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2 Chronicles 32:24-26, 31-In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death, and he prayed to the LORD; and He spoke to him and gave him a sign. 25 But Hezekiah did not repay according to the favor shown him, for his heart was lifted up; therefore wrath was looming over him and over Judah and Jerusalem. 26 Then Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah….However, regarding the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, whom they sent to him to inquire about the wonder that was done in the land, God withdrew from him, in order to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart.
Sometimes God will allow you to go through trials and tragedies in order to show you weaknesses in your heart and life that need special attention.
King Hezekiah had miraculously recovered from an illness that was to claim his life. After seeking God’s intervention, the king was miraculously cured. Indeed, he was granted fifteen more years of life!
Isaiah 38:5-Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will add to your days fifteen years.
When the king of Babylon was informed of Hezekiah’s miraculous recovery, he sent ambassadors and a gift to him. We are told:
Isaiah 39:1-2-At that time Merodach-Baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that he had been sick and had recovered. 2 And Hezekiah was pleased with them, and showed them the house of his treasures—the silver and gold, the spices and precious ointment, and all his armory—all that was found among his treasures. There was nothing in his house or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.
Notice that Hezekiah did not tell the Babylonians of the goodness, greatness, and power of God: instead, he boasted about the splendor and riches of his house and country!
It is in this context that the Bible says that God “withdrew” from Hezekiah, to make known what was in his heart. For God to “withdraw” from a person usually meant that He for a time temporarily took away His special guidance and empowerment (cf. Judges 16:20).
Notice a few things with me today from this passage.
The first thing that stands out to me is that Hezekiah should have spent more time telling people about God than about his riches. How often do we allow ourselves to become enamored with the world instead of with God? Are we sometimes guilty of the same things as Hezekiah, focusing on the gifts we have been given rather than on the gracious Giver of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17)?
Genesis 15:1-After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”
As the people of God, should we not brag on God and His grace more often to those around us?
Psalm 107:1-3-Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy, 3 And gathered out of the lands, From the east and from the west, From the north and from the south.
Second, we are told here that God specifically withdrew from Hezekiah regarding the Babylonians. What was the purpose of God’s withdrawal of His Presence from the king? The NKJV renders verse 31, “in order to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart.” This translation leaves the impression that this was a test done so that God would know what was in Hezekiah’s heart. However, God did not need to test what was in Hezekiah’s heart, for He knows all things already. (Psalm 139:1-18; John 2:24-25; Hebrews 4:13; 1 John 3:20).
So then what is the meaning of the passage?
Notice this translation:
2 Chronicles 32:31 (ISV)-Later on, envoys came from the princes of Babylon to inquire about the miracle that had happened in the land. God left Hezekiah to himself, so that he might make known what was really in Hezekiah’s heart.
The Hebrew implies that the testing was done so that Hezekiah himself (and perhaps others) would know what was in his (own) heart.
“not that God might know, who knows all things, unless spoken of him after the manner of men; but rather that Hezekiah might know the pride lurking in his heart, and other sins which escaped his notice, Jer 17:9 or that it might be known by others; that the children of men might know it, as Kimchi; and take warning by it, and observe the frailty and infirmity of the best of men.” (John Gill, Gill’s Bible Commentary, 92267 (Kindle Edition): Washington, DC: OSNOVA)
We see the same thing with Abraham when he offered up Isaac:
Genesis 22:12-And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
God had no need to test Abraham to know what was in his heart, for God knows all things. Instead, this test was allowed in Abraham’s life so that Abraham’s faith “might be made known” to Abraham and to others.
“Augustine’s brief comment on Genesis 22:12-‘Now I have caused you to know’49-is typical, as is his fuller comment on the related material in Judges 3:4: `Not so that God, who knows all things, even the future, should know, but so that they themselves should know, and in their own self-knowledge should either boast or be confounded: 50 Likewise the discussion of Maimonides: The sole object of all the trials mentioned in Scripture is to teach man what he ought to do or believe; so that the event which forms the actual trial is not the end desired; it is but an example for our instruction and guidance. Hence the words `to know (la-da at) whether ye love’, etc., do not mean that God desires to know whether they loved God; for He already knows it; but la-da at, `to know’, has here the same meaning as in the phrase `to know (la-da at) that I am the Lord that sanctifieth you’ (Exod. xxxi.13), i.e., that all nations shall know that I am the Lord who sanctifieth you. (1956: 304) On the basis that `to know’ means `that all people may know’ Maimonides interprets Genesis 22:12 accordingly: `The angel, therefore, says to him, “For now I know”, etc., that is, from this action, for which you deserve to be truly called a God-fearing man, all people shall learn how far we must go in the fear of God’ (p. 306).” (R. W. L. Moberly, The Bible, Theology, and Faith: A Study of Abraham and Jesus (Cambridge Studies in Christian Doctrine Book 5), 1387-1394 (Kindle Edition); New York, NY; Cambridge University Press)
Sometimes God will allow us to go through difficulties and challenges in order to reveal things in our heart that need to be repented of and removed. So God withdrew from Hezekiah for a time so that the king may recognize the sin in his heart, and turn from it. God may not answer our prayers immediately or directly because He is allowing us to see places where we need to grow and change.
Also, God will sometimes allow the challenges of life in order that we might learn the strength and genuineness of our own faith as well. This will encourage us and possibly others.
1 Peter 1:6-7-In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
Think now of some of the trials that you have experienced in life. Were there times God did not answer your prayers immediately or as you desired? Can you expound on ways that God worked through those challenges to help you grow? Is it possible that those difficulties (and how you dealt with them by holding to God) may have helped others through their own storms of life?
Guide us, Lord, through the trials of this life. Refine us and make us stronger till we may be with You in every way. Amen.