No doubt King Hezekaiah was favoured by God. He was delivered from the arrogant King Sennacherib; healed from a terminal disease with 15 years added to his life-time. He faced yet another turbulence towards the tail end of his life that made him behave as if he was selfish especially concerning the generations after him. Read this passage quoted from Isaiah: 39:
3 Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked him, “What did those men want? Where were they from?” Hezekiah replied, “They came from the distant land of Babylon.” 4 “What did they see in your palace?” asked Isaiah. “They saw everything,” Hezekiah replied. “I showed them everything I own—all my royal treasuries.” 5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Listen to this message from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: 6 ‘The time is coming when everything in your palace—all the treasures stored up by your ancestors until now—will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left,’ says the Lord. 7 ‘Some of your very own sons will be taken away into exile. They will become eunuchs who will serve in the palace of Babylon’s king.’” 8 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “This message you have given me from the Lord is good.” For the king was thinking, “At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime.”
1st Lesson. This simply confirms the Yoruba addage that "Bi'na ba njo ni to njo omo eni, tara eni la nko pa" (meaning "if there's fire incident involving a parent and his child, the parent will take care of himself first before attending to the child" The airline industry must have copied this idea such that they always warn: "in the case of oxygen failure in the cabin, parents should help themselves first before attending to their children".
There was also this pathetic story of a great man of God whose car (conveying his wife, and children) plunged into a river. He alone could swim and he had only a few minutes to decide who to save. Finally he reasoned that his wife was closest to him and can produce another set of children. He opted for the wife and the children drowned.
Our dear biblical Peter denied Jesus Christ thrice before the Cock crowed.
2nd lesson. Many parents have mortgaged the future of their children because of temporary pleasures. How? parents who fail to train their children have bequethed to their children King Hezekaiah's legacy. Parents who could avoid it but get themselves involved in polygamy are bestowing the same legacy of trouble to the off springs. Children who are being trained but are playing pranks with such opportunity are building a Tower of Babylon for themselves - they can only end up in confusion and frustrations!
It is easy however, to criticize King Hezekaiah, the Man of God and Peter's painful decisions cited above. But the the truth is that if we suddenly find ourselves in between the devil and the deep blue sea i.e. life threatening situation, the only option left for us will be to take care of ourselves at the detriment of other dear persons.
Let us pray that God continue to have mercy upon us and save us from such dangerous decisions. Good morning.
Today's recommended readings:
1. Prov. 16. Others: 1 chapter each in Gen., Psalm & Matthew read progressively . Need example? Click here, select Day One to pick your bearing and continue to follow that progressivelyuntil the entire Bible is covered.
2. Ben Carson's "Gifted Hands" or Yemi Omogboyega's "Better Tomorrow" click here for the latter.
3. Read at least 1 of today's newspapers; add a magazine
I'm too busy to read all these! It is not impossibe to do so. Do your very best. Ignorance can cost you everything, including your dear life! But knowledge will preserve them all.
Prayer point: Lord throughout my life, let things work out for me. Save me from situations where I will be rendered so helpless that I will deny whoever I should help in their times of need.
An
yone staying away from Jesus is missing a lot! Don't be one of them for Jesus Loves you. Jn.3:16.
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