At that time Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of his illness and recovery. Hezekiah received the envoys gladly and showed them what was in his storehouses—the silver, the gold, the spices, the fine olive oil—his entire armory and everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them. Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked, “What did those men say, and where did they come from?”
"From a distant land,” Hezekiah replied. “They came to me from Babylon.”
The prophet asked, “What did they see in your palace?”
"They saw everything in my palace,” Hezekiah said. “There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them.”
Isaiah 37:1-4 NIV
If you have consistently been the little dog in a fight and the opportunity to be the big dog come, it is hard to resist.
Hezekiah is faced with this problem. The King has been consistently second fiddle to Assyria, but here comes Babylon - a small and second-rate nation.
Pride overcomes Hezekiah. He takes the opportunity to show off. After all, it has grown tiresome being in second place. This opportunity to be #1 feels good.
Hezekiah's pride will be a stepping stone to the downfall of the people and will lead them eventually into Babylonian captivity.
Where will your pride lead you and your family?
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