Topical Bible: Man: God: Destroys the Hopes of

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In the biblical narrative, the theme of God destroying the hopes of man is a recurring motif that underscores the sovereignty and justice of God. This theme is often illustrated in the context of human pride, rebellion, and misplaced trust in worldly or idolatrous pursuits. The Bible presents numerous instances where God intervenes to dismantle the aspirations of individuals or nations, serving as a reminder of His ultimate authority and the futility of opposing His will.

One of the most prominent examples is found in the account of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9). Humanity, unified by a single language, sought to build a tower reaching the heavens, symbolizing their desire for self-glorification and independence from God. In response, God confounded their language and scattered them across the earth, effectively destroying their plans and demonstrating that human ambition cannot thwart divine purposes.

In the Book of Job, the theme is explored through the suffering of Job, a righteous man whose hopes are seemingly dashed by a series of calamities. Job laments, "He has stripped me of my honor and removed the crown from my head. He tears me down on every side until I am gone; He uproots my hope like a tree" (Job 19:9-10). Despite his despair, the narrative ultimately reveals that God's purposes transcend human understanding, and His actions, though mysterious, are rooted in wisdom and justice.

The prophets frequently address the destruction of human hopes, particularly in the context of Israel's disobedience and reliance on foreign alliances. Isaiah warns, "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the abundance of chariots and in the great strength of horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or seek help from the LORD" (Isaiah 31:1). Here, the misplaced hope in military might and political alliances is condemned, and the futility of such trust is exposed when God allows these hopes to be shattered.

Jeremiah echoes this sentiment, highlighting the consequences of forsaking God for false securities: "The LORD has rejected those you trust; you will not prosper with them" (Jeremiah 2:37). The prophet's message underscores the inevitability of divine judgment upon those who place their confidence in anything other than God.

In the New Testament, the theme is further developed through the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. Jesus warns against the deceitfulness of wealth and the dangers of storing up treasures on earth, where they are vulnerable to decay and theft (Matthew 6:19-21). The parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:16-21) illustrates the folly of placing hope in material abundance, as God declares, "You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?" (Luke 12:20).

The apostle Paul addresses the futility of human wisdom and strength in 1 Corinthians 1:19, quoting Isaiah: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate" . This passage emphasizes that human efforts and understanding are ultimately subordinate to God's wisdom and power.

Throughout Scripture, the destruction of human hopes serves as a powerful reminder of the need for humility, repentance, and reliance on God. It calls believers to place their trust in the eternal and unchanging nature of God, rather than in the transient and often deceptive promises of the world.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Job 14:19
The waters wear the stones: you wash away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth; and you destroy the hope of man.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Christian Unity.
... Better that a man be "narrow" than that he be so ... when we barter away the truth of
God for a ... Sanctification destroys sticklerism for non-essentials and the lust ...
/.../rees/the heart-cry of jesus/chapter v christian unity.htm

Christ --Perfect through Sufferings
... glory to give us an imperfect Savior; to send us one who would mock us with hopes
which could ... It was in man that they defeated God; in man God destroys them. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 8 1863/christperfect through sufferings.htm

Family Prayer.
... allays petulant feelings and turbulent passions, destroys peevishness of ... answer has
often been, "This man was born ... forth its infant prayer to God, must attract ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/philips/the christian home/chapter xv family prayer.htm

The Mythical Hypothesis of Strauss.
... community, pregnant with Jewish Messianic hopes, and kindled ... by denying the personality
of God, destroys also the ... of the personality of man, and consistently ...
/.../schaff/the person of christ/the mythical hypothesis of strauss.htm

National Sorrows and National Lessons
... to say"that so far as we have power, so help us God, no man, woman, or ... of the now
well-known laws of health and cleanliness which destroys thousands of ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon xxxiv national sorrows and.htm

Who is the Rich Man that Shall be Saved?
... then it is clearly manifest that by being poor in those things, by riches of which
one destroys it, it is ... This kingdom a man imitating God will give ...
/.../clement/who is the rich man that shall be saved/who is the rich man.htm

Strong Faith in a Faithful God
... Alas! that unruly member destroys peace and happiness in thousands of cases. The
tongue can no man tame, but the grace of God can tame it; and that ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 61 1915/strong faith in a faithful.htm

On the Second Part of the Psalm.
... See! His sword destroys himself, and his laying of snares is frustrated. ... Hadst not
thou, O man, forsaken God, God would not have been made Man for thee! ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/on the second part of.htm

Hearts and Treasures
... The moth is that which destroys wealth in garments, which was a great part of ancient
Eastern wealth. ... A man who has by God's grace, through faith and love ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/hearts and treasures.htm

Gifts Received for the Rebellious
... withdrew His light and love from him, and man sank into ... originally designed to be
the temple of the living God. ... of His light and love, He destroys the dominion ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 2/sermon xxix gifts received for.htm