A Short View of the Long Game

History is the changing of fortunes, the changing of one’s state, whether for good or for bad, for individuals, countries, and even kingdoms. Recently, Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris was reopened after being burned and damaged four or five years ago. As I understand, the Cathedral was completed around 1260 AD, so at least for the West, it is incredibly old. It was greatly defaced in 1790 during the French Revolution. Yesterday was a turning of fortunes. It was back to being beautiful and pristine with all the pomp and circumstance that goes with it. History is the changing of fortunes.

About the same time as the Cathedral was reopened, Syria was overthrown by rebels. Syria is an ancient city that has had falling and rising fortunes.  Jeremiah 49:23 says, “Concerning Damascus. Hamath is confounded.” We are talking about Damascus, that ancient city. It is confounded. This is but one of several kingdoms that God is addressing in judgment in Jeremiah 49. Of course, God had chastened His own people, but God is sovereign over the entire universe. What you find as you read these judgments against these ancient kingdoms is that pride is a short view of the long game. History is changing fortunes, but pride is a short view of the big picture.

For example, in verse 4, speaking to Ammon, the descendants of Lot, God says, “Wherefore gloriest thou in the valleys, thy flowing valley O backsliding daughter? that trusted in her treasures, saying, Who shall come unto me?” She felt secure, rich, and on top, but God was going to judge that. Speaking of Edom, Esau’s descendants, verse 16 says, “Thy terribleness hath deceived thee.” That is, their might had actually misled them. It continues, “And the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the LORD.” In verse 18 there is a reference to Sodom and Gomorrah as there is again in Jeremiah 51 where it speaks of kingdoms whose foundational sin, personified in several different ways, was pride. That did not sit well with God.

Jeremiah 48 is all about Moab and her pride. She had been exalted and magnified herself against the Lord. God talks about the pride of Moab, her loftiness, arrogance, and the haughtiness of her heart. In each of these cases, we find that pride is just a short view of the long game, a short view of the big picture.

This can also be true about despair. Sometimes we despair because we only see what is right in front of our eyes. We don’t see the big picture, what God may be doing. Pride doesn’t see God. So, consider God in your life, whether it is despair you face or a little bit of smugness. Don’t fail to see and consider God.

As He is making these pronouncements against these kingdoms, God says again in verse 32, “I will scatter.” Verses 37-38 say, “I will cause Elam to be dismayed…I will bring evil upon them…I will set up my throne.” What he is saying is that everyone thinks this in Nebuchadnezzar. Verse 30 says, “For Nebuchadnezzar…hath taken counsel against you, and hath conceived a purpose against you.” Was this destruction coming from Nebuchadnezzar and his armies or was it coming from the God of hosts? The answer is yes. So, pride is just a short view of the long game and so is despair. Don’t fail to see God.

Don’t fail to see eternity. Jeremiah 48:47 is pronouncing judgment against Moab and says, “Yet will I bring again the captivity of Moab in the latter days.” He says this a couple of times about a couple different kingdoms against whom He has pronounced judgment. Jeremiah 49:39 says, “But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the LORD.” Now whether this is future or past I’m not sure, but God can see something in the future much bigger than anyone He was addressing could see. So, pride is just failing to see God and failing to see eternity.

In contrast to God’s judgment, you find God’s heart for those who trust in Him. Verse 11 says, “Leave thy fatherless children [speaking of Edom who would be judged] I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me.” The descendants of Esau and Lot were trusting their idols, wealth, and military might, but who does a widow have to trust, especially in ancient times? A widow was oftentimes destitute. God was saying, “I will bring down the high and exalted, but I will take care of the fatherless children and the widow if they will trust in Me.”

Today, rest. Stability is found in God. It is not found in how great and good you are. It is found in God Almighty, the God who judges pride and gives grace to the humble. History changes, and one day, should Christ tarry, Notre Dame will be gone. Nothing lasts forever. Pride though is a short view of the long game. Consider God; consider eternity, and know He will give grace to the humble.