The harsh truth is that the leadership of the United States government has become extremely prideful just as numerous leaders of Israel did in the past. Whenever this happened in Israel, the judgment of God came upon the people of Israel, and the leaders and nation were humbled in severe ways. Because our own nation and leaders have acted foolishly and not heeded the warnings and instruction from the word of God, this cycle will repeat itself and will affect the entire country.
“Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18 NKJV)
“But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6 NKJV)
The lofty look of man will be made low, And the men made high will be bowed down, And Yahweh alone will be exalted in that day. For Yahweh of hosts will have a day of reckoning. Against everyone who is proud and high. And against everyone who is lifted up, That he may be made low. — Isaiah 2:11-12
The Pride of Kings
Pride enters a national leader when God shows them great grace, and that leader starts to see themself as chosen or more special because of that grace instead of giving glory to God. Kings lose their reasoning and judgment when pride enters their hearts. This is a major reason why it matters regarding what leader is governing a country. The entire nation can suffer if its leadership is poor or prideful.
Some church pastor’s would foolishly say, “It doesn’t matter who the president is, Jesus is on the throne.” These pastors have apparently never thought about how it is to live in a war torn country where their son’s are mandated to fight and die by the government and their daughters are raped by invading militaries. They have never known starvation because of failing crops. These pastors only have general slogans that sound great on the surface level, but lack any real Biblical wisdom and careful consideration of reality.
King Hezekiah was sick and going to die, but after he turned to the Lord in prayer, the Lord miraculously healed him. After Hezekiah saw that the Lord responded in such a way to his petition, he became prideful and showed the enemy all of Israel’s treasury, armory, and dominion (2 Kings 20:1-13). This pride and foolish decision caused the Lord to judge the entire nation. Invasion would be the result of Hezekiah’s pride.
“Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord: ‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have accumulated until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,’ says the Lord. ‘And they shall take away some of your sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’ ” (II Kings 20:16-18 NKJV)
Asa, like Hezekiah, was a great leader until pride entered his heart. He choose to put his trust in man over God, even when God had already shown Himself strong on Asa’s behalf (2 Chronicles 16:1-10).
“And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said to him: “Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on the Lord your God, therefore the army of the king of Syria has escaped from your hand. Were the Ethiopians and the Lubim not a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the Lord, He delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now onyou shall have wars.” Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in prison, for he was enraged at him because of this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at that time.” (II Chronicles 16:7-10 NKJV)
If Asa were truly humble, he would have fallen on his knees and repented before the Lord when he was presented with the prophetic word. Instead, Asa persecuted the messager and oppressed people in his defiant anger at the Lord’s rebuke and correction. The result of Asa’s pride was war. A nation in continual war is a judgment, not a blessing. I hope we can see and understand this. The United States being engaged in continual conflict in the Middle East (and currently at war with Iran) is a judgment from the Lord.
