They were known for their beauty. Not for their beauty as people but for their beauty that came from wealth. They had it all. Beautiful homes, a beautiful island, beautiful ships, beautiful buildings made of the finest wood, a robust fortress and money to spare. They had it all.

Because Tyre was the “merchant of the peoples” and they had extraordinary offerings—fragrant cedar wood, royal purple dye, glassware and more as well as the ownership and prowess on the waters, they were wealthy. Very wealth.

They would even say of themselves that they were “perfect in beauty.”. And from the outside they were. But on the inside they had become arrogant. They began to believe they were like the gods. And although the world did business with them, the world would equally be horrified, appalled and then mock the fall of Tyre.

But the east wind (“Babylon”) would break them. And shake them. And they would go to the sea. It will later say their destruction would come in waves and that is exactly what would happen.

Here’s a truth that has resounded throughout history:

A nation can handle every type of adversity, except one. Prosperity.

That’s right. Prosperity.

When a nation becomes prosperous, within time they lose their identity and purpose. They lavish money on themselves instead of becoming generous and building business among the poor and needy. They become arrogant thinking they are the best in the world. Soon they abandon God not recognizing that what they have become is through His blessing.

A nation can handle almost anything, just not prosperity.

And then it falls.

Not in a day like most think. But over the span of a few years. Sometimes a few decades. And sometimes it will completely disappear in history after a few centuries.