When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves

Now when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying,"They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance. My wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. – 2 Chronicles 12v7

Rehoboam and the rest of the leaders came to Shemaiah the prophet to ask what could be done about God’s judgement coming on the nation. They came with humble broken hearts acknowledging God’s righteousness in dealing with them.

When God saw their humility He told Shemaiah to tell them that because they had humbled themselves He would not destroy them, but instead He would deliver them for the destruction.

It looks like Judah’s existence could have ended as soon as it started if the nation had not humbled themselves and turned back to Him.

God has always honoured humility. It is only through humility that one can come to the point where they can rely of God alone for salvation. The holy perfect God whose name is Holy and who dwells in eternity also dwells with those who have a humble and contrite spirit.

God resists the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.

Might we say that in reality our relationship with God begins with and is based on humility?