Unintended Consequences
We just observe two extraordinary deliverances for Hezekiah: Jerusalem’s salvation from Assyria, the recovery from death for Hezekiah, and the miracles that brought them to pass.
Yet in Isaiah 39, the king of Babylon sends a gift and an envoy to Hezekiah to celebrate these miracles with him. Hezekiah is so delighted he shows them everything about his kingdom, including his treasures, the temple treasures, and his armoury.
The prophet Isaiah comes to Hezekiah.
Isaiah 39:4-8
The prophet asked, “What did they see in your palace?”
“They saw everything in my palace,” Hezekiah said. “There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them.”
5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord Almighty: 6 The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your fathers have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord. 7 And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”
8 “The word of the Lord you have spoken is good,” Hezekiah replied. For he thought, “There will be peace and security in my lifetime.”
One would think that after these incredible acts of God saving him and Jerusalem, he would plead with God to spare Judah. He would repent for being careless with a future conquering nation.
Listen to Hezekiah’s response.
Isaiah 39:8
8 “The word of the Lord you have spoken is good,” Hezekiah replied. For he thought, “There will be peace and security in my lifetime.”
It makes one wonder if this is why God was going to take Hezekiah’s life early through sickness. He loved him and appreciated Hezekiah’s faithfulness to lead Judah in worship to God, but He knew his weakness and how it would be exposed.
Careless. Hezekiah was careless when his guard was down. That can be forgiven. If he had owned it, he wouldn’t have.
We find that he could ‘care less’ about the future of Judah.
For he thought, “There will be peace and security in my lifetime.”
He pleaded with God for his own safety and his own health; how much did he really care for others? We can’t know, but God did reveal Hezekiah’s thoughts here in scripture.
How about us? How many times has God met us, heard our cries, and delivered us? How many times have we let our guard down and become careless? When we are confronted with unintended consequences, do we own them?
I know in my life, I am a trusting person and, as such, can tend to be careless if I am not very intentional.
But what is more disturbing is the question: Do I care less? Do I care more about myself, my safety, and my comfort than the needs of others?
Upon reading Hezekiah this morning, this question seems to crescendo in my heart and mind.
May we never think: For he thought, “There will be peace and security in my lifetime.”
God help us care more about others than we do ourselves, and may we plead with you for their cause.
May we be people who care more – not care less.
