Pride is UGLY

Posted on May 8, 2017 by Graeme Wilson in Victory Call

Last week, I was in Missouri and went to Sight & Sound Theater to see their newest show, Moses… and all I can say is “WOW.” They did such a good job with the special effects, the acting, the music… everything! I’m still trying to process all of it.
I also left the show with a lot of questions answered. I’ve always wondered, “After all the plagues that God sent to Egypt… the death of the livestock, the water being turned to blood, the boils… all of it… why wouldn’t Pharaoh listen? Did he still not believe God’s power? After his son died, why would he still pursue Moses and the Israelites? Didn’t he realize more destruction would come?”
Of course, we know that it was all pride… but I couldn’t grasp THAT kind of pride (hats off to Sight and Sound for making it so clear!) As the King of Egypt, Pharaoh decided who lived and who died, who was a free man and who was a slave, who would be fed and who would go hungry. The fact that he was not in control of the plagues was too much for him to handle… and he would do EVERYTHING in his power to make sure that the Hebrews stayed put… but God’s power is so much bigger.
Pharaoh considered himself to be “The God of Egypt,” and the Israelite God to be “just a God of Slaves.” When Pharaoh realized that the Israelite God, who he didn’t even believe in, was sending all of these plagues and was, in fact, more powerful than himself… he couldn’t handle it. His pride was too big, and even when he asked Moses to bless him, it was only a momentary request before he decided to try and pursue Moses and his people once again.
Pride is ugly. Isaiah 2:12 says The LORD Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled.) James 4:6 says … God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. Philippians 2:3 states Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves.
God often uses the most unlikely and humble people to carry out His greatest tasks to bring Himself glory. Consider Moses – he was once a mighty and powerful ruler, but once he decided to pursue the one TRUE God, he was banished from and despised by Egypt. Or, if you’d rather, consider David – a lowly shepherd who believed that God’s power was bigger than any 10-foot-tall giant, and through God’s power  defeated a GIANT with ONE SMALL SMOOTH STONE.
We can see by the story of Pharaoh and Moses that Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18) but with humility comes life, honor, and riches (Luke 14:11, Proverbs 22:4)
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. – Luke 14:11
Erin Culleny serves as a Marketing Assistant and Staff Writer. She loves encouraging women through her Victory Calls and finds such joy in praying for her sisters in Christ. Her favorite activities include reading her Bible, encouraging others with scripture, buying new dresses, and eating at the Cheesecake Factory… In that order!