Trusting God in Tough Decisions: Hezekiah's Example
Summary
Navigating through a life of real faith in the real world often involves making hard calls. These tough decisions can range from seemingly trivial choices to life-altering ones. Today, we explored how to engage God in these moments of uncertainty and how to navigate them with faith.
We began by acknowledging that decision-making is a constant part of our lives, often keeping us up at night as we wrestle with choices that can significantly impact our future. I shared a personal story about leaving my corporate career for ministry, only to be tempted by a lucrative offer to stay. This experience highlighted the internal conflict and doubt that often accompany tough calls.
We then delved into the story of King Hezekiah from the Old Testament, who faced a monumental decision when the brutal Assyrian empire threatened his kingdom. Hezekiah's story is a powerful example of how to handle tough calls by seeking God's guidance. Despite being outmanned and outgunned, Hezekiah chose to trust in God rather than surrender to fear, doubt, and shame.
In moments of tough decisions, it's crucial to evaluate three things: patterns of the past, mind games of the present, and seeking God for the future. Hezekiah's past faithfulness to God gave him a foundation of trust, even when faced with overwhelming odds. The enemy's tactics of fear, doubt, and shame were designed to undermine his trust, but Hezekiah sought God's perspective instead of succumbing to these negative voices.
Ultimately, the story teaches us that the key to navigating tough calls is to base our confidence on God. Hezekiah's decision to trust God led to divine intervention, just as Jesus' trust in God led to His resurrection. These stories remind us that God is trustworthy and that our faith in Him will set the stage for what only He can do.
### Key Takeaways
1. Patterns of the Past: Reflecting on past experiences with God can provide a foundation of trust during tough calls. Hezekiah's history of faithfulness to God reassured him that God would be faithful in return. Remembering God's past faithfulness can help us navigate current uncertainties with confidence. [15:59]
2. Mind Games of the Present: The enemy often uses fear, doubt, and shame to undermine our trust in God during tough decisions. Recognizing these tactics and countering them with God's truth is essential. Writing down and examining our thoughts can help us discern whether they align with God's promises. [19:01]
3. Seeking God for the Future: In moments of uncertainty, seeking God's perspective is crucial. Hezekiah's instinct to seek God's guidance rather than relying on his own understanding or the enemy's promises led to divine intervention. Trusting God with our future, even when it's uncertain, is a vital part of faith. [26:33]
4. The Importance of Trust: Tough calls force us to examine where our confidence lies. Hezekiah's declaration of trust in God, despite overwhelming odds, set the stage for God's miraculous intervention. Our trust in God, especially in difficult times, is a testament to our faith and can lead to extraordinary outcomes. [33:08]
5. God's Faithfulness: Both Hezekiah's and Jesus' stories demonstrate that God is trustworthy. Hezekiah's trust led to the defeat of the Assyrian army, and Jesus' trust led to His resurrection. These examples remind us that God is faithful and that our trust in Him will be rewarded, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges. [37:45]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:44] - Introduction to Tough Calls
[02:46] - Everyday Decisions
[04:10] - Personal Story: Career Change
[05:37] - The Role of Faith in Tough Calls
[06:56] - Old Testament Story: King Hezekiah
[08:22] - Historical Context of Hezekiah
[09:53] - Assyrian Threat
[11:18] - Hezekiah's Dilemma
[12:59] - Spiritual Implications
[14:27] - Patterns of the Past
[19:01] - Mind Games of the Present
[26:33] - Seeking God for the Future
[33:08] - Trusting God
[37:45] - God's Faithfulness
[38:53] - Closing Prayer and Farewell
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 2 Kings 18:19-22 - The field commander said to them, “Tell Hezekiah: ‘This is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: On what are you basing this confidence of yours? You say you have the counsel and the might for war—but you speak only empty words. On whom are you depending, that you rebel against me? Look, I know you are depending on Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff, which pierces the hand of anyone who leans on it! Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who depend on him. But if you say to me, “We are depending on the Lord our God”—isn’t he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah removed, saying to Judah and Jerusalem, “You must worship before this altar in Jerusalem”?’
2. 2 Chronicles 32:7-8 - “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.
3. Isaiah 37:14-20 - Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: “Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see; listen to all the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God. “It is true, Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste all these peoples and their lands. They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, Lord, are the only God.”
#### Observation Questions
1. What was the main challenge that King Hezekiah faced from the Assyrian empire? ([09:53])
2. How did Hezekiah respond to the threats and psychological tactics used by the Assyrian field commander? ([26:33])
3. What were the three key elements Hezekiah evaluated when making his tough decision? ([14:27])
4. How did Hezekiah's past faithfulness to God influence his decision-making process during the crisis? ([15:59])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it important to reflect on past experiences with God when facing tough decisions? How did Hezekiah's past faithfulness to God provide him with confidence? ([15:59])
2. How do fear, doubt, and shame play a role in undermining our trust in God during difficult times? Can you identify a time when these tactics affected your decision-making? ([19:01])
3. What does it mean to seek God's perspective for the future, and how did Hezekiah demonstrate this in his actions? ([26:33])
4. How does Hezekiah's declaration of trust in God, despite overwhelming odds, serve as an example for us in our own tough calls? ([33:08])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a tough decision you are currently facing. How can you draw on past experiences with God to help you navigate this decision? ([15:59])
2. Identify a recent situation where fear, doubt, or shame influenced your decision-making. How can you counter these negative voices with God's truth? ([19:01])
3. When was the last time you sought God's guidance in a moment of uncertainty? What steps can you take to ensure you seek His perspective in future decisions? ([26:33])
4. Think about a time when you had to trust God despite not knowing the outcome. How did that experience shape your faith? ([33:08])
5. How can you cultivate a habit of running to God, like Hezekiah did, when faced with tough calls? What practical steps can you take to make this a regular practice in your life? ([29:46])
6. In what ways can you remind yourself of God's faithfulness during times of uncertainty? Consider creating a "faithfulness journal" to document instances of God's trustworthiness in your life. ([37:45])
7. How can you support others in your small group who are facing tough decisions? What role can you play in encouraging them to trust in God's guidance? ([38:53])
Devotional
Day 1: Reflecting on God's Past Faithfulness
Reflecting on past experiences with God can provide a foundation of trust during tough calls. Hezekiah's history of faithfulness to God reassured him that God would be faithful in return. Remembering God's past faithfulness can help us navigate current uncertainties with confidence. [15:59]
"Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered, O offspring of Israel his servant, children of Jacob, his chosen ones!" (1 Chronicles 16:12-13, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a time in your life when you experienced God's faithfulness. How can recalling this experience help you trust Him with a current decision you are facing?
Day 2: Recognizing and Countering Mind Games
The enemy often uses fear, doubt, and shame to undermine our trust in God during tough decisions. Recognizing these tactics and countering them with God's truth is essential. Writing down and examining our thoughts can help us discern whether they align with God's promises. [19:01]
"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." (2 Timothy 1:7, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a specific fear, doubt, or shame that you are currently experiencing. How can you counter this with a specific promise from God's Word today?
Day 3: Seeking God's Perspective for the Future
In moments of uncertainty, seeking God's perspective is crucial. Hezekiah's instinct to seek God's guidance rather than relying on his own understanding or the enemy's promises led to divine intervention. Trusting God with our future, even when it's uncertain, is a vital part of faith. [26:33]
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)
Reflection: What is one decision you are currently facing where you need to seek God's perspective? Spend time in prayer today asking for His guidance and wisdom.
Day 4: Trusting God in Difficult Times
Tough calls force us to examine where our confidence lies. Hezekiah's declaration of trust in God, despite overwhelming odds, set the stage for God's miraculous intervention. Our trust in God, especially in difficult times, is a testament to our faith and can lead to extraordinary outcomes. [33:08]
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a current challenge you are facing. How can you declare your trust in God in this situation, and what steps can you take to demonstrate that trust?
Day 5: Embracing God's Faithfulness
Both Hezekiah's and Jesus' stories demonstrate that God is trustworthy. Hezekiah's trust led to the defeat of the Assyrian army, and Jesus' trust led to His resurrection. These examples remind us that God is faithful and that our trust in Him will be rewarded, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges. [37:45]
"Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations." (Deuteronomy 7:9, ESV)
Reflection: Consider a situation in your life that seems insurmountable. How can you remind yourself of God's faithfulness and trust Him to work in this situation? What practical steps can you take to lean into His faithfulness today?
Quotes
### Quotes for outreach
1. "God uses hard calls. And this would be a chapter in his manual of how to grow you in your life of faith. It would, it happens all the time." [06:56] (8 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "God wants, to some extent, to back you into a corner so that you have to answer the question, what am I going to do? How do I navigate this? How do I engage God in this? Can I hear him? Can I follow him? And if I do, am I going to survive it? What's going to happen?" [12:59] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The only way around this in our tough calls is to become someone who deeply knows God, who intimately knows God. We're not clear precisely whether Hezekiah sees and gets this, because it's embedded in the speech, but I hope he did." [25:02] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God purposely put him in a position where he was going to be weak and hungry, and then guess who shows up? His enemy. His enemy shows up, and he starts offering him a picture of the future. All of this can be yours. I've got bread for you. If you'll just do it on my terms, if you'll just come my way, we can do this." [36:14] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "And these stories end with God doing things on his way, on his timing, with his resources, and his power, and his might, and his counsel. I'll add mine. 25 years into a marriage that most people said was over, God looks pretty trustworthy. 19 years after walking away from the career that I thought I was building, God looks pretty trustworthy." [37:45] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for members
1. "When you're facing a tough call, you need to evaluate. We see them all in this story and also how Hezekiah engages God as we get each of these three pieces of information. So make your pro-con list, but I want you to do these three things as well. And the first one is to see patterns of the past." [14:27] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Despite the fact that he's backed into a corner, he really doesn't have any other reason to suspect that God isn't going to show up for him. He's got patterns to their relationship. He knows who he's been. He knows who God has been. He certainly knows who Assyria has been. He has plenty of track record to draw on here." [15:59] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The only way we know that is to pull them out, write them on a piece of paper, or say them out loud, and check it against the Word of God. Is that what God says about me? Is that what God thinks about my past? Is that what God's plans for my future say? Or is this fear? Is that what God's plans for my future say?" [25:02] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Hezekiah's faith drives him to God. Here's what it says. It says, when Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes, he put on sackcloth, and he went into the temple of the Lord. Running to the temple is like running straight into the presence of God. It would be like you running into your house, hitting your knees, and going, God, really? I'm here. I need you." [29:46] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "And the question under every question, under every tough call, is who do you trust? On what are you basing your confidence? And God keeps putting us in these tough calls, hoping we're going to risk it on him, hoping you're going to go all in, hoping that this time, this time might be the time that you seek him, that you hit your face, and that you go all in on him, on trusting him." [34:43] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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