What lessons can we learn about pride from Ezekiel 33:24? Text Under the Microscope “Son of man, the inhabitants of these ruins in the land of Israel keep saying, ‘Abraham was only one man, yet he possessed the land. But we are many; surely the land has been given to us as a possession.’” (Ezekiel 33:24) Seeing Pride in Their Words • They measure entitlement by head-count: “We are many.” • They assume inheritance apart from obedience: “Surely the land has been given to us.” • They forget the covenant conditions Abraham embraced—faith, obedience, humility (Genesis 15; 17:1). • They speak from ruins yet boast of possession, proving pride can blind us to obvious reality. Core Lessons on Pride • Pride inflates numbers and credentials instead of honoring God’s promise. • Pride divorces blessing from obedience, presuming rights where Scripture speaks of responsibilities (Deuteronomy 28:1-14). • Pride distorts perspective—ruins look like “possessions” when self is on the throne (Revelation 3:17). • Pride resists correction; even divine judgment (the ruins) fails to soften a hard heart (Proverbs 29:1). • Pride forgets that God’s covenants are relational, not merely territorial or genetic (Romans 9:6-8). Cross-References That Reinforce the Warning • Proverbs 16:18 — “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” • James 4:6 — “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” • 1 Corinthians 10:12 — “So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall.” • Isaiah 66:2 — “These are the ones I will regard: the humble and contrite in spirit.” • Luke 3:8 — “Produce fruit worthy of repentance… do not begin to say, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’” Putting It into Practice • Examine motives: Are we counting our resources instead of trusting God? • Link blessing to obedience: Search Scripture for any promise we presume and note its conditions. • Stay reality-aware: Invite trusted believers to point out “ruins” we may overlook. • Cultivate humility daily: Thank God for every gift, acknowledging His sole ownership (1 Chronicles 29:14). |
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