Trust God and we will notice how he acts

Every day we're reading or listening to part of the Bible together and sharing thoughts with you. Today it’s Bern Leckie:

What did I like about today’s passage?

It's a really clear illustration of what can happen when willingness to submit to God and hear his word meets the power to act upon it. Isaiah was trusted by King Hezekiah, who had the option of relying on his own forces or alliances with other countries against aggressors like the king of Assyria, whose field commander does his best to provoke people to be angry, fearful and mistrustful of their leaders. However, Hezekiah is a good king. People want to follow him, and his willingness to follow God makes him a good person to follow.

God's response to Hezekiah's submission includes powerful words of blessing for the faithful and cursing for the aggressors, but it's not just words. God sends an angel to act, resulting in swift death for the enemy army and eventually the fall of their king at the hands of his own sons - all in response to the man who prayed, trusted his priests and could act on the words of the prophet.

What did it show me about Father God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?

Imagine there were a way for us to hear God, even see the way to follow him - wouldn't it be great to be blessed like King Hezekiah? God promises that this is accessible to us in chapter 35.

God is willing not just to save people from death, but give them healing, strength and abundant life, and he identifies a Way of Holiness where those he has redeemed (by taking care of their guilt and sin) will walk without fear and with everlasting joy.

We can understand this as a reference to Jesus who uniquely combined the powers of a prophet, priest and king. Until he was revealed, God would point towards him through the stories of other faithful people he had empowered.

What am I going to do differently as a result?

I think it's important not just to pray nice prayers, but properly seek God's living words which may involve the input of prophecy, and certainly involves the willingness to act upon what God says, especially what he has already said through the Bible. I want to pray like Hezekiah does in chapter 37 - simply, directly and with praise to God, recognising his unique nature and power.

Who am I going to share this with?

Before the coronavirus crisis, I was seeking more opportunities to pray with people in our community, including for our school. When we knew trouble was brewing, I found some!

Please pray for me to continue to make new connections with people over prayer, and for my expectations not to be limited – I think God wants to be seen by people who don’t yet follow Jesus. Who else might join in prayer?