Unrecognized Grace

A line from the incredible song Blessings by Laura Story says, "What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise." Certainly we don't easily think that.

This fall we have studied The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, the kings of Israel and Judah. Some kings are not easily categorized.

Uzziah lived a faithful obedient life, until one day, he decided to offer incense in the temple. The priests protested, yet he proceeded, until God struck him with leprosy right on his forehead. Suddenly he was ready to leave the temple, and lived the rest of his life in a separate palace while his son ruled in his place.

After reading of how other "bad" kings repented and received God's mercy, I found it odd that Uzziah, who had been previously faithful before this incident, spent the rest of his life quarantined with leprosy. Did that mean he didn't repent?

And then I reached the story of Ahaz. He was a record-breaking bad king, and eventually totally rearranged the temple. The priests of his day said nothing to him, but just went along with the program. He installed an altar modeled on another country and did his own services replacing the priests, all actions that defied God's instructions. Yet no immediate judgement, no leprosy, no disaster, no censure at all.

That's when I had to wonder if God's strike on Uzziah was actually grace. Keeping him home with leprosy prevented any further offenses against God. Uzziah had been faithful, and his pride got the best of him, but this judgement perhaps kept him in God's favor. Perhaps Ahaz was so far gone as to not merit God's intervention.

Certainly Jesus clearly stated that to whom much is given, much will be expected, so at times when we feel the harsh limits or boundaries set on our own lives, we should be grateful God cares enough to rein us in.