A Path to Leprosy

When playing with tools in his father’s workshop at age 3, Louis Braille was struck in the eye by a piece of metal. The injury blinded him, and a subsequent infection took the sight of his other eye. His parents determined to give him as many opportunities for education and enrichment as they could, and Louis applied his creativity and keen intellect toward creating a reading and writing system for visually impaired people—completing it by age 15! He also developed a method for mathematics and musical notation. The system he invented, now known as braille, is still used today and has been adapted to include new technologies for email and computer terminals.

Young people can accomplish amazing things! King Uzziah was only 16 years old when he took the throne, and his reign began with great success (vv. 3–5). Attentive to the counsel of God’s prophet Zechariah, Uzziah defended Judah against their enemies, fortified the cities, and provided resources for the land to flourish. “As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success” (v. 5).

But then Uzziah followed the pattern that we saw earlier with King Joash. His youthful zeal for the things of God and his willingness to rely on godly leaders were replaced by pride in his own accomplishments and trust in his own power (v. 16). Uzziah’s specific transgression was his attempt to claim the priestly duties for himself, venturing into the temple to burn incense. The “courageous priests of the Lord” confronted him, and his reaction compounded his sin (vv. 17–19).

Rather than repent, he grew angry. Rather than submit to God’s law, he was defensive. In divine judgment, God punished Uzziah with leprosy that removed him from the presence of God’s people.

Pray with Us

Please join us in praying for Scott Curtis, Jack Haveman, and Perry La Haie at WGNB, Moody Radio station in Zeeland, Mich., during the station’s annual Share fundraising event. On their behalf we thank Moody’s friends like you for your support.

BY Dr. Eric C. Redmond

Dr. Eric C. Redmond serves as a professor of Bible at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and as associate pastor of adult ministries at Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park, Ill. He is married to Pam and they have five children. He is the author of Say It!  Celebrating Expository Preaching in the African American Tradition (Moody Publishers), Where Are All the Brothers? Straight Answers to Men's’ Questions about the Church (Crossway), a commentary on Jonah in the Christ-Centered Exposition Series (B&H Publishers), and a study guide on Ephesians in the Knowing the Bible series (Crossway).