“Beware of the three cords of doom!” Abune Tekle Haimanot
Pride, Jealousy and Haughty, the three cords of doom lead humans to spiritual failure. Written on Proverb 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Pride is what led to sinning. Righteous as he is, our father Abune Tekle Haimanot’s diligence within the monastery of Abba Bteselote Michael for ten years led to the servile in seeking their blessing and advice. He instructed them to, “Make virtue of patience, humility and the fear of God; These three things lead to eternal life. Beware that the three cords of doom that drag you down to the depths of the forest do not make you jealous, arrogant and conceited.”
In the story of King Nebuchadnezzar, pride and jealousy are what bestially demeanor his ruling. Then, he was told by Prophet Daniel that the kingdom would be taken from him and so other king shall reign. Unwilling of letting go of his kingdom and instead of accepting the prophets caveat, he build a statue declaring that his kingdom would continue forever. His jealousy on the three Hebrews following GOD exceeded his rage. “Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was won’t to be heated.” (Daniel 2:39, 3:17-19)
Jealousy and pride urges for deviousness; Nebuchadnezzar’s pride came over his entire kingdom and the King conquered much when he defied God. Undoubtedly he was to suffer but sealed the speed of his fate when he also conceited.
As stated in prophecy of Daniel, the King said, “at rest in mine house and flourishing in my palace”. He then saw a dream and His spirit was so troubled that his sleep left him. Then the king gave the command to call the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. And the king said to them, “I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious to know the dream.” (Daniel 4:4, 2:3)
Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation.” The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “My decision is firm: if you do not make known the dream to me, and its interpretation, you shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made an ash heap. However, if you tell the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts, rewards, and great honor. Therefore tell me the dream and its interpretation.” They answered again and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will give its interpretation.” The king answered and said, “I know for certain that you would gain time, because you see that my decision is firm: 9 if you do not make known the dream to me, there is only one decree for you! For you have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the time has changed. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can give me its interpretation.”
The Chaldeans answered the king, and said, “There is not a man on earth who can tell the king’s matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean. It is a difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.” For this reason the king was angry and very furious, and gave the command to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. So the decree went out, and they began killing the wise men; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them.
However, and 12 months later he declared, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?” Nebuchadnezzar’s biggest indulgence was though his pride against God. He wants not only the dream of four metals not to be true but he was prepared to declare in a statue 90ft high about the falsity of its truth. Though Nebuchadnezzar was fortunate since he was not destroyed and was later restored; we shall not all get warning and so we are expected to heed the examples given to us in scripture. (Daniel 2: 2-14, 4:30)
The punishment for pride is severe and dreadful. Enemy Satan will be thrown into hell, because he disobeyed GOD not willing to serve him. Our world is now full of evil and haughty people who despise and carrying hatred deep inside.
People sin for their pride and haughtiness as well in accumulating wealth and prestige. Instead of fearing GOD and asking in prayer in their daily bread, they make every decision and action within their own strength and ability relying on themselves.
Yet, “Now you boast in your work; such pride is evil in the end.” Pride is like a rope of jealousy and haughty that destroys us. Let us avoid jealousy, pride and haughtiness so that we do not dishearten GOD. (James 1: 3; Proverbs 4: 3)