In the detailed account provided in 2 Kings 18, it describes how King Hezekiah spread the pages of the letter from the King of Assyria, which mocked God as being no more able to save Israel than the cast idols of other nations had saved them, on the altar before God. Essentially, he cried out to God saying, “See what they are saying, Lord? Help me show them who you are and that you are not like wood and stone idols, but are able to save.”
If only I approached attacks against my faith that way more often.
Near the end of this chapter, though, there is a single line that is a little daunting to consider: “But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart.”
This testing reminds me a little of Job, whom God also put through a trial to reveal the sincerity of his faith.
Do you ever feel like God has left you to test you and to know everything that is in your heart?
God promises never to leave, nor forsake us, but He does sometimes step back and watch, like a parent letting their child work something out for themselves. This is a critical step in growing up! If you’ve ever known an adult whose parents did everything for them, you know: Sometimes we really need to learn, even if it means we fall down a few times.
Of course, God knows what is in our heart even before the testing begins, just as He knew how Job would come through his season of trial.
The revelation of our heart is for our benefit, not God’s.
We are the ones who need to see what is in our heart when our prayers don’t seem to have been answered.
When our temporal needs don’t seem to have been met.
When justice seems far off.
Where does our heart turn in that moment?
I shared in God’s Provision in Tough Times, the story of one period of trial that my family went through. Now, fifteen years later, the strongest memory I have of that period was how it felt like skydiving. There was this huge rush of adrenalin and excitement as I looked toward God and wondered how on earth He was going to make this all “good.” But if I took my eyes off of Him, if I glanced toward my circumstances, I saw the ground rushing toward me and was terrified that I was about to land with a splat!
I’d love to hear your story of a time when God allowed you to see the revelation of everything that was in your heart. Let’s chat in the comments.
If only I approached attacks against my faith that way more often.
Near the end of this chapter, though, there is a single line that is a little daunting to consider: “But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart.”
This testing reminds me a little of Job, whom God also put through a trial to reveal the sincerity of his faith.
Do you ever feel like God has left you to test you and to know everything that is in your heart?
God promises never to leave, nor forsake us, but He does sometimes step back and watch, like a parent letting their child work something out for themselves. This is a critical step in growing up! If you’ve ever known an adult whose parents did everything for them, you know: Sometimes we really need to learn, even if it means we fall down a few times.
Of course, God knows what is in our heart even before the testing begins, just as He knew how Job would come through his season of trial.
The revelation of our heart is for our benefit, not God’s.
We are the ones who need to see what is in our heart when our prayers don’t seem to have been answered.
When our temporal needs don’t seem to have been met.
When justice seems far off.
Where does our heart turn in that moment?
I shared in God’s Provision in Tough Times, the story of one period of trial that my family went through. Now, fifteen years later, the strongest memory I have of that period was how it felt like skydiving. There was this huge rush of adrenalin and excitement as I looked toward God and wondered how on earth He was going to make this all “good.” But if I took my eyes off of Him, if I glanced toward my circumstances, I saw the ground rushing toward me and was terrified that I was about to land with a splat!
I’d love to hear your story of a time when God allowed you to see the revelation of everything that was in your heart. Let’s chat in the comments.
RSS Feed