Why do you think that that man with the un-pronounceable name who sent envoys to Hezekiah was sincere in his motives? Has a politician ever told a lie or have hidden rotten aims under nice words? Had Hezekiah with his illness lost his ability to think clearly? Or did pride overcome common sense?
1 At that time Merodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent envoys with letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that he had been sick and had recovered. 2 And Hezekiah welcomed them gladly. And he showed them his treasure house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his whole armoury, all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his house or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them. –
3 Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah, and said to him, “What did these men say? And from where did they come to you?” Hezekiah said, “They have come to me from a far country, from Babylon.” 4 He said, “What have they seen in your house?” Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house. There is nothing in my storehouses that I did not show them.” – I think that Isaiah knew what had gone on between Hezekiah and the ‘friendly’ envoy. I suspect that he was graciously giving Hezekiah a chance to say that he had been foolish and ask forgiveness! Instead Hezekiah puffs out his chest and proudly says, ‘“They have seen all that is in my house. There is nothing in my storehouses that I did not show them.”
5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD of hosts: 6 Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says the LORD. 7 And some of your own sons, who will come from you, whom you will father, shall be taken away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” 8 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “There will be peace and security in my days.” – How can anyone be so self-centred and hateful to his children? And yet some are!
Proverbs 16: 18&19 – Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Prayer: Please help me to turn to You and Your Word, the Source of all wisdom, consciously and unconsciously.