Be Careful What You Ask

'They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel: But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.' Psalm 106:13-15

Hezekiah was one of the few good kings in the history of Judah. Coming to the throne at age twenty-five and ruling for twenty-nine years, he reigned during turbulent days as foreign powers such as Assyria threatened the nation's very existence. As an act of kindness, God sent Isaiah to tell Hezekiah, 'Set thine house in order, for thou shalt die.'[1] Feeling sorry for himself, Hezekiah begged God to extend his reign, and God gave him fifteen additional years.

During this fifteen year extension he set his country on a course that would ultimately send it into the Babylonian captivity: He sired Manasseh, one of the most wicked kings in Judah's history, and he exposed the wealth of the nation to ambassadors from Babylon, encouraging an attack from that country. He would have been better off going to heaven when God first called him. Isaiah rebuked him for revealing Israel's treasures to Babylon, and prophesized that Babylon would destroy Israel as a result, 'and of thy sons...shall they take away and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.'[2] Hezekiah's response? 'Good is the word of the Lord...Is it not good if peace and truth be in my days?'[3]

Amy Carmichael once said, 'Be careful what you set your heart on, for surely it will be yours.' You can easily deceive yourself into believing that if God gives you what you want you are blessed. It may be that he is tired of your whining and does for you what He did for Hezekiah. At Kadesh Barnea Israel said to God, 'Would to God we could die in the wilderness, and who will care for our children?'[4] 'And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.'


[1] II Kings 20:1
[2] verse 18
[3] verse 19
[4] Numbers 14:2, 3