A VICTORY AGAINST ALL ODDS! (2Kings 18 and 19; 2Chronicles 32)

         1. There was a time when Jerusalem, the City of David, stood alone against the onslaughts of the Assyrians under King Sennacherib. All of the "fenced cities of Judah" had already been taken by the powerful armies of the Assyrians and now, surrounded by the enemy, it looked like the beginning of the end for Jerusalem.
         2. However, Hezekiah, the king of Judah was a very good king who "trusted in the Lord God of Israel." He kept close to God and because of this the Lord made him successful in all his doings. (2Kings 18:5)
         3. When King Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had captured the cities all around him, in order to avoid an attack, he sent this message to Sennacherib, "Withdraw from me and I will pay whatever you demand of me."
         4. Sennacherib's reply was hardly a bargain. He demanded the extravagant sum of 300 Talents* (37,500 lbs.) of silver and some 30 Talents (3,750 lbs.) of gold! (*One Talent weighs about 104 lbs.)
         5. Hezekiah did everything he could to raise the money, even removing the gold overlay from the Temple doors and pillars. But when he sent his weighty tribute to Sennacherib, the Assyrian king greedily demanded more and warned that the gates of Jerusalem should be opened because he was going to take it anyway.
         6. Yet in spite of all this, King Hezekiah remained firm, launching an initiative. He consulted with his officials and military staff about blocking off the water which came from springs outside the city. With a large force of men he succeeded in stopping the springs as well as the stream that ran through the land, saying, "Why should the Assyrians come and find plenty of water?"
         7. Next he built up the defensive walls and watch towers around the city and made large numbers of weapons and shields, and he appointed military officers over the people and assembled them at the city gate. Boldly Hezekiah spoke to encourage the people: "Be strong and courageous. Be not afraid nor dismayed by the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude with him, for there be more with us than with him. With him is the arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles!"
         8. That was Hezekiah's greatest strength--his faith that no matter how strong the enemy, God would come and fight for His people. He knew that God's help from Heaven was much more than the supposed strength and numbers of the mighty. And it says that when he finished speaking, "the people rested upon the words of their king." And his words were strong because he had rested in the Lord and upon the words which he'd heard from God's Prophet Isaiah, who lived in Jerusalem and advised the king with messages from God.
         9. Soon the first part of the Assyrian army arrived under Rabshakeh, their commander, who called for a meeting, and three of Hezekiah's chief representatives went out to talk with him. Rabshakeh's demands were simple, that Hezekiah should not try to resist nor should he rely on an alliance with Egypt which, Rabshakeh said would be like "leaning on a broken reed." And besides, he exclaimed with all his arrogance, "The Lord told me to go up against this land to destroy it!"
         10. When Hezekiah's men implored him to speak in Syrian so the men nearby on the city wall would not understand, Rabshakeh instead "cried with a loud voice in Hebrew, saying, 'Have any of the gods of the nations delivered their lands out of the hand of the king of Assyria? If so, name one! Don't let Hezekiah persuade you, saying you should trust the Lord! But rather come out of your city and surrender. Choose life and not death'."
         11. But following Hezekiah's instructions to "Answer him not," the people wisely kept silent.
         12. When he heard the results of the meeting, Hezekiah went to the Temple to pray. Also he sent word through his emissaries to Isaiah the Prophet telling him all that had happened. And Isaiah returned a message from the Lord not to be afraid, but that the Lord would cause Rabshakeh to return to his land after hearing certain rumours--and that is what happened.
         13. But a short while later Hezekiah received a vicious letter from Sennacherib threatening him and speaking against the God of Israel.
         14. Hezekiah went up to the Temple, and spreading the letter out before the Lord prayed, "O Lord God of Heaven and Earth, listen to the insulting words of Sennacherib, spoken against the Living God. That the Assyrians have defeated many nations and have thrown down their gods is true. But they were not gods, only wood and stone, idols made by the hands of men. Now, O Lord" continued Hezekiah, "deliver us from his hand so that all kingdoms may know that You alone, O Lord, are God!"
         15. And the Lord heard the king's desperate plea, sending him a wonderful message through His Prophet Isaiah who said, "Concerning the king of Assyria: He will not enter this city, nor shoot an arrow here. He will not come against it nor build a siege ramp to attack it. I will defend this city and save it for My sake, saith the Lord." Once again the Lord promised to save His people. And it was not long before His promise became a reality.
         16. That night the Angel of the Lord went through the enemy camp and put to death 185,000 men, so that when Israel awoke the next morning all they could see for miles outside their walls were the dead bodies of their enemies scattered across the hills! The massive forces of their worst enemy were annihilated by God Himself. Yet "not an arrow was shot within the city," fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy.
         17. And as for Sennacherib, he withdrew to his country, where not long afterward his own two sons slew him while he worshipped in the Temple of his false gods.
         18. Thus we see the faith of King Hezekiah of whom it was spoken, "He trusted in the Lord God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him."
         19. And why was he such a mighty and noble king, so different from the kings before him who turned from God to worship those same idols which were powerless to deliver them from the ruthless conqueror Sennacherib? The answer is simple, but sure, "For he clung to the Lord and departed not from following Him."
         20. Unlike so many of Israel's wicked kings, Hezekiah decided to trust God alone, and against seemingly insurmountable odds, as well as the proud challenges of a formidable foe. And because of it, God supernaturally defended and protected him and his army from their enemies.
         21. What makes a leader willing to buck the tide and stand for truth and freedom in the face of seeming defeat, knowing the weight such a decision bears? It is faith--faith alone that clings to God through the Words of His Prophets.
         22. Faith, mighty faith
         The promise sees,
         And looks to God alone,
         Laughs at impossibilities,
         And cries, "It shall be done."

         23. So put your trust in God, and He will save and protect you from your enemies, even if He has to work miracles to do it. And why not? It wouldn't be the first time!