2 Chronicles 32:21-33
Following the Assyrians' taunts that God was just another man made god and the prayers of Hezekiah and Isaiah the prophet, God miraculously delivers Jerusalem. The LORD's angel 'cut off' all the mighty men, leaders and captains (185,000 soldiers killed overnight, 2 Kings 19:35). The Assyrian King went back home totally defeated, and when worshipping in the temple of his god his own sons killed him.
We are then briefly told about Hezekiah's deliverance from his deathbed and the LORD's sign that he would recover - (more details in Isaiah 38).
The remainder of the chapter tells us how the LORD blessed Hezekiah with many riches, treasures, and possessions. Held in high esteem from surrounding nations Hezekiah became proud and did not give appropriate glory to God. When Babylonian ambassadors came to see 'the wonder that was done in the land' he showed them all his treasures (Isaiah 39). Because of this God told him via Isaiah that all these treasures would be taken away from Jerusalem, (Isaiah 39), but because Hezekiah and his people repented it wouldn't happen during his reign.
At his death Hezekiah was buried with great honour in the chiefest sepulchre. His son Manasseh ascended to the throne.
'Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in the heart' (verse 31).
This verse bothered me! In Hebrews 13:5 God tells us he will never leave or forsake us. Hezekiah's experience at face value seems a contradiction of this, and it is also a terrifying thought that God might leave us. My Strong's Concordance is really helpful here:
- the Hebrew word for 'left' in this verse means 'to allow someone to do something'. In contrast, the Greek word for 'leave' in Hebrews means 'to send back, desert, desist, forbear, or leave'.
God allowed Hezekiah to do his own thing here to try or test him, that he might know all that was in his heart. Why would God do this?
In Jeremiah 17:9 we read, 'The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the LORD search the heart, I try (test) the reins (mind)...'
Robert Hawker* explains, 'The grand design was to show Hezekiah what was in his heart. The miracle God had wrought ...(making the sun go back 10 degrees)...was the wonder done in the land. And as the Assyrians foolishly worshipped the sun, probably Hezekiah vaunted himself not a little on this account....the Lord thus humbled his servant, in order to bring him acquainted with the real state of his heart in the sight of God...what does this shew but this, that all men, the best of men, are but men full of infirmities, and nothing to boast of before God'.
This isn't the first time we read of God testing people. In Deuteronomy 8:2 as the Israelites are nearing the time of entering the Promised Land, Moses says,
'And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thy heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no'.
Exodus 15:25 and 16:4 record details of times when the Israelites needed drink and food and the LORD 'proved' them. In both cases the Israelites 'murmured' or grumbled against Moses and Aaron, blaming them for their problems.
Don't we do this? How often have have we found ourselves in circumstances or weather that hasn't suited us and we complain - against this person or that - or the rain or the cold or the heat?! But God is above it all - he orders and allows all things - so we are complaining against him!
God knows our true nature more than we know - so he shows us. 'For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried' (Psalm 66:10). 'The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts' (Proverbs 17:3).
The Apostle Paul warns us, 'let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall' (1 Corinthians 10:12). Let us pray that God will keep us from temptation and strengthen our faith. Let us examine ourselves, 'whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves' (2 Corinthians 13:5), that when the great test of time comes, the day of judgement, we will not be ' weighed in the balances, and art found wanting' (Daniel 5:27), but will hear the voice of our Lord say, 'Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world'. (Matthew 25:34.)
*Robert Hawker. The Poor Man's Old Testament Commentary. Volume 3, First Kings to Esther. Solid Ground Christian Books, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. ISBN 1932474412
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