Did anybody miss my blog yesterday? We had a power failure here in Pickaway County on Wednesday night through Thursday morning. The furnace didn’t run all night, so I stayed in bed where it was warm! When it got light outside, I begrudgingly got up and put on enough clothes to stay warm. The power came back on shortly after that, but by then my morning was all messed up. I usually like to beat the sun up, so I was feeling behind before I ever got started. Though I did make it downstairs to read my Bible and pray, I completely forgot my blog. Don’t blame me: it was the power failure’s fault! (That’s my story and I’m sticking with it!) Blame the power failure.
Have you ever experienced a power failure? King Uzziah did. His story is found in 2 Chronicles 26 (the assigned scripture for yesterday!). Read what the Bible says about Uzziah:
“After Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God” (2 Chronicles 26.16).
Earlier in the chapter we read that as long as Uzziah sought the Lord, God gave him success. But, when Uzziah became powerful he forgot to seek the Lord. He depended upon himself and he experienced a power failure – a failure due to power that was not properly managed.
Like many successful workers and leaders in God’s kingdom, Uzziah became proud. God had helped him until he became powerful. His power went to his head and led to his downfall. He thought he was the focus of God’s blessing when actually God was blessing him for the benefit of the nation.
Thinking he could “break the rules,” Uzziah went into the temple to burn incense. We don’t know his motives to disobey. Curiosity about what the priests did? Passion for worship? Desire to consolidate power by usurping the priests’ role. Or perhaps just something practical like thinking the priests were taking too long to do it. We don’t know why he did it; we only know his disobedience which was described as unfaithfulness. His pride was behind it all.
As I read this I realized that all of us – especially yours truly – need to heed the message of Uzziah’s power failure. Seek the Lord all your days. Remain faithful to him even when you become “powerful” – whatever that may mean in your life. When God chooses to bless you - to give you strength in any form - remember it is a blessing for others through you. Keep your pride in check so you won’t experience a power failure.
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2 comments:
I missed your blog yesterday! I was wondering why you didn't post, glad to see you're back online today.
This topic is really interesting to me right now... I've been reading about King Uzziah, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Uzziah fell because he failed to give the power to God. Ahaz fell hard because he refused to believe that God was strong enough to protect his nation from the Assyrians. Hezekiah tested God's promises, and found him faithful! We are rarely faced with such a decision as Hezekiah.. there were thousands of lives depending on his decision, including his own. He refused to compromise God's word, and that takes a lot of faith, especially for someone who had recently been reacquianted with the Lord. I guess what I'm saying is: If Hezekiah can trust the Lord, than I certainly can!!
I haven't finished the whole Hezekiah story, so don't ruin the punchline for me! :)
Eric and Jenny,
It is so easy to commend the faith and obedience of others isn't it? But when it comes to us stepping out... Well that's a different matter. Right now God is leading me on road that I am not sure of its destination. Plus, my decisions impact others. I'm glad to hear you say, "If Hezekiah can trust the Lord, then I certainly can!" I'm going to adopt your view!
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