You would naturally think that in the extra 15 years of life granted to him, Hezekiah would have walked humbly and carefully before God. Yet after all God's goodness to him, he seemed to have walked in pride rather than in prayer. We read in 2 Chronicles 32:25: "Hezekiah's heart was proud and he did not respond to the kindness shown him." Verse 31 states that God left him, to test him, and to know what was in his heart. What was the result? He flunked his first test. Spies coming under the disguise of friendship arrived from Babylon. Hezekiah felt very flattered. "They have come to see me. I will show them my palace and all my treasures." Instead of asking for God's guidance about their visit, pride led him astray. When a letter of blasphemy came, Hezekiah had taken it to the Lord. Now when a letter of flattery was received, Hezekiah took it to himself and not to the Lord. Which letter was more dangerous? We all have moments of self-confidence and pride. If Satan can't defeat us by a frontal attack, he will do it in a more subtle way. Satan used that method in the Garden of Eden and he is still using it with considerable success. In Eden, Adam and Eve forgot all God had done for them. They forgot to ask for His guidance. They disobeyed His Word. The results have been disastrous. Isaiah appeared once again. The king had to admit what he had done. He had not learned very much from struggling in the place of death from which God had delivered him. Does that apply to us too? We should have been to Calvary, the place of death but God has raised us up. Have we forgotten all that He has done for us? Are we going our own way still? REMEMBER: Pride and prayer can't walk together. One will always cancel out the other. |
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