Children Of Christ Jesus a few seconds ago. For there is a greater power with us than with him.” (2Ch 32:7) Have you ever wondered why the Lord let’s bad things happen to good people? It’s OK if you say yes; because, the fact is, virtually everybody has thought about this from time to time. Today’s post, and the next few that follow, will look a bit closer at this perplexing dilemma, and will provide you with a new perspective that just might reorder your world! While reading my Bible I came upon a curious passage. “After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, thinking to conquer them for himself” (2Ch 32:1). This struck me as, well, unfair. Let me tell you why. Here is a guy, Hezekiah, who was a very zealous, devout, and good man; who did what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God. He reinstituted the Passover Feast, which had long been passed over. He restored the Temple, which had been desecrated. He removed all the remnants of idolatry throughout the land. He re-established the neglected Levitical priesthood, and saw that they were properly compensated for their services. He reformed the upper echelons of government , and thereby brought a great revival throughout the nation. See what I mean? He was a good man who did good things for God. In fact, The Bible says, “In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered” (2Ch 31:21, NIV). It was a good day’s work in the life of a good king. And what is the Lord’s response? How does God reward this faithful servant? What does Hezekiah get for all his gallant duty? Simply this — an invasion of his land by Sennacherib, the dreaded King of Assyria; the single, most feared empire of the day! And, as far as we can tell, the Lord did nothing to stop him. Rather, the Lord actually permitted the invasion and empowered the invaders. But why? Let me ask if you have ever felt like asking the Lord, “Hey, what kind of a deal is this?” Have you ever wondered why your faithful service to God seems often to go unnoticed or unrewarded? Or, no matter how good you are – bad things just keep happening? Like David, we often ask, “Why do the wicked prosper?” Indeed, why do they? Obviously, there are factors at work here that we don’t yet appreciate. And, remember the old campfire song? “Tempted and tried we’re oft made to wonder why it should be thus all the day long. While there are others living about us, never molested though in the wrong.” Exactly. I wonder if Hezekiah may have whistled that tune when Sennacherib showed up with his army. The song does go on to say, “Further along we’ll know more about it; further along we’ll understand why.” Terrific. OK. So back to my question, Why did God permit and empower Sennacherib to invade Hezekiah’s land? Are you ready for this? Because He was drawing the King of Assyria into a trap! And God would honor Hezekiah with the victory over a dreadful foe!
Posted on: Sat, 07 Sep 2013 14:28:19 +0000
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