When God Leaves You

There was a King Hezekiah in the Old Testament with glowing reviews. “[He was] doing what was good and right and faithful before the Lord His God. In everything that he did in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly.” (2 Chronicles 31:20) Many times in the account of kings in the Bible it will simply say: he ruled (thirty) years and did evil/right in the eyes of the Lord, but we get a little more with Hezekiah. We see where he had proud moments and God’s wrath was poured out upon Judah and Jerusalem. However, he repented and God’s wrath subsided. Toward the end of Hezekiah’s life – despite serving God faithfully, right and well – God left him. “But when ambassadors from Babylon came to ask him about the miraculous sign [in the heaven God had performed], GOD LEFT HIM to TEST HIM and to know everything that was in his heart.” This doesn’t seem right or fair. Hezekiah has served God faithfully, only to be left. But Hezekiah is not alone. Abraham was also told to go and sacrifice his child he loved, Isaac. I am sure Abraham felt abandoned by His Lord then, as well. Why would a loving Father do such a thing? We are told in Hezekiah’s case it was “to test him to KNOW EVERYTHING IN HIS HEART.” After Abraham’s ordeal,God is recorded as saying, “NOW I know that you love me [God] because you have not withheld [that which you love most] Isaac.” It is not popular in today’s culture to say God will leave us, but here we see (for a time) He will. Not to punish us, but to prune us – to see what we are made of. Perhaps for our knowledge as much as His. For those who love the Lord wholeheartedly, the testing will come, but those times are designed to teach us: show us where our weakness lie, produce perserverence and make our faith solid. The good news is the testing doesn’t last forever. “He setteth an end to the darkness” (Job 28:3). Stay strong and courageous, brave one! For the trying of our faith shall come forth as gold!