“And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper” (2 Chronicles 26:5).
TEXT — 2 Chronicles 26:1-15
Message
In modern times, the term, ‘The hand of God,’ was made popular by a goal scored by the Argentine soccer legend, Diego Maradona, against England during the 1986 FIFA World Cup. As Maradona later admitted, the goal was scored with his hand and was only allowed because the officials did not notice the foul play. The footballer himself called the goal, “the hand of God”, which obviously trivialized its real meaning. In the eyes of Scripture, “the hand of God” is a metaphor for the omnipotence of God and His intervening power.
One copious beneficiary of the “hand of God” as contained in today’s text is Uzziah (also known as Azariah), the son of Amaziah. He was only 16 years old when he became the king of Judah and reigned for 52 years. He started well by seeking God sincerely, and in return, was greatly helped by God. He became very successful, influential, and prosperous and was able to bring significant transformation to Judah in terms of military might, infrastructural development, and agricultural excellence.
Uzziah achieved this feat for as long as he was submissive to the Lord and under the tutelage of Zechariah, a faithful and wise counsellor, whose death turned out to be most unfortunate for Uzziah and Judah. It is blessed indeed to benefit from the privilege of such a guiding light that has “understanding in the visions of God”. Even though Uzziah, whose name means “the Lord is my strength,” later became presumptuous and suffered for it, his story confirms the fact that God “is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
The hand of God is still at work today for all who seek and walk with Him. If you draw near to Him, He will draw near to you. He will strengthen, defend, provide for, and prosper those who obey Him. You should also not neglect, but appreciate the privilege of true spiritual mentors whose examples and guidance help to constantly keep your feet on the straight and narrow road to heaven.
Thought for the day
Exceptional consecration and excellent accomplishment are bedfellows.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
