After the death of Ahaz, Hezekiah began to reign in Judah, and it was like sunlight breaking through the clouds after a storm. Hezekiah was only twenty five years old when he came to power. Despite his youth, he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 18:3).
Revival broke out in Judah under Hezekiah’s leadership. He removed the high places, broke down the idolatrous images, and cut down pagan groves. Unlike his father, he clave unto the Lord, and departed not from following after Him, and obeyed the Law of Moses (2 Kings 18:6). Ahaz, his father, was a vassal for the Assyrians, but Hezekiah, on the other hand, rebelled against Assyria. Needless to say, Hezekiah was the opposite of his father.
While there was a revival in Judah, there was judgment in Israel. The Assyrians began their siege against Samaria, and began to deport the Israelites (2 Kings 18:9-11). The writer of Kings makes the contrast apparent here. Hezekiah and Judah are returning to the Lord and experiencing prosperity. Israel obeyed not the voice of the Lord their God, but transgressed his covenant, and for that they are being taken into captivity (2 Kings 18:12).
Hezekiah’s revival is quite remarkable. His father was as awful as they come, even sacrificing his children in fire to a pagan god. How did Hezekiah survive that? How does an evil man like Ahaz produce a great man like Hezekiah? It is nothing short of God’s grace.
Like Hezekiah, there are many who are living testimonies of God’s grace. They grew up in abusive homes, or they had parents who abused substances. Society gave up on them simply based on who their parents were. God, however, had His hand upon them. He awakened their hearts and minds to the realization that the gods their parents served brought them nothing but heartache. Then somehow they were introduced to Jesus and they found hope beyond their environment and upbringing.
I’m thankful that Jesus doesn’t base His love and salvation upon our genealogy. But the grace of God, that brings salvation, has appeared unto all men (Titus 2:11).