In 2 Kings 19 Hezekiah hears the threats from the king of Assyria. He sends his representatives and priests to the prophet Isaiah and asks what God would have him do. Isaiah tells Hezzekiah not to be afraid. God will make him return to his own land.

Sennacharib again sends his representative to Hezekiah with threats that God cannot protect him from an attack on Jerusalem. The other gods were not able to protect the lands that the king of Assyria as taken and Hezekiah’s God will not be able to either. Hezekiah goes to the house of the Lord and prays that God show his power against Sennacharib and his threats.

Isaiah replies to Hezekiah words from God. God says that while the king of Assyria boasts of his conquests he is merely doing what God has planned from the beginning. The remnant of the faithful in Jerusalem will not be harmed.

That night God strikes down the Assyrian army. Sennacharib goes to Ninevah where he iss killed by his sons. God is faithful to the remnant in Jerusalem just as He promised.

In 2 Kings 20 Hezekiah becomes ill. Isaiah goes to him and tells him that he is going to die. Hezekiah pleads with the Lord. Isaiah returns and says that God has heard his cries. He will be granted 15 more years of life. He will recover from his illness in three days. The sign that God is doing this is that the sun goes backward 10 hours.

The king of Babylon sends emissaries to Jerusalem. Hezekiah shows them all the wealth of Jerusalem. Isaiah comes to Hezekiah and predicts that Babylon will conquer Jerusalem and take its wealth and people. Hezekiah acknowledges the Lord’s words. After the 15 years God gives him, Hezekiah dies.

Hezekiah has learned to trust the Lord. His promises are sure. Even when they bring bad news they are to be trusted.

In 2 Corinthians 8 Paul shares with the church at Corinth what God has been doing in the church at Macedonia. Despite their struggles they have been generous even beyond their means to help the ministry to the saints. Paul recognizes those things in which the Corinthians excel and encourages them to excel in generosity as well. It is God’s desire that there be a fair balance between those who have much and those who have little.

Paul tells the Corinthians that Titus and two others are coming to work with them. Paul encourages the church to show them love.

Generosity is one of the fruit of the Spirit. It apparently has been lacking in the church at Corinth. They have become wealthy and have not been willing to share with others. Paul reminds them that God wants us to be generous in our giving to those in need. Generosity is evidence of God working on our lives.