Special Tests for Special Purposes – Part 20

From Hezekiah we can learn two things: First, if God grants you some special miracle that does not make you a special person, it only means that you have a special God. Second, if God withdraws His presence and does not seem to be actively at work in your life, it can mean that He is testing you to see how you will behave when left to yourself.

Later in Judah’s history there arose another righteous king – Josiah. Like Hezekiah, Josiah also introduced radical reforms and restored the true worship of Jehovah. He also destroyed the idolatrous altar at Bethel in the northern kingdom. But, Josiah’s successes made him self-confident and he became rash. Without consulting the Lord and in the face of solemn warning, he opposed Pharaoh Necho, king of Egypt and was killed in battle. With him the last flicker of hope for Judah died also.

What about the New Testament? Does it provide different standards? Let us look at the foremost personalities: Jesus Himself and three of His leading disciples, Peter, John and Paul. What about their endings? Jesus of course, is unique, the perfect sinless Son of God. He never experienced failure. Yet His life ended by Him hanging naked from a cross, exposed to mocking sinners. That was the last the world saw of Jesus. His subsequent resurrection and the glory that followed, were revealed only to: Acts 10:41 NKJV “Witnesses chosen before by God.”