But Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart… so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
2 chronicles 32:26
Notice how grace prevailed in this man’s life. When Hezekiah came under the discipline of God, he saw the pride of his heart, and he saw what a fool he had been.
“God has given me life! He brought me back from the point of death, and here I am, living for myself. What am I doing?”
Then it says, “The wrath of the LORD did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah” (32:26). Notice that the wrath was postponed. It was not removed. Justice has to be done somewhere, and sin has to be dealt with. This is why Jesus Christ came into the world.
What we see in Jesus is the opposite of what we have seen in Hezekiah. Hezekiah became proud in his heart. Jesus humbled Himself to the point of death on a cross (Phil. 2:8).
Hezekiah lived for himself. Jesus gave Himself for the good of others. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (Jn. 15:13).
When Hezekiah was faced with the wrath of God, he thought, “As long as it is on others and not on me.” But Jesus said, “Let it be on me, not on them.”
Jesus absorbed in Himself the wrath that was due to us on account of our sins. For all who come to Him in faith and repentance, the wrath due to us is not only postponed, it is completely removed! “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1).
Have you come to Jesus in faith and repentance? Thank Him that the wrath due to you for your sins has been completely removed.
