Incline your ear O LORD and hear; open your eyes O LORD, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. Isaiah 37:17, ESV

 

Where do you go when faced with a seemingly insurmountable problem – one where, from every angle, the outcome appears bleak?

 

Hezekiah faced such an unenviable situation.

 

The Rabshakeh (field commander) of mighty Assyria was at Jerusalem’s wall with a large army – belligerent, taunting Hezekiah, mocking God, and trying to intimidate the officials on the wall, along with the people around them. Judah’s people were already at a point of weakness, in no position to confront this mighty foe, who threatened that they were doomed “to eat their own dung and drink their own urine,” (Isaiah 36:12) while promising that if they made their peace with [him]," (Isaiah 36:16) they would receive special treatment – until they were carried away to a land like their own. Something really to anticipate!

 

The Northern Kingdom had succumbed to the Assyrians years before, and Hezekiah had since discovered that Pharaoh’s promise to help Israel was fruitless – leaving Judah devoid of allies. Humanly speaking, Hezekiah had nowhere to turn; but he was not a king without hope.

 

Isaiah had prophesied that the Assyrians would not destroy Jerusalem (Isaiah10:24-27), and now Hezekiah turned to God, trusting him to help them in their dire situation. Recognising God’s greatness and his own weakness, Hezekiah humbled himself – putting on sackcloth, going into the temple, and sending a message to Isaiah, asking him to “pray for the remnant that still survives”. (Isaiah 37:4)

 

Unbeknown to Hezekiah, God had already begun to answer his prayer even as he persisted in faith, pleading that God would deliver them.

 

“Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard” (Isaiah 37:6) were the welcome words Hezekiah received back from the prophet. God already had a plan for the Assyrians’ downfall, and Judah would be delivered.

 

When we know how mighty God is, we also know that he is not mocked – not then and not now. Like Hezekiah, we are able to turn to him in difficult times. We too live in a world where some people have little regard for God, and little regard for the plight of others; and like him, we sometimes feel that whichever way we turn, there is a problem to face or an enemy to contend with – an illness, a need, an attack or perhaps the enemy, Time.

 

Even the best plans sometimes have a way of going awry, and it becomes difficult to know what to focus on first; someone you once trusted has let you down, and you have been left with the pieces. But God is in control, and we need only turn to him and, in faith, trust him to see us through – all to his honour and glory.

 

Prayer: “Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.” (Isaiah 33:2, NIV) You are our God; we trust in you alone. Amen