FRESH
BREAD
The
Kingdom Series – ‘Sennacherib’s Threat’
By
David White
“And
when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that his purpose was to make
war against Jerusalem…” (II Chronicles 32:2)
The challenges before us today,
regardless of how numerous and frightening they appear, can only prevent us
from accomplishing the will of God if we place more faith in their ability to
stop us than in God who has called and positioned us for this hour.
Bursting with arrogance
and pride, Sennacherib, the cruel and wicked King of Assyria, defiantly boasted
in his ability to gain control and bring down Jerusalem as well as the entire
nation of Judah. The king declared, “Who is there among all the gods of those
nations that my fathers utterly destroyed that could deliver his people from
my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you from my hand?” (II
Chronicles 32:14)
It was becoming more and more
apparent to Hezekiah, his leaders and the people, as to Sennacherib’s true intentions.
Sennacherib, whose name means bramble of
destruction, had come to make war against the cities of Judah.
Anyone who
would not submit or stood in his way would have to be removed or destroyed,
which included Hezekiah the king of Judah. The future of an entire nation as
well as that of future generations was hanging in the balance.
Yet Hezekiah did
what anyone facing the prospect of captivity, tyranny and destruction should
do. He called upon his God who alone could deliver them from any conspiracy,
plot or evil strategy of a wicked and ambitious king whose hunger for power and
hatred for God dictated his every move.
After making preparations
strategically and militarily, (see II Chronicles 32:5-6), Hezekiah gathered the
people and encouraged them with this advice, "be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before
the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude 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" (II Chronicles 32:7-8).
Those who
followed Sennacherib rose up in defense of their king and angrily spoke out against
the Lord God and His servant Hezekiah. They called out with a loud voice in the
language of the people of Jerusalem, “to
frighten them and trouble them, that they might take the city.”
Later we get a clearer picture
of the situation facing Hezekiah and how he responded when we read, “therefore wrath was looming over him, (Hezekiah) and over Judah and Jerusalem”
(II Chronicles 32:25). Sennacherib had already gained much territory and
was pushing hard towards Jerusalem. The situation looked hopeless.
Yet the
Scriptures declare, “Then Hezekiah
humbled himself for the pride of his heart, he and the inhabitants of
Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of
Hezekiah” (II Chronicles 32:26).
King Hezekiah stood face to
face with the evil king of Assyria who was doubling down in his effort to destroy
Judah. But Sennacherib’s threat was not overcome with Judah’s military might nor
by their negotiations or compromises. Hezekiah along with the people humbled
themselves before the Lord their God. Hezekiah and Isaiah the prophet prayed
and cried out to heaven.
Hezekiah’s leadership in this looming crisis
opened the door for the following to occur: “Now because of this King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah, the son of
Amoz, prayed and cried out to heaven. Then the Lord sent an angel who cut down
every mighty man of valor, leader, and captain in the camp of the king of
Assyria. So he returned shamefaced to his own land. And when he had gone into
the temple of his god, some of his own offspring struck him down with the sword
there. Thus the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the
hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all others, and
guided them on every side” (II Chronicles 32:20-23).
Darkness arises
in every generation as a bramble of destruction. Yet history confirms that
salvation and deliverance comes from where it always has, above.
The great need of
this hour is for leaders to emerge who, with humility and wisdom, will above
all else, lead others to call upon the only One who is both able and mighty to
save.
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