Hebrew Word Study – God Left Him – Haelohim ‘Azava – עֲזָב֖וֹ הָֽאֱלֹהִ֑ים Ayin Zayin Beth Vav Hei Aleph Lamed Hei Yod Mem
II Chronicles 32:31: “Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in His heart.”
The man that God left was Hezekiah who was a king in Judah. He was the son of Ahaz who was a Godly king. King Ahaz destroyed all the idolatry he could get his hands on and even destroyed the bronzed serpent fashioned by Moses because people were actually beginning to worship the serpent, thinking there was some power in the serpent and they turned it into an idol.
Now here’s the rub, despite all these Godly acts, Judah went through some of it most trying times to date. The Assyrian army, led by their king Sennacherib, invaded both Israel and Judah and took control of the Northern Kingdom, and almost succeeded in taking Judah. According to the clay tablets penned by King Sennacherib, the old boy himself, which now housed at the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago, just fifteen minutes from where I live, we learn that Sennacherib called his great defeat a victory and said he conquered 46 cities. He also said that he forced King Hezekiah to pay him tribute. This is all true but he does not mention that in one night, according to verse 21 in II Chronicles 32, an angel brought a plague on Sennacherib’s army. History tells us they came down with the trots. Nonetheless, 185,000 soldiers died and Sennacherib was forced to return home in disgrace. Two years later his brothers killed him as he was leaving a pagan temple.
Now the political climate at this time put Babylon as the trophy for Assyria and they were having a hard time fighting off the Assyria army as was Hezekiah and Egypt. So, in an attempt to ally Babylon sent envoys to meet with Hezekiah under the guise of congratulating him on his great healing (II Kings 20:1) and the supernatural deliverance of Jerusalem (II Kings 19:35). Also they were intrigued by the miracle of the sundial (II Kings 20:1-11) which God sent to confirm that Hezekiah would not die from his illness. This greatly interested the Babylonians who were astronomers and watched the skies and such an event made an impression on them. Yet, the real purpose of this envoy was to encourage Hezekiah to join in an alliance with them and Egypt against Assyria.
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Now this was a great evangelistic opportunity that God just dropped in Hezekiah’s lap. An opportunity to declare that it was God Jehovah who did all these marvelous things like moving the sundial, healing him from a life-threatening illness, and chasing away the Assyrians. But what does Hezekiah do? He goes and shows off all the wealth and military might that they had and never once mentioned God in any of this. There is no doubt that this betrayal on the part of Hezekiah to boost his ego broke God’s heart.
This brings this background to our study verse today where we learn that when these ambassadors arrived, God left. God wanted to “try” him so He could know his heart. The word left in Hebrew is ‘azavu which is in a Qal form. More telling this has a perfect infliction and in an active voice. In other words, God had already put Hezekiah’s heart to the test. He knew what Hezekiah intended to do and God could not be a part of this great act of disobedience, yes even betrayal, in trying to impress the arm of the flesh. God had already left. Note, He didn’t forsake him, He just left him. His presence could not abide near this betrayal. As this is in a Qal form translators do not go as far as saying God forsook him that would be expressed in the Piel. Hence this has the idea of withdrawing as some translations say others say to leave him alone. It is a sort of just stepping back.
The reason for this stepping back is found within the spelling of the word ‘azayu. It is spelled Ayin which in its shadow form means blindness, Vav which shows a co-dependency, and Beth which represents the heart. Hezekiah was blinded to the fact that his heart was set upon the arm of the flesh and not God. Babylon was the very nation that in a few years would take Judah captive, yet here was Hezekiah leaning to these people to help him rather than using the great miracles that God performed to encourage these pagan rulers to put their trust in Jehovah. Actually, by showing them the treasures of Judah it only encouraged the Babylonians to conquer Judah once they had the power.
The syntax is pretty rough here, no doubt the pronouns point to Hezekiah, but the last pronoun points to God. In other words, God left Hezekiah to try him. Now this word for try is a Piel infinitive from the root word nasah. This word does mean to tempt or to try. However, it also means to write an essay. I believe the context indicates we are to use that definition. His heart is a reference to God’s heart. Again, the syntax is rough so I will not be offended if someone disagrees with me on this. But from personal experience, I feel right about this. God was stepping back from Hezekiah, withdrawing His presence so that Hezekiah could read God’s heart.
There is a picture here, it is of a lover who has faithfully given and cared for his beloved only for her to take all his gifts to adorn herself to impress another lover. God is the forsaken lover, who steps back and lets His unfaithful beloved pursue another lover, hoping that in the process she will understand how she has broken His heart. You know, you get used to God. He answers your prayers and provides for you and before long you tend to take Him for granted.
You see, Judah was just a small insignificant nation that should, but for the grace of God, have been swallowed up by Assyria but managed to catch the attention of the second and third most powerful nations in the world Babylon and Egypt. They wanted to know how such a little nation was able to defeat the most powerful nation Assyria. But rather than give God the glory, Hezekiah chose to elevate himself and literally declare, “You just underestimate us, little guys.”
Chaim Bentorah Ministries is just a small, very small operation. Yet, when confronted with a larger ministry I found myself bragging how I spend many hours a day studying the Word of God in the original languages, studying Jewish sources and all the latest information in Archeology and linguistics. “And that is how I arrive at some of my deep insights. Yet, the truth is, I may do all these things, but the real knowledge of understanding comes from the Spirit of God. I know that because when I leave him out of the matrix God says: “Oh yeah, see what happens when I ‘azavu (step back from you).” Suddenly I find that I can sit for hours and not one inspirational thought will come to my mind.
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Thanks & Blessings, it means a lot to me!
Exquisite thank you!
This is wrong:
King Ahaz destroyed all the idolatry he could get his hands on and even destroyed the bronzed serpent fashioned by Moses because people were actually beginning to worship the serpent, thinking there was some power in the serpent and they turned it into an idol.
Was it not HEZEKIAH WHO DESTROYED THE BRONZE SERPENT IMAGE?
Read 2 Kings 18:4, where we read thus ABOUT HEZEKIAH, NOT AHAZ:
He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.)
Do you realize when you use all caps, that is considered equivalent to yelling. No need to, thanks.
Sorry! I did not know that. I merely wished to highlight the word.
Sir, I have a question.
In Ezekiel 1:26-28 is the stone sapphire or lapis lazuli?
It makes sense to me it would be lapis because the stone itself looks like the clouds, the sea, the waters, rock and gold.
Of course God would be sitting on a throne resembling His creation.
Many variations say Sapphire.
Your thoughts please. my friend and I are debating.
That’s the gist of this message.
Becoming overly familiar, and forgetting who my, our anchor is!
I’m guilty as charged!!
God help me in my messy pride!
Blessing’s
Amen to the above. I have just lost a friend of 38 years who taught me hebrew at I time I did not know why on earth I needed that!. Having you to still share in that way has been precious in this time and before. Meditating on one word gets things in deeper. I also appreciate that you share about your special challenges as it reminds me that Cerebral palsy and an ever less able body does not affect my heart!!
Since this is Sunday, the message from the pastor concerned idols we may have hidden in our lives. Later, opening emails, and this idols message appears. No doubt God is speaking. I told my wife, never fail to tell me if she sees idolatry in my heart. Why not just listen to God’s presence convicting? Deception. I know me and how highly I respect myself. Because of this respect, I want to stay away from anything which would cause the reality of idol worship. STOP! Chaim, something interesting just happened. While re-reading what I had written, God exposed sin, HOW MUCH I LOVE MYSELF! I actually had made myself an idol over God without realizing it. Wow! Thank you, thank you, thank you for this message. The truth has set me free!
Every morning I look forward to read your emails. I’ve been receiving them for a few months now and each time I get so blessed. My favorite one is the “Government on His Shoulders “….wow. I want to thank our Lord for your life and all the studying you did. You did all the hard work for us.
I enjoy the personal touch you put in the study. You’re transparent— human just like us. Thank you for that. It really means a lot. It’s just not a bunch of words.
I usually have another app for my early morning devotional, now I wait for your email.
May the Lord bless you and keep you…
Excellent, thank you very much for this study and insight. bless God praise Him ! forever!
Love this study Chaim.
So relevant for the times we live in.
So relevant for us personally to check our hearts continually.
Are we living IN HIM. Is His Cross imprinted IN ME?
Jesus keep me depenandant on You.
I agree with Lucy, your work is deeply appreciated. I could have never known what you know about the Word of YHVH unless you were willing to share it. I thank Him our paths have crossed and one day you will see the fruition of your mission, how so many lives have been positively impacted by your love and dedication to the Word.
Happy 11th Shevat month , His Sabbath Parasha is Vayigash (Then He Drew Near) totally opposite to Nasah 😁
I receive hundreds of emails every day, but yours is the one I wait for. I used to live in Evanston but now manage a neuropsychology practice in Tyler, Texas and work 12-16 hours a day. This is why I cannot commit to proper study. Is it OK for me to periodically send a contribution to your ministry? If so, please tell me where to send that. (PS…I love the Oriental Institute of Chicago!) Your work is deeply appreciated and truly intellectually stimulating.
I miss everything except you ABBA and thanks for Chaim’s study one more day 🙌🏻 whatever his name is, one day we will really know each other by our names better than sons
Thank you so much for your lessons. They are making scripture so much more, deeper meaning. I have recently come through my own Hezekiah experience, so this lesson really hit home. I’m so grateful to know that just because I sinned does not mean God turned his back on me. He was there all along, just waiting for me to repent and let me experience what losing his presence felt like. I don’t ever want to be separated from him again. This lesson you presented helped me learn more about his ways. Thank you