One of the things I like about reading small passages in the Bible, over and over again - is the way that new things effervesce to the surface.
As I was mulling over that Hezekiah post from last week and the subsequent verses that surround that story, something new occurred to me. Or rather - something occurred to me in a fresh way:
God often reshapes the very weapons that are manufactured specifically for the purpose of destroying us - into tools for teaching us.
When I wrote that post - the thing that I intended to stress was how fear works against us and how when it is about to be defeated - it will boast and swagger even more demonstratively. However, as I have been reading the story in 2 Kings 18 & 19 over a few times, I realized that there is a direct correlation between the way fear escalates its fury and the way the object of that fury is reduced down solely to a dependence on God.
As Hezekiah's enemies dialed up their terror, Hezekiah appeased and groveled and practically begged for deliverance. Finally, as if at a last resort - he directly asked God for help.
As you read through those two chapters, you will notice that Hezekiah's trouble began when he stopped making his periodic extortion payments to the king of Assyria. Eventually, the Assyrian army finished off Israel; that's when they turned to Judah and destroyed many of her cities.
That got Hezekiah's attention and he became fearful - look at how he responds - he tried to appease the Assyrians: told them to name their price and he would pay.
They did and he did, but then they decided it wasn't enough. That's when the king of Assyrian tried to notch up the terror by sending some military leaders with scary titles like "The Tartan", "The Rabsaris" and "The Rabshekah".
They taunted Hezekiah, taunted his entourage, taunted the people of Judah and taunted the God of Judah.
At this point, Hezekiah was reduced. He had foolishly hoped for mercy at the hands of tyrants.
As often is the case -even with us today- he turned to God when all of his own devices failed. He sent for the prophet Isaiah and asked him to pray for them.
Have you encountered people who are at that stage? They ask for prayer but aren't quite ready to pray themselves. Perhaps fear has just beaten them down so, that they don't feel their own prayers would be effective.
Isaiah prayed and sent an encouraging word to Hezekiah - the "Rabshekah"et al would hear a rumor and leave.
That's what they did. They heard the king was having trouble with some neighbors in their own land so they pulled out.
It is often at the point of defeat that fear will become even more threatening - like the snarling of some wild animal backed into a corner.
The Assyrians seemed to sense the relief their leaving brought to the people of Judah - and they seemed to know what God had said. So through clenched teeth they pointedly advised Hezekiah not to think this was the end . . . he shouldn't believe that this "coincidence" meant that God was saving this people.
The threats had their intended effect. I imagine it resulted in a cold chill down Hezekiah's spine.
Someone has said that Satan, God's enemy, always goes too far.
This last menacing advice drove Hezekiah right to the place God intended.
He went directly to God - himself. Hezekiah poured out his problems to God and quickly, God responded.
God's promise was certain ... the Assyrians would leave they way they came, they would not shoot one arrow toward the city, they would not even begin to build a siege mound on the city's wall; they would return they same way they came and never bother Hezekiah again.
And that's just what happened.
As someone who has been many times beaten up by fear, I am learning to recognize it.
And I know (in my head at least) that the best solution when I encounter fear is to run to Christ first.
I am still working on getting that knowledge from my head down into my heart . . .
. . .and even further down into my feet.
No comments:
Post a Comment