We have heard of Moab’s pride–how great is her arrogance!–of her conceit, her pride and her insolence; but her boasts are empty. Isaiah 16:6
As Israel was being punished and crushed under the hand of God, Moab was boasting about their power and abilities. Moab was a powerful nation, even though not the largest or most powerful, and felt that they were among the best. They were very proud of what they had accomplished and let everyone know about it.
However, God said that all their boasting and pride was empty. There was very little truth in what they were boasting about. Later in this chapter, God says that within three years they would be wiped out and destroyed.
Everywhere a person goes, one can hear of boasting. It starts in the kindergarten playground when one boy or girl is boasting to another about something. They may boast about a parent or it may be about winning a game. The boasting continues in life, usually, until they are dead. For many people it is a way of life.
Adults will boast about their great accomplishments in life. Businesses will boast about their product. The boasting usually goes beyond what is actually truth. Just as with the fisherman talking about the fish that got away, and each time it is told the fish is larger, so it is with boasting. The more one boasts, the more it moves away from the truth.
Boasting in one’s own power, abilities or accomplishments is an empty boast. The real truth about everything that you accomplish is that it was God who has given you the strength and ability to accomplish it.
There is nothing that you have done, whether good or evil, that God has not given you the ability to do it.
So all that boasting that you do and pride that you feel about what you have done, needs to be re-directed to God. God is the one who is really in control and has the ability, not you.
As you boast, boast about what God is doing, boast about what others are doing. Do not boast in yourself. Boasting in yourself is an empty, worthless boast. God can change any situation you are in, in one second. You, on your own, cannot really change anything, but your trust in God.
Don’t waste your breath on empty boasting today.
I pray today that you will know God’s power in your life; that you will know it is God who is working in and through you; that you will not boast except in God; and that you will allow God to work in and through you in all situations.
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