Ezekiel 28:11-19

The first experience of Adam and Eve after their disobedience and rebellion was that of shame and fear.
Before then, they lived in confidence, secured in eternal fellowship with the Almighty, and were without
any anxiety. In their original, God-ordained position of dependence on God, the responsibility was solely
on God to attend to their needs, to care for them and wrap them in glory. It was His glory that covered
their nakedness. When their heart was lifted in pride, leading to rebellion, they sought to retrieve
ownership and control of their lives from the Father. The folly in this action is their failure to recognize
that ownership dictates responsibility.

Their prideful rebellion to seize the seat of control from God and yield it to self also meant that they
agreed to bear responsibility for taking care of themselves. What they quickly realized was that stepping
out of God meant stepping into shame, anxiety and fear. They could neither bear responsibility for their
care nor could they cover themselves. The burden of their needs was not one they could bear alone. The
mercy of God to clothe them was to teach then that the safest place to be was in Him, in a place of
dependence where He retains ownership and responsibility for their lives and by extension, our lives.

This is the greatest danger with pride. It pits man against God in a tussle for ownership, control and glory.
Not that man could ever win in a tussle with God, but the mere attempt sets him in competition against
His Maker. Once pride draws a man outside of God’s covering of ownership, such a man is in danger
with God and a prey of the enemy. It is no surprise that God hates pride and considers it an abomination.
It is the nature of God to resist anything that wants His glory (Is. 42:8). The devil’s age-long strategy has
been to break men’s the fellowship with God, isolate him and destroy man. Pride is a prominent tool for
this strategy. Pride brings a man into battles on two fronts; God is against such a man and the devil is also
allowed access to torment such a man (James 4:6). It is no surprise that the Bible warns that pride comes
before destruction (Prov. 16:18). A wise man will run from pride (Prov. 13:10).

Prayer Focus – Lord deliver me from the schemes of the enemy to destroy me through pride. I receive
the grace and the wisdom to humble myself before you Lord in Jesus name.