The long and relatively stable reign of Uzziah (also called Azariah) of Judah will serve as a contrast with the tumultuous events in the northern kingdom. Uzziah’s reign follows a similar pattern to that of Solomon. He was devoted to God in his early years and as a result he had a long and prosperous reign. He became very powerful but, like Solomon and his father Amaziah, his power went to his head. As the text says: “His pride led to his downfall.” His simple desire to serve God was hijacked by a sense of spiritual superiority. There is only a certain amount of success that we can responsibly steward before it becomes too great a temptation. That God should give us success does not make him responsible for when we become proud. It is always our choice. However, in his mercy God often withholds success from us until we are able to bear it faithfully. To know God and to be filled with his Spirit is immensely empowering and God certainly wants to empower us for his mission. But, if you feel that God is withholding from you, it may be because there are still some pride issues in you that he wants to deal with to enable you to steward his power. I have known the feeling of empowerment that comes from an encounter with God, but I have also experienced the pride that feeds on these experiences. It makes me immensely frustrated with myself, but I always channel my frustration into a plea for help from God. Only God can break our pride and create genuine humility in us.
Ask God to lead you to greater humility.
Read 2 Chronicles 26
