ARE
YOU ALONE
"Howbeit in
the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to
enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that
he might know all that was in his heart." 2 Chron. 32:31
Do you now, or have
you ever felt that God had forsaken you?
Does God test His people? James
told us that God does not tempt anyone.
"Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted
with evil, neither tempteth he any man:"
The answer has to be that God does not tempt us to sin, but He does test
His people. In our text God is said to
leave Hezekiah and to try him. He did so
with Abraham. In Gen 22:1, 2 we learn
that God tempted or tested Abraham commanding him to take his beloved son,
Isaac, to the top of the mountain and offer him as a burnt offering unto God.
It is also seen in Job's experience.
Se Job 1:8ff. He was a man of
great wealth, but he lost it all in one day.
The same day all ten of his children were killed. Yet it is said of him in verse 20. “Then Job
arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground,
and worshiped.”
What would occasion
God’s testing? It might be in the
presence of sin. See 2 Chron. 32:25, “...for
his heart was lifted up: therefore there
was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem. It might be to strengthen our faith. Take for instance the testing of
Abraham. God knew what He was going to
do. He gave Isaac back to him
alive. Heb_11:19 tells us that Abraham "Accounting
that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he
received him in a figure." Or
it might be to reveal to Satan and the world God's Jewels. Before Job suffered his loss, God had
initiated the conversation with Satan, and He delivered Job to Satan to try him.
Such testings are
in the wisdom of God. Look what it
revealed in Hezekiah. Verse 26 tells us
that Hezekiah humbled himself, and the wrath of the Lord came not upon Judah in
his days. Job manifested the
perseverance of a true saint. Abraham
showed faith in the resurrection.
If you have trials and feel as
though God has left you, cling the more
to Him and get into His word. He will
reveal Himself.
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