Trusting God's will

July 2, 2015

Scripture

2 Kings 20:1-6, 12-13, 17; 21:1-3, 6-7

About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message: “This is what the LORD says: Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.” When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, “Remember, O LORD, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you.” Then he broke down and wept bitterly. But before Isaiah had left the middle courtyard, this message came to him from the LORD: “Go back to Hezekiah, the leader of my people. Tell him, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you, and three days from now you will get out of bed and go to the Temple of the LORD. I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my own honor and for the sake of my servant David.’”

Soon after this, Merodach-baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent Hezekiah his best wishes and a gift, for he had heard that Hezekiah had been very sick. Hezekiah received the Babylonian envoys and showed them everything in his treasure-houses—the silver, the gold, the spices, and the aromatic oils. He also took them to see his armory and showed them everything in his royal treasuries! There was nothing in his palace or kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.

The time is coming when everything in your palace—all the treasures stored up by your ancestors until now—will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the LORD. (NLT)

Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother was Hephzibah. He did what was evil in the LORD’s sight, following the detestable practices of the pagan nations that the LORD had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites. He rebuilt the pagan shrines his father, Hezekiah, had destroyed. He constructed altars for Baal and set up an Asherah pole, just as King Ahab of Israel had done. He also bowed before all the powers of the heavens and worshiped them.

Manasseh also sacrificed his own son in the fire. He practiced sorcery and divination, and he consulted with mediums and psychics. He did much that was evil in the LORD’s sight, arousing his anger. Manasseh even made a carved image of Asherah and set it up in the Temple, the very place where the LORD had told David and his son Solomon: “My name will be honored forever in this Temple and in Jerusalem—the city I have chosen from among all the tribes of Israel. ( NLT)

Observation

This is a great example of accepting and obeying God's will.  Isaiah told Hezekiah that he was going to die and to get his affairs in order.  Hezekiah prayed and God healed him, giving him 15 more years.   But during those 15 years Babylon can and saw all the riches of Judah, and Manasseh, the most evil king in the history of Judah, was born.  If Hezekiah had accepted and obeyed the will of God none of these things would have happened.

1. Hezekiah but self interest above the well being of the people.

2. Hezekiah but his well fare above the will of God.

3. If is confusing and interesting to me that God went ahead an answered his prayer.  Why?  God knew it was a mistake.  In his sovereignty sometimes God gives us what we want even though he knows it is not best.  

4. I must be careful to pray in agreement the will of God.

5. God will not turn his head away from evil forever, ,eventually judgment will come

Application

1. Trust God above all else

2. Pray in agreement with the will of God.

3. Put the interest of the people above self interest

4. live in purity 

Prayer

May I live in the center of your will,  I trust you.