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Men of the Old Testament: Hezekiah – 2 Kings 20  It might have been the question that swung the 1980 Presidential election. Near the end of the 1980 presidential campaign President Jimmy Carter, the democratic nominee; and Ronald Reagan, the republican nominee met in their last debate before the election. Coming only a week before Americans went to the polls this debate could make a major difference in an election that most polls of the day were calling a dead heat. In his final statement, which would in effect be his last pitch to the people of the United States before the election, Reagan asked the now famous question, “Are you better off than you were four years ago?” President Carter had little to respond to Reagan’s question. Reagan won the debate, and a week later rolled into a victory in the election. Reagan’s question reveals something important about the way we think. Most of us desire to leave the world a better place for later generations. We want our kids and grandkids to have things better than we had them. Even if we understand that they will have to go through tough times, we want them to have more opportunities than we had. Though it can be taken too far, this attitude shows that someone actually cares about their children and how future generations of their family can function. King Hezekiah, despite being a man of faith (2 Kings 18:5), did not share the same attitude. Just when you would expect him to care what would become of his family, he instead chooses to be apathetic and concerned only for himself. His greatest concern after being told that, “Some of your very own descendants whom you father will be taken away and will be made eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon,” is not for his children and their children. His biggest concern is that his own life will be one of ease. His response was pathetic, “At least there will be peace and stability during my lifetime.” As men we can easily become so focused on providing for and protecting our families that we neglect to actually participate in them and be present for them. Hezekiah seems to have the opposite problem. He is so detached that he is only concerned with his own safety and security. We can do the same thing if we are not careful. As despicable as it may seem there are husbands and fathers who care more about taking care of themselves than the wives and children that God has entrusted to them. We must not be these types of men. When we think about ourselves as leaders, even if it is planning for a wife and children in the future, we must be able to ask the question, “Are we better off then we were?” The period of time might not be four years, but we must be better men today, we must be better off spiritually, than we were in the past. We also must be the kind of men that those who come in contact with us would answer that because of knowing us they are better off than they were four years ago. Questions for Discussion/Reflection 1. Are you a better man today than you were four years ago? 2. Are those influenced by you better off for knowing you today than they were four years ago? 3. What do you think motivated Hezekiah’s selfishness? Further Study on Hezekiah Bible Dictionary Entries for Hezekiah Article on Hezekiah’s Significance by Biblical Studies.org Staff Writer: Aaron Sharp |
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