God was so good to include both the good and the “not so good” words and actions of those men and women we commonly refer to as Bible characters. The truth is; some were real characters!
Look for example at Hezekiah. Verse 5 of chapter 18 in the second book of Kings states: So that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. What a testimony! Yet, sadly we find that he didn’t end his reign as well as he could have or should have.
The tragedy of this king’s ending, and his apparent lack of judgment is most clearly seen in the statement recorded in verse 19 of chapter 20 (II Kings). Isaiah the prophet had pronounced the word of the Lord (judgment) against Hezekiah after the king had shown all of his house and treasures to the Babylonians. Part of the judgment was that the king’s sons would be taken away and made eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. After hearing this sentence of judgment, Hezekiah made this statement: Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?
How sad to see a man think only of his own generation, and his own time on this earth! But the awful truth is, today our society is filled with “fathers” who think only of themselves with little or NO regard for the children coming along behind them.
May God give us true men with a heart for Him who will strive to lead their families in the way of truth. Because it is God’s way and His truth that will bring blessing from generation to generation.
