"Is the axe to boast itself over the one who chops with it? Is the saw to exalt itself over the one who wields it?" Isaiah 10:15
In the tenth chapter of Isaiah, God turns His anger on the Assyrians, a nation that He initially uses as His "instrument" to attack His own people because of their prideful ways. Apparently arrogance is a universal thing, no matter who you are or who you follow, because God speaks these words through Isaiah concerning the Assyrian ruler: "I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the pomp of his haughtiness" (verse 12). The king gives himself credit for everything his nation has plundered and destroyed, saying, "by the power of my hand and by my wisdom I did this" (verse 13). God compares the king's blatant and unapologetic pride to an axe that "boasts itself over the one who chops with it" in verse 15. An axe, like any other inanimate object, cannot perform its purpose without a more powerful entity taking it up and manipulating it in such a way as to create a result. An axe cannot chop wood by itself. Similarly, the nation of Assyria, and more specifically its king, could not have successfully invaded and plundered Israel without God's intervention.
Granted, the hearts of the Assyrians are hardened; Isaiah even says that the nation does not "intend" to trample God's people, but does so because "it is its purpose to destroy and to cut off many nations" (verse 7). Much like it is the axe's purpose to cut wood, it is the Assyrians' purpose to destroy; they face their own destruction because of their haughtiness and godlessness. However, we as God's children can learn from this mistaken way of thinking; in fact, it is the Israelites' pride that caused the Assyrians' attack to begin with (see previous post and Isaiah 9:8-21). Exalting ourselves for the blessings God gives us is not only wrong, but harmful to our relationship with Him. We become deluded into thinking that we have everything under control and can do anything using our own power and devices. Remember the vine and the branches? Jesus said, "Apart from Me, you can do nothing" (John 15:5). God wants to use us for His purposes, and it can be very exciting to see just what we're capable of with His help and grace. But the minute we choose to take credit for what He's done or to exalt ourselves using the gifts He gives us, we become no better than the Assyrians. Our hearts will become hard and we will bring about our own destruction.
Ask God for His help; come before Him as His child who is helpless without Him. Bring Him your empty hands to be filled with His gifts, and ask Him what He would have you do for His kingdom. And most important, exalt the One who allows you to represent Him in such wonderful and astounding ways. Remember, we are but axes who need powerful hands to fulfill a great purpose; apart from Him we can do nothing.
In the tenth chapter of Isaiah, God turns His anger on the Assyrians, a nation that He initially uses as His "instrument" to attack His own people because of their prideful ways. Apparently arrogance is a universal thing, no matter who you are or who you follow, because God speaks these words through Isaiah concerning the Assyrian ruler: "I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the pomp of his haughtiness" (verse 12). The king gives himself credit for everything his nation has plundered and destroyed, saying, "by the power of my hand and by my wisdom I did this" (verse 13). God compares the king's blatant and unapologetic pride to an axe that "boasts itself over the one who chops with it" in verse 15. An axe, like any other inanimate object, cannot perform its purpose without a more powerful entity taking it up and manipulating it in such a way as to create a result. An axe cannot chop wood by itself. Similarly, the nation of Assyria, and more specifically its king, could not have successfully invaded and plundered Israel without God's intervention.
Granted, the hearts of the Assyrians are hardened; Isaiah even says that the nation does not "intend" to trample God's people, but does so because "it is its purpose to destroy and to cut off many nations" (verse 7). Much like it is the axe's purpose to cut wood, it is the Assyrians' purpose to destroy; they face their own destruction because of their haughtiness and godlessness. However, we as God's children can learn from this mistaken way of thinking; in fact, it is the Israelites' pride that caused the Assyrians' attack to begin with (see previous post and Isaiah 9:8-21). Exalting ourselves for the blessings God gives us is not only wrong, but harmful to our relationship with Him. We become deluded into thinking that we have everything under control and can do anything using our own power and devices. Remember the vine and the branches? Jesus said, "Apart from Me, you can do nothing" (John 15:5). God wants to use us for His purposes, and it can be very exciting to see just what we're capable of with His help and grace. But the minute we choose to take credit for what He's done or to exalt ourselves using the gifts He gives us, we become no better than the Assyrians. Our hearts will become hard and we will bring about our own destruction.
Ask God for His help; come before Him as His child who is helpless without Him. Bring Him your empty hands to be filled with His gifts, and ask Him what He would have you do for His kingdom. And most important, exalt the One who allows you to represent Him in such wonderful and astounding ways. Remember, we are but axes who need powerful hands to fulfill a great purpose; apart from Him we can do nothing.
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