The Sovereignty of God: Our Deliverance in His Hands
"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?" - Isaiah 36:20
In Isaiah 36:20, we find a profound and challenging message delivered by Rabshakeh, an officer of the king of Assyria, who boldly questions the ability of the God of Israel to deliver Jerusalem from his grasp: "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?" This verse speaks volumes about God's sovereignty among nations and the false sense of security that human power can often possess.
To understand the depth of Rabshakeh's question, we must first recognize the context in which it was spoken. At this time, the Assyrian empire was at the height of its power, having conquered various nations and instilling fear in all who heard of their might. Jerusalem was under siege, and the leaders of Judah were faced with the daunting reality of potential defeat. Rabshakeh’s taunt is not merely a challenge to the people of Judah but also an attempt to undermine their faith in their God.
In this moment of crisis, Rabshakeh's question reflects a common misunderstanding about the nature of God among the nations: he presumes that the Lord, like the other gods, could be defeated or that He would not intervene on behalf of His people. This misconception continues to ring true in our lives today, where society often elevates human wisdom, power, and technology above the divine.
This verse presses us to examine our own hearts: Are there areas in our lives where we too may believe that our struggles are too great for God to handle? Do we sometimes act as if the challenges we face—be they personal, professional, or spiritual—are beyond His capability?
I recall moments in my own life when fear and doubt crept in, shadows that clouded my trust in God’s sovereignty. In these moments, much like the citizens of Jerusalem, I found myself standing on the precipice of despair, feeling as though my situation was unchangeable. Yet, through deep prayer and reflection on God’s word, I was reminded that our God is powerful, alive, and deeply engaged in the affairs of His creation. He is not merely one entity among many, but the ONE true God who is sovereign over all.
Relying on His promises, we can find assurance in verses like Isaiah 41:10, which states, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." God’s sovereignty means that He governs all that happens and that nothing escapes His control, even when circumstances appear dire.
Rabshakeh’s arrogance serves as a sobering reminder of the limitations of human authority when positioned against divine power. We may face entities, governments, or forces that lead us to believe that our God cannot or will not help, but we continue to fall into the assurance that prayer aligns us with God's purposes where our feeble strength falters.
As we meditate on Elijah's story, where he faced the volatile challenge of the prophets of Baal, we see again that the LORD alone is God. The result of that confrontation was not only a demonstration of God’s power but also a profound declaration for the people: "The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God" (1 Kings 18:39).
As believers in today’s world, we must reaffirm our trust in God. The world may ask us, "Who is this God?" just as Rabshakeh posed his challenge. Let us respond with an unwavering faith, celebrating His past faithfulness and trusting in His present and future deliverance. Let every crisis we face be a call to deeper faith, in the knowledge that, through our relationship with Him, we remain safe in His hands.
In conclusion, let us remember that no matter what we face, the God we serve is not like the gods of other lands. He is the God who sees, who knows, and who delivers. As we embrace His sovereignty, we find peace and confidence amid the storms of life.
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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?"
"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?" - Isaiah 36:20
Job 36:20 - "Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place."
Exodus 36:20 - "¶ And he made boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood, standing up."
Isaiah 36:21 - "But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not."
Genesis 36:20 - "¶ These are the sons of Seir the Horite, who inhabited the land; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah,"
Acts 20:36 - "¶ And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all."
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?"
2 Chronicles 20:36 - "And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Ezion-geber."
Luke 20:36 - "Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection."
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."
Jeremiah 36:20 - "¶ And they went in to the king into the court, but they laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and told all the words in the ears of the king."
Ezekiel 20:36 - "Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD."
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."
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."
"Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place." - Job 36:20
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."
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."
Isaiah 3:20 - "The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings,"
"¶ And he made boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood, standing up." - Exodus 36:20
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."
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 20:5 - "And they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory."