King Hezekiah of Judah is a king unlike any of the kings of Judah, either before or after his time. He remained faithful to the Lord in everything and carefully obeyed all the commands that God had given to Moses. He not only banned pagan worship in the land, but he also destroyed all the pagan shrines and restored the Temple of God.
His story is found in 2 Kings 18-20.
During his reign, the neighboring kingdom of Israel is overrun by the Assyrian army and it’s citizenry sent into exile. A few years later, Assyria lays siege to Jerusalem, intending to conquer Judah as well. Hezekiah prays for deliverance and God performs an astonishing victory.
Not long after this, Hezekiah comes down with a severe staph infection. Through the prophet Isaiah, God sends this message: “Put your affairs in order, Hezekiah, because you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.”
Upon hearing this news, Hezekiah turns his face to the wall and prays to the Lord. “Remember O God, how I have always been faithful to you. I have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you!” Then he wept bitterly.
God immediately relented and sent another message. “I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. You will be healed. I will add 15 years to your life.”
Imagine Hezekiah’s joy in this news.
He went on to live another 15 years, but it became the undoing of a nation. He paraded the treasures of his kingdom and the riches of the palace before a Babylonian envoy. Years later Babylon invaded and conquered Judah and sent it’s people into exile.
In this 15 years, Hezekiah also fathered a son, Manasseh.
Manasseh became the next king at 12 years old when his father died. Manasseh was the most wicked king Judah had ever known. He was even more wicked than the heathen nations surrounding Judah. He murdered thousands of innocent people and burned his own son in a sacrificial rite. Manasseh was king for 55 years. Imagine the horror of his reign.
Do the math.
Manasseh would not have been born if Hezekiah hadn’t begged God to give him longer life.
Be careful what you ask God for.
While it might seem a wonderful thing for you if God would answer your prayer, recognize that man thinks differently than God. God sees the bigger picture, the generations yet unborn.
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
Proverbs 14:12
My wish, even a good thing, might not be the best thing.
Do not come to God carelessly with requests. He just might grant you your wish, and it becomes the undoing of a kingdom.