Then Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying “I have done wrong; turn away from me; whatever you impose on me I will pay.”
2 Kings 18:14
Due to his refusal to pay taxes to the king of Assyria, Hezekiah was threatened with attack. To prevent a takeover Hezekiah offered to make restitution saying that he had done wrong. At this point in his reign he failed to fully trust the Lord, and paid the king of Assyria with the gold and silver from the house of the Lord and the treasuries of his own house.
Do not think that when you as a leader take a stand and fully put your trust in God that Satan will not challenge that trust. This is exactly what happened to Hezekiah. He had fully put his trust in God, even so far as to stop paying tribute to the king of Assyria, but that would not be the end of matters. The king of Assyria came against Judah and began to overtake their cities causing Hezekiah to fear. So he paid tribute taking gold and silver from God’s house and his own in an attempt to appease his enemy. This fearful action did not work, however, as the king of Assyria came up against Jerusalem with a great army soon afterward.
Satan hates the man who puts his trust in the Lord because that trust brings glory and honor to God which he wants for himself. Therefore he will do everything he can to destroy that trust. Hezekiah, the most godly king Judah had ever seen to that time, buckled when under siege of his enemy because of fear. Where did Hezekiah go wrong? Up to that event he had fully trusted in the Lord. Hezekiah failed because he reacted quickly to find a solution for his problem rather than stand firm in his trust, or even seek the Lord for the solution. God graciously delivered Hezekiah and Judah when he finally decided to seek the Lord in prayer.
Save yourself a world of trouble by standing firm in your trust in the Lord. Do not be quick to find solutions to what you are facing because of fear. Go to God in prayer. Cry out to Him and He will deliver you.
In what area of your life do you find it most difficult to trust the Lord? Take a moment and confess any fear you may have in that area and commit it fully to the Lord.
