THE WONDER OF THE GOD WE SERVE

 

The God We Serve

Toni M. Babcock

The prophet Isaiah delivered an unexpected blow to King Hezekiah when the King least expected it – on the heels of a mighty victory over his archenemy King Sennacherib, whose Assyrian army had been struck down miraculously by the angel of the LORD.

Post-victory, Hezekiah had developed a deadly infection, so the prophet came and said to him , 

“This is what the LORD says: ‘Set your house in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.’” In anguish and sorrow over these tidings, Hezekiah “turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, and he wept bitterly.” 

Soon a new word came from the LORD to Isaiah: 

“Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘This is what the LORD God of your ancestor David says: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Look, I am going to add fifteen years to your life.” 

(You can read the full account in Isaiah chapter 38.)

Was God playing games with Hezekiah’s emotions? 

Or was there a purpose in this sudden setback and reversal? 

Hezekiah answers the question in his prayer of thanksgiving to God, 

“Indeed, it was for my own well being that I had such intense bitterness; but your love has delivered me from the Pit of destruction, for you have thrown all my sins behind your back,” (Isaiah 38:17 CSB).

Hezekiah learned three important truths by experiencing his unexpected crises. 

First and foremost, God had his spiritual well-being in mind; secondly, God’s love alone delivered him from “the pit of destruction” and thirdly, God in his grace threw all Hezekiah’s sins behind His back. 

God had a reason for the king’s health scare. 

Through trial and suffering, Hezekiah developed a deeper faith in God, a clearer vision of His love, and a fuller knowledge of his sins forgiven. 

Such is the God we serve.

Toni M. Babcock is the author of Reflections from the Heart in Light of the Gospel of Jesus, and The Stone Writer, Christian Fiction for Young Readers and Teens. Contact