Forbidden Fruit

“After Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall.” 2 Chronicles 26:16.

King Uzziah had it all during his 52 year reign which began at age 16. He enjoyed power, fame, royalty and prosperity as he ruled over the Southern Kingdom of Judah once Israel had become a divided kingdom. The name Uzziah means “the Lord is my strength” which as we will see is extremely prophetic seeing how once he turned away from the Lord his strength and prosperity dissipated.

Uzziah had more power than any one individual throughout the kingdom excluding the priests who possessed the only authority withheld from him. Only the priests were given the authority by God to serve in the temple. As his power and prosperity was on the rise so was his pride. Burning of the holy incense in the temple was a divine appointment from God to the priests once they had been called and consecrated. Uzziah’s pride entreated him to march right through the courtyard, snatch up the utencil to gather the coals required to the burn incense and approach the altar. The priests were mortified and terrified at the irreverence of his actions and tried warning him. The Bible states that "as Uzziah was raging at the priests in their presence before the incense altar in the LORD’s temple, leprosy broke out on his forehead." For the remainder of his life he lived the isolated life of a leper; end of prosperity, end of pride, end of story. If we live a life isolated from God we will become isolated in our lives.

Over and over again throughout the Bible we find God raising people up to prosperity and success only to bring them down again for the sake of humility. Eve had it all but wanted more. King David got bored with his life of abundance, prosperity deeming it not enough. King Uzziah lost sight of who he served and how he rose to greatness. Why is it that we sabotage the very thing for which we ask from God by forgetting the great Provider once we receive? I believe God allows us access to witness the pride in others to warn, instruct and even hold up a mirror.

God places divine boundaries in our lives for our own good realizing that our hearts are bent towards pride and self. The people from the Bible mentioned above had one major thing in common. They had everything they needed and most of what they desired…and yet, it wasn’t enough.

Watch out for your forbidden fruit for it is always washed first with pride.