Trusting in the Unseen: A Lesson from Hezekiah's Crisis
"Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver us: this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria." - Isaiah 36:15
The story of King Hezekiah is one of courage, faith, and ultimately, trust in the Lord amidst overwhelming odds. Isaiah 36:15, where it reads, "Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver us: this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria," captures a moment of intense spiritual warfare, where intimidation tactics were employed by the Assyrians to sow doubt and fear among the people of Jerusalem.
To fully grasp the weight of this verse, we need to consider the context. Jerusalem is under siege by the mighty Assyrian army, led by Sennacherib, known for his ruthless conquests and unparalleled power. The Assyrian envoy sought to demoralize the citizens and leaders of Jerusalem, particularly targeting Hezekiah's encouragement to trust in the Lord. The message was clear: surrender or face destruction.
In the real world, we often face similar adversities—whether it’s a bleak diagnosis, financial ruin, relationship breakdowns, or overwhelming life changes. Our adversary, like the Assyrians, can send echoes of threats that beckon us towards fear and despair. In the thick of our struggles, the challenge to trust God can feel increasingly daunting. Like the people of Jerusalem, the words from our enemies can weave through our hearts and minds, stirring doubt and concern about our God’s ability to deliver us.
Hezekiah, though faced with seemingly insurmountable threats, continued to trust in God. He is one of the few kings who sought to carry out religious reforms and return the people to true worship, embodying faithfulness in the midst of chaos. What a stark contrast to what was about to unfold as the Assyrian representative attempted to incite fear! The temptation is to rely on our circumstances rather than the character of God. Yet this is precisely where our faith is truly tested.
The cry of the Assyrian envoy, attempting to undermine Hezekiah’s encouragement to trust in God, resonates deeply within us. These moments force us to confront the very essence of our faith. Do we cling to the promise of deliverance, or do we allow the threats of hardship to overshadow our trust? The truth is that faith often flourishes in the soil of adversity. In the tension between fear and faith, we are given an opportunity to lean harder into our relationship with God.
When faced with daunting challenges, we can take inspiration from Hezekiah’s actions that follow in chapter 37. Rather than succumbing to the fear depicted in 36:15, he turns towards the Lord in prayer. He does not summon an army; he does not question God’s power nor His intent. Instead, he humbly acknowledges the situation, fully aware of his dependence on God for deliverance. He lays bare his plight before the King of Kings.
In our moments of struggle, how often do we bring our fears directly to God? He desires us to pour out our concerns to Him, fully aware of His capability to change our circumstances or provide peace amidst them. Trust in the Lord does not always mean that He will intervene in the way we desire, but it does promise that He is present, wise, and working for our good.
This story culminates in God’s deliverance of Jerusalem, showcasing His unrivaled power and faithfulness to those who put their trust in Him. As we meditate on Isaiah 36:15, let us not allow the voices of doubt tell us what to believe. Instead, let us fix our eyes on our Deliverer, reminding ourselves of the promises encapsulated within the scriptures. As we do so, we will find the courage to proclaim alongside Hezekiah, "The Lord will surely deliver us." May we continually cling to our faith, trusting in Him even when the surface appears tumultuous and bleak. God is still on His throne, and He delights to rescue those who trust in Him.
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Isaiah 36:15 - "Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver us: this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria."
"Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver us: this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria." - Isaiah 36:15
1 Corinthians 15:36
Isaiah 36:21 - "But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not."
Joshua 15:36 - "And Sharaim, and Adithaim, and Gederah, and Gederothaim; fourteen cities with their villages:"
Job 36:15 - "He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression."
1 Corinthians 15:36 - "Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:"
Isaiah 36:14 - "Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you."
Isaiah 36:19 - "Where are the gods of Hamath and Arphad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim? and have they delivered Samaria out of my hand?"
Isaiah 36:13 - "Then Rabshakeh stood, and cried with a loud voice in the Jews' language, and said, Hear ye the words of the great king, the king of Assyria."
Isaiah 36:3 - "Then came forth unto him Eliakim, Hilkiah's son, which was over the house, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, Asaph's son, the recorder."
2 Kings 15:36 - "¶ Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"
Jeremiah 36:15 - "And they said unto him, Sit down now, and read it in our ears. So Baruch read it in their ears."
Matthew 15:36 - "And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude."
Isaiah 36:17 - "Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards."
Numbers 15:36 - "And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses."
Isaiah 36:20 - "Who are they among all the gods of these lands, that have delivered their land out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?"
Exodus 36:15 - "The length of one curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits was the breadth of one curtain: the eleven curtains were of one size."
Isaiah 36:9 - "How then wilt thou turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master's servants, and put thy trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen?"
Isaiah 36:4 - "¶ And Rabshakeh said unto them, Say ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?"
Isaiah 36:10 - "And am I now come up without the LORD against this land to destroy it? the LORD said unto me, Go up against this land, and destroy it."
Isaiah 36:1 - "Now it came to pass in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, that Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the defenced cities of Judah, and took them."
Isaiah 36:22 - "¶ Then came Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, that was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh."
"And Sharaim, and Adithaim, and Gederah, and Gederothaim; fourteen cities with their villages:" - Joshua 15:36
Isaiah 36:18 - "Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, The LORD will deliver us. Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?"
Isaiah 37:36 - "Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses."
Genesis 36:15 - "¶ These were dukes of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz the firstborn son of Esau; duke Teman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz,"
Isaiah 36:5 - "I say, sayest thou, (but they are but vain words) I have counsel and strength for war: now on whom dost thou trust, that thou rebellest against me?"
Isaiah 36:2 - "And the king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem unto king Hezekiah with a great army. And he stood by the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field."
Isaiah 36:6 - "Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust in him."