In Whom Now Do You Trust?
If you heard Sennacherib had sent his Rabshakeh to tell your town to surrender, would you be thinking, What’s a Rabshakeh? Are we in a Star Trek movie?
But when Hezekiah was king of Judah, everyone knew the king of Assyria had been conquering the fortified cities of Judah. So, when he sent one of his officers, the Rabshakeh, to tell Hezekiah he had better surrender Jerusalem, there was good reason to be terrified. The Assyrians had perfected iron weapons, chariots, and siege warfare.
The Rabshakeh began his campaign against Jerusalem with a propaganda blitz. In the hearing of all the people on the city wall, he started the trash talk. First he told them that if they thought Egypt was going to come to their rescue, they’d better think again. “Behold, you are trusting in Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him” (Isa. 36: 4-6 ESV).
He assumed the leaders, at least, were going to tell him they were trusting their God to save them. He had an answer ready for that one:
“‘Now, therefore, do not let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you in this fashion, and do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you out of my hand!’
“And his servants said still more against the Lord God and against his servant Hezekiah. And he wrote letters to cast contempt on the Lord, the God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, ‘Like the gods of the nations of the lands who have not delivered their people from my hands, so the God of Hezekiah will not deliver his people from my hand.’ And they shouted it with a loud voice in the language of Judah to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them, in order that they might take the city. And they spoke of the God of Jerusalem as they spoke of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men’s hands” (2 Chron. 32:15-19 ESV).
Big mistake!
Hezekiah had made preparations for a siege, including stopping the water supply outside the city and reinforcing walls and towers. But he knew where his real help would come from. “‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.’ And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah” (2 Chron. 32:7-8 ESV).
“Then Hezekiah the king and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed because of this and cried to heaven. And the Lord sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty warriors and commanders and officers in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he came into the house of his god, some of his own sons struck him down there with the sword. So the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all his enemies, and he provided for them on every side” (2 Chron. 32:20-22 ESV).
Mighty God of Israel, remind us where our help comes from. Increase our faith. Provide for your people and shame your enemies. In Jesus name, Amen.
Scripture for Reflection
“For the Lord spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: ‘Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.'” (Isa. 8:11-13 ESV)
“And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.”(2 Kings 6:16 KJV)
Reach for More
This story of Hezekiah and Isaiah and the Assyrians can be found in 2 Kings 18 and 19; 2 Chronicles 32; and Isaiah 36 and 37. Read these three versions of the story. “Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show to you today” (Ex.14:13 KJV).
Through the gift of a faithful mother and grandmother, grew up knowing Jesus as a friend. Married for nearly two-thirds of her life, there has been time for several seasons, from homeschooling to owning a coffee shop. She has three grown children and nine grandchildren. An element of this season is writing about literature and life at Plumfield and Paideia.
Photograph © Aaron Burden, used with permission
