What does "make a bargain with my master" reveal about human pride? Setting the Scene 2 Kings 18:23: “Now, therefore, make a bargain with my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses—if you can put riders on them!” What the Words Reveal • “Make a bargain” — the Assyrian field commander assumes Judah must negotiate from weakness, not seek God. • “My master” — he elevates a human king above the LORD, showcasing misplaced allegiance. • The entire offer drips with sarcasm: “if you can put riders on them!” Pride belittles others to magnify itself. The Anatomy of Human Pride on Display • Self-exaltation: The speaker treats Assyria as the ultimate power (cf. Isaiah 10:13). • Control through intimidation: Pride pushes bargains that corner the vulnerable (Proverbs 28:25). • Mockery of dependence on God: Hezekiah’s trust is ridiculed (2 Kings 18:22), echoing “Where is your God?” (Psalm 42:10). • False security in earthly resources: Horses and riders symbolize military might; yet Psalm 20:7 warns, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” Why Pride Talks This Way • Belief that power equals authority (Proverbs 21:30). • Desire to negotiate terms that keep God out of the conversation (Jeremiah 17:5). • Confidence that appearances—numbers, weapons, alliances—settle outcomes (Isaiah 31:1). The Divine Verdict on Such Pride • God calls it rebellion (Isaiah 13:11). • “Pride goes before destruction” (Proverbs 16:18). Assyria soon tasted this when the angel of the LORD struck their army (2 Kings 19:35). • “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). Hezekiah’s humility invited divine rescue (2 Kings 19:1-7). Take-Home Reflections • Pride tries to bargain where God has already spoken. • Any “master” we place above the LORD is an idol, however impressive it seems. • Sarcasm, intimidation, and self-promotion are warning lights on pride’s dashboard. • True security rests not in horses, bargains, or human masters but in the covenant-keeping God who defends His people (Psalm 33:16-19). |
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