16 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord: 17 Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says the Lord. 18 And some of your own sons, who will come from you, whom you will father, shall be taken away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” 19 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the Lord that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Why not, if there will be peace and security in my days?” (II Kings 20)
Hezekiah had done great things in leading Israel out of trouble, and out of bondage to the Assyrian empire. At the beginning of the chapter, God sent word that his work was about done, and to get his things in order. Hezekiah balked at that, and asked God for more time. God gave him 15 years, and though most things went well, it was during that time that Hezekiah became lax. He had his guarantee, and somewhat flaunted his success before the King of Babylon. That move would cost Hezekiah's descendants in the future. This last statement he makes causes me to flinch: "Why not, if there will be peac and security in my days?" What a warning - for us to never get lax or self-secure or complacent about finishing well what God has caused us to do. May we serve Him to the end: whole-heartedly, passionately, never ceasing to trust His plan and His time.
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