June 11 - How Did Alexander Become the Great?

 

Robert Strand

HOW DID ALEXANDER BECOME "THE" GREAT?

Alexander became "The Great" because his influence outlasted his battle field victories. His troops adored him. One instance of his leadership stands out...they had been on a forced march without water for two days in the hot desert sun. He sent out his scouts to find water, they returned at the end of the day with a little bit in the bottom of a helmet. No one had water in days...they enviously looked at their leader as he took the helmet to drink...then he poured it out and said, "It's no good unless we can all drink!"

He was raised with a sense of duty. At age 20 he inherited the throne of Macedonia from his father. He then set out with 35,000 troops to conquer the world. In the next 11 years he marched more than 11,000 miles, never lost a battle and spread Greek culture throughout the then known world.

But by 324 BC, Alexander's own power became too intoxicating. He withdrew from the life of a soldier and declared himself the son of the Greek god Zeus and began drinking heavily because there were no more worlds to conquer.

He was in Babylon with his army in 323 BC, preparing for his next campaign and got into a drinking contest at a celebration banquet. He is believed to have gulped down at least 6 quarts of wine. The next day he was sicker than a dog, caught a cold which turned into pneumonia and still from his bed he continued to issue orders. Within 10 days of his drinking fest, the world conqueror was dead!

He managed to conquer the world...but he could not conquer himself! Alexander had always believed he was also descended from Achilles...if that's true, then his "Achilles' heel" was Alexander's ego.

"What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8:36-37)

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