Friday - 2nd Chronicles 30 - A Moment of Unity

As I pointed out in our last entry, Hezekiah was in charge in Judah during the time when Assyria was wreaking havoc in Israel.  In this chapter, we read about the ambitious efforts of Hezekiah to share God's blessings with others.  God had begun to pour out His mercy upon him and his people.  He wanted to include all his Jewish brethren in the revival that they were enjoying in Judah.  So, as he planned to renew the Passover feast, he sent invitations to the remnant of the 10 northern tribes who had survived the Assyrian invasion.  He hoped to bring them back to God by bringing them to the Passover.

Sadly, for the most part, Israel wanted no part of Hezekiah's revival.  Even though the Assyrians had been used by God to teach them a serious lesson, most of them had missed it altogether.  2^nd Chronicles 30:10 tells us that the honorable messengers out of Judah were mocked and laughed at when they were delivering their message to Israel.

Not everyone resented Hezekiah's spiritual advances though. Some of the Jews from Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun, did respond positively and came to the feast.  What a wonderful time it was too.  God granted unity to the nation once again; unity like the children of Jacob had not enjoyed since the days of Solomon.  It was such a special time of sincerity, repentance and worship that God even suspended some of Moses' strict regulations and received the people despite their outward uncleanness (2^nd Chronicles 30:18-20).