Wednesdays in the Word

I was recently struck with how much humility means to God.
I was reading about King Ahab and his wife Jezebel. The Bible says "there was no one like Ahab, who sold himself to do wickedness because his wife incited him." And "He behaved very abominably."
When God's plans of judgment for his actions were told to Ahab, he actually tore his clothes, put on sack cloth, and mourned.
And God changed His plans! He actually does that a lot in the Bible.
Doesn't His mercy just blow your mind?
God said:
"Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity in his days."

Here are some verses about humility:

"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time." 1 Pet. 5:6-8

"God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."  James 4:6

"Whoever humbles himself will be exalted." Matt. 23:12

"Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will exalt you." James 4:10

"What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"  Micah 6:8

"Clothe yourselves all of you, with humility toward one another, for 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 1 Pet. 5:5

"Humility comes before honor."  Prov. 18:12

"The Lord lifts up the humble,"  Ps. 147:6

There's a list of things that God hates in Proverbs 6. And I think it is interesting that the first thing on the list is "A proud look." Ouch!

In Daniel 4, we read about Nebuchadnezzar and how God chose to humble him until he learned "that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomever He chooses." 
(there's a great verse for every election year!)
(Forgive me for not typing at Neb's whole name from here on out)
I wonder if prideful people look like brute beasts before God.
Maybe that is why He made Neb become a literal beast! (check it out!) He was one until he came "to know that Heaven rules." (Good thing God does not choose to do this today or life on earth would be like living on Planet of the Apes) ; )

Neb learned that God "does according to His will in the army of heaven AND among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand." 

And then he said "Now I, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and his ways justice. And those who walk in pride, He is able to put down."  

"The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life."  Prov. 22:4 -Awesome!

~Becky