What can we learn from Hezekiah's acceptance of God's will in our lives? Setting the Scene • After a miraculous healing and fifteen-year life extension (2 Kings 20:1-11), Hezekiah entertained Babylonian envoys, proudly displaying Judah’s treasures (vv. 12-13). • Isaiah rebuked the king and foretold future Babylonian exile for his descendants and the royal wealth (vv. 14-18). Hezekiah’s Response in Verse 19 “ ‘The word of the LORD you have spoken is good,’ Hezekiah replied. For he thought, ‘Will there not be peace and security in my lifetime?’ ” (2 Kings 20:19) • He acknowledged God’s verdict as “good,” submitting to divine authority. • He rested in the immediate peace God granted, trusting God’s larger purposes beyond his understanding. Lessons in Accepting God’s Will • God’s verdict is always good because God Himself is good (Psalm 119:68). • Acceptance does not negate future consequences; it places them in God’s just hands. • Trust focuses on present faithfulness, not hypothetical tomorrows (Matthew 6:34). • Yielding to the Lord produces inner peace (Philippians 4:6-7). Scripture Connections • Job 1:21—“The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.” • Matthew 26:39—Jesus: “Yet not as I will, but as You will.” • Proverbs 3:5-6—Trusting God over personal insight. • James 4:13-15—Making plans with “If the Lord is willing.” • Hebrews 12:9-11—Submission brings a “harvest of righteousness and peace.” • Romans 8:28—God works “all things together for the good” of those who love Him. Common Obstacles to Acceptance • Pride—preferring personal agendas over God’s plan (Hezekiah’s earlier display). • Fear—imagining worst-case scenarios instead of God’s sovereign care. • Short-sightedness—judging events only by immediate comfort. • Doubt—questioning God’s goodness when outcomes look painful. Steps Toward Willing Submission 1. Remember God’s character—faithful, wise, loving (Lamentations 3:22-23). 2. Recount past deliverances—as He did for Hezekiah’s illness. 3. Receive Scripture’s verdict as final authority. 4. Relinquish control—open hands rather than clinched fists. 5. Rest in present assignments—serve faithfully today while God holds tomorrow. Promises for Those Who Yield • Guidance—“He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:6). • Peace—“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You” (Isaiah 26:3). • Fruitfulness—“A harvest of righteousness and peace” (Hebrews 12:11). • Eternal perspective—“An inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading” (1 Peter 1:4). Encouragement for Today Hezekiah shows that even imperfect people can bow before the sovereign word of the Lord. When God’s will confronts personal preference, Scripture invites the same humble confession: “The word of the LORD … is good.” Surrender, seasoned with trust, turns hard announcements into opportunities for deeper fellowship with the Father who always does what is right. |
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