By: Obed Pineda
Ancient Greek historian Herodotus once wrote that “Egypt was the gift of the Nile.” Geographers and historians agree that the contributions of the Nile river to the rapid development of Egyptian civilization are undeniable. Truthfully, in a region where the climate can be very arid, covered by large bodies of sand, life could not have thrived without the banks of the Nile overflowing annually, providing sustenance for the fertility of the land. This annual overflow of the Nile is what allowed the ancient Egyptian civilization to grow and prosper immensely, especially during times of famine in the Middle East. Although this river was vital for the Egyptians in the development of their society, what was a blessing could also become their curse when the rains swelled the river too much. The overabundance of water could destroy their crops and in many cases drown their animals, essential for working the land, taken by the powerful currents of the Nile. Plague and pestilence would then follow from all the death and destruction left by the raging storms and swelling waters of the mighty river. For this reason, the Egyptians came to believe that the Nile was some deity that they needed to keep pleased, or else its wrathful vengeance could be manifested in the destruction of their crops by the swelling waters of the river. Thus, this lends strength to the concept that too much of a good thing, can be a bad thing. This, is especially true when it is applied to the praises of men. After having chosen His twelve disciples and healed a great multitude, the inspired Luke recounts the Great Physicians warning to His disciples: “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets” (Luke 6:26, emphasis added). It is important to understand properly what the Master is warning His students about. He is not saying that they should never receive a compliment from anybody, but rather to beware of who is making the compliment and to what end. It would be illogical for our Master to give such a strict command, when He Himself had given praises to others while here on earth. Remember that of Nathanael He exclaimed, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit” (John 1:48)! The same is true of Simon Peter (one of the twelve who directly received this instruction), who after boldly confessing Jesus as the Christ and the Son of the living God, the Lord exalted him saying, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 16:16-17). Therefore, clearly the Savior’s command is that one must be cautious not allow that too much praise from men drown one’s sincere humility before God. Curiously, the Hebrew and Greek words utilized for pride in Holy Writ are descriptions of swelling, rising, or increasing waters or smoke. When Jehovah God demonstrates His omnipotence as a response to Job’s queries, He proclaims in regards to the sea, “When I fixed My limit for it, and set bars and doors; when I said, ‘This far you may come, but no farther, and here your proud waves must stop’” (Job 38:10-11, emphasis added). The Hebrew word implemented for proud in this Scripture is gâ’ôn and it is defined as “a) exaltation, majesty, pride. b) pride, arrogance (bad sense)” (Thayer, H1347). The image sketched by the imagery is that of the rising tides or raging waves that have the appearance of spilling out of its borders, but never do. Thus, in the like manner that Jehovah God limits the raging seas from going beyond the borders He has set, He too immediately brings Job’s self-righteous arrogance down from its high pedestal by demanding of Job, “Now, prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me” (Job 38:3, emphasis added). Paul warns against appointing a newborn Christian as an elder “lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil” (1st Timothy 3:6, emphasis added). The emphasized portion of Scripture in this article, is in actuality one word in Greek Koine; tuphoō. Thayer’s lexicon states that this word is “to raise a smoke, to wrap in a mist” (Thayer, G5187). One thing that the Hebrew and Greek words for pride have in common is that it is portrayed as lifting something (or someone) up or making something (or someone) in high esteem. However, it is here where the Master’s valuable lesson is illumined. The warning is better understood when we think about the imagery used in the original language, from a literal vantage point. There is no question, that when the river swells to a point where it begins to flood, the currents become stronger and anyone caught in those currents are in dire danger of drowning in the swollen river. A person inside a building filled with smoke is at risk of being asphyxiated by the thick cloud enveloping him. Thus, the same is true when a person’s ego begins to become highly dependent on the praises of men, and no longer has an honest heart before God. The constant flattery becomes like the rising waters of a flood or the thick cloud of smoke that can destroy the sincerity of a man’s intention in serving others. The Lord Jesus instructs His church to beware of flattery because it is not always sincere and can be intoxicating. The inspired penmen of the Proverbs mirrors the Lord’s wise words as he writes, “Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble, is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint” and reiterates “It is not good to eat much honey; so to seek one’s own glory is not glory” (Proverbs 25:19 and 27, emphasis added). Flattering compliments are dangerous because they can become addictive. Those who do so, commence to mold their behavior to the liking of the crowd they seek to please and lose sight of who they were. Since their goal is to always please men, they eventual become like them and thus James boldly asks, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:4, emphasis added). Behold, the true motive behind the flattery of the fathers who encouraged the false prophets of old that the Master alludes to (Luke 6:26b)! Lamentably, King Hezekiah fell prey to this asphyxiating smoke of human exaltation (2nd Kings 20:12-19, 2nd Chronicles 32:31, Isaiah 39:1-8). Although he was a great king in Judah, who restored the worship that belong to Jehovah and destroyed everything related to idolatry, he was not immune to the flattery of the Babylonian king. Overjoyed by the king’s gift to him, Hezekiah unwittingly invited Babylon to conquer them by foolishly boasting to them “all the house of his treasures – the silver and gold, the spices and precious ointment, and all his armory – all that was found among his treasures. There was nothing in his house or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them” (2nd Kings 20:13, emphasis added). Hezekiah’s misstep, sowed the seed in Babylon’s heart that would eventually sprout in Nebuchadnezzar’s heart, and bring about the 70 years of captivity. He was torn by the swollen currents of flattery, and drowned his kingdom.