 Samuel 17:1-50, is a prideful Philistine warrior who
defied and mocked God's people. His defeat by David serves as a reminder
that God's power is greater than any human strength, and that those who
defy God and his people will ultimately be defeated.
- Absalom, as described in 2 Samuel 15:1-12, becomes prideful and plots to overthrow his father, King David. His story serves as a warning against pride, ambition, and disobedience, and emphasizes the importance of submitting to God's will and authority.
Discover: The Blowfish Syndrome and its evidence in the Life of a Believer
Lesson to learn from these Bible Pride Stories
Those stories of pride in the Bible teaches us several important lessons as Christians:
Pride leads to destruction:
The Bible consistently teaches that pride goes before a fall and that those who exalt themselves will be humbled. The stories of pride in the Bible, such as King Nebuchadnezzar and Queen Vashti, illustrate how prideful behavior can lead to downfall and ruin.
Humility is essential:
The Bible teaches that humility is essential for a faithful life. Jesus himself was humble and served others, washing his disciples' feet as an example. The stories of humble individuals, such as Ruth and Mary, demonstrate how humility can lead to blessings and favor from God. God giveth more grace to the Humble
God opposes the proud:
The Bible teaches that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. As Christians, we should seek to cultivate a humble heart and recognize that all good things come from God, not from our own abilities or achievements.
Repentance and forgiveness are possible:
Even when we fall into prideful behavior, the Bible teaches that repentance and forgiveness are possible through faith in Jesus Christ. The story of the prodigal son, for example, illustrates how a person can turn away from pride and return to God through repentance.
Read Also: Acts of the Fall: The two glaring, yet unnoticed acts that led to the fall of man.
Conclusion
The Bible contains several stories of pride, each serving as a warning against the dangers of arrogance and disobedience.
These stories emphasize the importance of humility, obedience, and submission to God's will, and illustrate the consequences that come with prideful behavior.
As Christians, we are called to cultivate a humble heart and to recognize that all good things come from God, not from our own achievements or abilities.
By
learning from the stories of pride in the Bible, we can seek to avoid falling
into the same sins; and instead strive to live a life that honors and pleases
God.