2 Chronicles 32 Devotional

Tested After the Victory

“With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.” So the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.”2 Chronicles 32:8 (BSB)

After all of Hezekiah's faithfulness, Sennacherib invades (32:1). Hezekiah gathers the people and tells them not to fear. The Assyrian king has only human strength, but Judah has the LORD to help them and fight their battles (32:7-8). Hezekiah and Isaiah cry out in prayer, the LORD sends an angel who cuts down the Assyrian commanders, and Sennacherib goes home in disgrace (32:20-21).

Chronicles then adds a quieter test. Hezekiah falls deathly ill, prays, and receives a sign, but his heart grows proud, and he does not respond to the kindness shown him. When he and Jerusalem humble themselves, the wrath does not come in his days (32:24-26). Later, when envoys come from Babylon, God leaves him to himself in order to test him and bring out what is in his heart (32:31). Blessing can expose the heart as surely as danger. And as 32:26 shows, pride brought into the open can still be humbled. Seasons of success are a good time to ask God to search your heart.

To think about: Where has blessing or success made pride easier for you, and how might you humble yourself before God there?