The Bible says: ‘Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Listen to this message from the Lord: 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. Some of your very own sons will be taken away into exile. They will become eunuchs who will serve in the palace of Babylon’s king.” Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “This message you have given me from the Lord is good.” For the king was thinking, “At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime.” (vv. 16-19 NLT). Hezekiah heard that the things he had inherited would be lost, and his children would live in slavery to their enemies. But instead of being concerned and praying for God to intervene on their behalf, he said, ‘At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime.’ Why did he say that? Was he being selfish, thinking only of himself? Was he being fatalistic, thinking, ‘The prophet has declared it, and there’s nothing I can do to change it?’ Was he just trying to grab at the only positive he could see in a terrible situation? Maybe it was a mixture of feelings. It’s interesting that Hezekiah’s initial reaction didn’t involve prayer – he could have prayed for the people who would be affected, or even given thanks that God’s judgment would happen after Hezekiah’s time. So, how do you think you’d react if you were in Hezekiah’s position? With relief that you won’t be affected, or with compassion for those who will? Would prayer be your first reaction?
