GOD LEFT HIM, TO TRY HIM

       "God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart." (2 Chronicles 32:31)

The text is about king Hezekiah, king of Judah. Following a sickness from which he nearly died, and in which he received mercy from God, he "humbled himself," repenting of the pride of his heart. The repentance rippled throughout "the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah" (v 26). The Lord then blessed Hezekiah in an unusual way, with "exceeding much riches and honor." He made for himself "treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels." He also had storehouses for grain, wine, and oil, with stalls for various kinds of cattle and pens for flocks (v 27-28). He "made cities for himself, and acquired flocks and herds in abundance; for God had given him very great wealth" NASB (v 29). In a remarkable display of wisdom, he also "stopped the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them to the west side of the city of David." We are told, "And Hezekiah prospered in all that he did" NASB (v 30). Truly, here was a man blessed by God!
Word of his accomplishments spread abroad, so that ambassadors from the princes of Babylon came to "inquire of the wonder that was done in the land." They knew Hezekiah's accomplishments were not ordinary. At this point, our text says "God left him, to try him, that He might know all that was in his heart." The book of Second Kings tells us what Hezekiah did when Babylon's ambassadors came. It is written that he "showed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not" (2 Kgs 20:13; Isa 39:1-2). There is no record of him giving God the glory when he displayed his treasures. God was not well pleased with what he did. He sent the prophet Isaiah to the king, who declared the coming Babylonian captivity. He said everything Hezekiah had shown the ambassadors would be removed from his houses, and his own sons would be taken captive and made eunuchs in Babylon (2 Kgs 20:14-18; Isa 39:2-8). It is possible for God to leave a person with all of his possessions, yet without the Divine presence. When this happens, what is really in the person will come out, as with Hezekiah. He showed the enemy the treasures of his land, but failed to reveal their source. To them, he appeared an unusual king, but they made no connection with the unusual God who blessed him. Is it possible that God sometimes leaves you alone, to test what is in your heart?