The Tragic End of Shortsighted Faith

Isaiah probed deeper: “What have they seen in your palace?”

Hezekiah answered truthfully, “They have seen everything in my palace. There isn’t anything in my treasuries that I didn’t show them.” Isaiah’s probing of what happened was only the beginning of God’s dealings with prideful Hezekiah.

Isaiah 39:5-7

Isaiah’s shocking prophecy ranged far beyond the immediate circumstances. God predicted the coming exile to Babylon, the end of Judah in the promised land. Isaiah had already predicted the fall of Babylon in several prophecies (13:19-20; 21:9-10). But here the prophecy was enhanced: Judah herself would go into exile in Babylon. All the material treasures Hezekiah was so proud of would become plunder for the Babylonians. And even more stunning was that Hezekiah’s own descendants will become eunuchs in the service of the king of Babylon.

Isaiah’s prophecy here in this chapter stands as a hinge for the entire book of Isaiah. For the first major section of Isaiah, chapters 1–39, the focus has been Assyria. Now that Assyria is behind us, chapters 40–66 will focus much more on the exile to Babylon and the restoration of Judah from that exile.

Isaiah 39:8

Hezekiah’s reaction is almost as stunning as the prophecy itself. His statement is simple enough: “The word of the Lord that you have spoken is good.” But it was the attitude of his heart that was so self-centered: “For he thought: There will be peace and security during my lifetime.” God had earlier promised to add fifteen years to Hezekiah’s life. During that time his only son Manasseh was born to him. By this time, the boy was being reared to replace his father. This prophecy of Isaiah seemed to concern a distant future. So, as far as Hezekiah was concerned, there was nothing to worry about; his own personal situation was set for the rest of his life. Hezekiah’s selfish focus is so revealing and so convicting for the similar shortsighted faith of many Christians today. As long as their own immediate needs are met, and as long as they are going to heaven when they die, what else is there to worry about?

First, let us reset our focus on the only true hero of the Bible, Jesus Christ! Every other biblical hero has some pattern of sin that must be covered by the grace of God. But Jesus was sinless, and in him alone must we trust for salvation. Hezekiah was a great leader, but Jesus is a perfect Savior. And whereas Hezekiah seemed completely careless about future generations, Jesus shed his blood for generations of God’s children who would not even be born for millennia after he died.

Second, see how God uses circumstances to search the hidden motives of the heart. God leaves us to test us and discover what is in our hearts. Jesus said, “Then all the churches will know that I am the one who examines minds and hearts, and I will give to each of you according to your works” (Rev 2:23). We should expect this and actually yearn for it: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way” (Ps 139:23-24). When our sinfulness is exposed, let us be humble enough to repent from it, seeking the full cleansing only Christ can give.

Third, notice how susceptible the human heart is to pride. God had miraculously delivered Hezekiah twice, and somehow Hezekiah was proud? How can that be? But Scripture reveals that it was so: “However, because his heart was proud, Hezekiah didn’t respond according to the benefit that had come to him. So there was wrath on him, Judah, and Jerusalem” (2 Chr 32:25). We should learn to say at every moment, “Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory” (Ps 115:1).

Finally, we should be warned about Hezekiah’s lack of a multigenerational vision, not caring about what would happen to his great-great-great grandchildren. Psalm 78:2-7 makes this multigenerational vision clear, saying that we must declare the great works of God to our children’s children so they, in turn, can declare them to a generation yet unborn. Godly fathers are passionate about the future of their families.

The tragic fruit of Hezekiah’s lack of multigenerational vision can be seen in his wicked son, Manasseh, the worst king Judah ever had. After Hezekiah courageously tore down the high places that had plagued Judah for generations, Manasseh put them back up. Manasseh even went so far as to sacrifice some of his own children in the fire to Molech. Second Kings 24:3-4 makes plain that it was specifically for the sins of Manasseh that God sent Judah into exile to Babylon. It is possible that Manasseh even had Isaiah sawn in two, as some traditions teach us. Could it be that Hezekiah’s lack of any concern for the future led him to be a derelict father who failed to impart to Manasseh a vision for the glory of God and the future of Judah? We must not let that happen to our children through a similar lack of faith-filled concern for what is coming in their future.