779_Wielded, not wielder: the folly of arrogance (Jeremiah 50-51)
Jeremiah 50:23-25 How the hammer of the whole earth
is cut down and broken!
How Babylon has become
a horror among the nations!
24 I set a snare for you and you were taken, O Babylon,
and you did not know it;
you were found and caught,
because you opposed the Lord.
25 The Lord has opened his armory
and brought out the weapons of his wrath,
for the Lord God of hosts has a work to do
in the land of the Chaldeans.
When a craftsman uses his tools to create a marvelous work, the praise does not belong to the tools. A hammer may drive in a nail perfectly, a saw may cut precisely, an axe may bring down a mighty tree. But these are simply instruments in the hands of someone stronger and wiser than they could ever be.
Yet imagine that the axe could think. Would it look at the fallen tree and say, “Look what I have done! What a powerful axe I am!”? How absurd! Left to itself, it could neither choose its task, swing itself, or decide where and when to strike. It needed to be used and directed to do its task.
Spiritually speaking, we can become more foolish than this imaginary axe.
Jeremiah 50 and 51 contain some of the final recorded words of the prophet Jeremiah. In those days, the exile had begun. Jerusalem had been destroyed and the temple of the Lord burned down. Babylon stood at the height of its power. Humanly speaking, it looked invincible.
Against this background, Jeremiah prophesied the fall and ruin of Babylon. It looked as though it would last forever, but the prophet saw it as a desolation, a place of horror. The people of his day could hardly imagine how such a thing could happen. But Jeremiah did not see Babylon merely from the perspective of the present. He was entrusted with the word of the God who sees the end from the beginning.
And as we read these chapters, we discover that powerful as it was, Babylon was never sovereign. It was mighty, but it was still an instrument in the hand of God.
Talking to Jeremiah about Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, God referred to him as “my servant” (Jeremiah 25:9). Nebuchadnezzar was a pagan king. Babylon did not worship the living God. Yet for God, even this mighty empire could be used to accomplish His purposes. Through Babylon he brought discipline upon Judah to bring her to an awareness of her persistent rebellion.
But when Babylon realized that she had become mistress of her world, the empress of all neighboring nations, she began to swell with pride. She forgot that she had simply been fulfilling the purposes of a greater one than her ruler.
Jeremiah exposes this arrogance. In Jeremiah 50:29, God says, “Repay her according to her deeds.” This is where the image of the axe becomes so powerful.
Years earlier, through Isaiah, God had asked concerning Assyria, “Shall the axe boast over him who hews with it?” (Isaiah 10:15). The question exposes its own stupidity. For the axe is nothing without the hand, and certainly not superior to it.
This is among the most important spiritual truths that Babylon teaches us.
When God uses us, we may easily begin to think that we are wise and powerful and talented. We begin to take credit for our ability, our influence, the fruit of our work or our service. We forget who gave us the strength.
But Scripture asks us, “What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Corinthians 4:7).
Our abilities are received. Our opportunities are received. Our strength is received. Our wisdom is received. Even the desire and ability to serve God are gifts of His grace.
And therefore, when God uses us, the appropriate response is not pride but gratitude. Let us thank him for letting us serve him and for accepting our service. Let us humbly acknowledge that we are only instruments in his hand.
God could have used someone else. He could have chosen another voice, another servant, another family, another church, another generation. That He chooses to use us is not evidence that we are indispensable. It is evidence of His sovereignty and mercy.
Paul describes believers as “jars of clay” in 2 Corinthians 4:7. Why? So that “the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” The treasure may be glorious, but the vessel remains a vessel.
And yet Babylon forgot. God had warned Nebuchadnezzar, some way through his reign. In Daniel chapter 4, the proud king began to live like an ox, living outside in the field and eating grass for seven years. Eventually Nebuchadnezzar lifted his eyes toward heaven and acknowledged God’s sovereignty. Only when he learned that “the Most High rules the kingdom of men” was he healed.
But the larger story of Babylon continued toward the judgment Jeremiah had foretold. Eventually, while Babylon appeared secure, the Medes and Persians came against it. The mighty empire fell.
And that is the sobering lesson: the hand that raises an instrument can also lay it aside.
Jeremiah 50–51 therefore teaches us something deeper than the fall of a great empire. It carries on the lesson of Babylon, that ancient picture of human pride. It reveals in all its ugliness the human tendency to turn God’s gifts into reasons to glorify ourselves.
And that pattern ultimately appears again in the book of Revelation. It speaks of “Babylon the great,” the great city representing a world system characterized by pride, immorality, wealth, self-sufficiency, and rebellion against God. She appears powerful and magnificent, immovable in her greatness and unrelenting in her pride and luxury. Yet, suddenly, she falls.
But then, in contrast to Babylon, we see another city—the holy city, the New Jerusalem. She is described as “a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21:2).
Babylon characterizes godless humanity, saying, “Look at us! See what we have built.” The bride is the picture of those who are Christ’s, and receive everything from Him.
Babylon boasts and falls. The bride is received by the bridegroom, into his love and into all that he has.
Babylon seeks glory for herself. The redeemed of God find their glory in Christ.
Jeremiah’s message comes close to our hearts. Though we are not rulers, nor commanders of armies, we still face the temptation to take glory to ourselves, forgetting his Hand that created, sustains, and provides for us. The hand that was nailed to the cross for us, the hand that moves all things from heaven his throne, and will one day summon us to join him.
Success can make us proud. The praise of people may delight our hearts. Our impressive gifts may win us admiration. We may become convinced that God’s work cannot continue without us. And in all these settings, we may forget him.
But that is the greatest mistake we can ever make. For the axe must not take to itself the glory that belongs only to the one who wields it.
So amidst opportunities to serve, let us remember who gave them to us. When success shines bright, let us thank him who made it possible. When we are praised for our accomplishments, let us turn our hearts towards the one who is sovereign over all things and quietly give him the glory.
And even when we feel insignificant, let us remember that ours is not the Hand that controls. We are just His instruments. We only need to be faithful to whatever he asks us to do. For the effectiveness of the work depends, not on the axe, but on him who uses it.
So today, let us ask ourselves: Have I begun to take credit for what God has done through me? Have I mistaken usefulness for importance? Have I forgotten that everything I possess was first placed in my hands by God?
God is sovereign over kingdoms, history, circumstances, and our own lives. He sees what we cannot see. He can accomplish what appears impossible. And He does not need any of our gifts or abilities. He needs only humble dependence. He needs only surrendered people.
The axe boasts only in the fact that he who wielded it was mighty and wise. Let that be our boast as well—not “Look what I have done,” but “Look what the Lord has done through me.” God bless.
Reflection questions
What are some areas of your life where you are most tempted to take credit for what God has enabled you to accomplish?
Why do you think being used by God can sometimes become a source of spiritual pride rather than humility?
How can you practically remind yourself that your abilities, opportunities, and accomplishments are gifts received from God?
What does the image of “the axe” and “the One who wields it” teach you about your role in God’s purposes?
How does the contrast between Babylon and the holy city in Revelation challenge the way you think about success, greatness, and lasting significance?
Let us pray
Heavenly Father, I acknowledge that you are the one who holds me and accomplishes your purposes through my weakness. Keep me from pride when You use me, and keep me from discouragement when I feel weak or insignificant. For everything I have is received from You. Let me not keep the glory for anything from myself, but glorify your grace in all that you do in and through me. In Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.
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