Finding Confidence in the Midst of Uncertainty
"¶ 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 36:4
In Isaiah 36:4, we encounter a pivotal moment where the Assyrian king's messenger, Rabshakeh, boldly challenges the faith of Hezekiah and the people of Judah. The verse states, "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?" This utterance is not merely a taunt; it is a profound inquiry into the nature of confidence and faith during times of crisis.
To grasp the weight of this question, we must immerse ourselves in the historical context. The kingdom of Israel had been divided, and Judah found itself in a precarious situation, surrounded by the threats of powerful empires. The Assyrians were known for their brutality and military might. In this turbulent atmosphere, the messenger's words cut to the core: What is the source of Hezekiah’s confidence? In essence, Rabshakeh was mocking the reliance on God, demonstrating the external pressures that challenge our faith.
Confidence is a crucial pillar of our faith. It’s not merely a feeling of security; it is a profound assurance in the steadfastness of God's promises. Hezekiah had indeed placed his trust in God, a decision born out of dedication, righteous leadership, and a heartfelt desire for his people’s redemption. However, external circumstances can often blur our vision. They amplify doubts and foster fear. In this instance, Rabshakeh weaponized those fears, attempting to erode the confidence that Hezekiah had in God.
As Christians, we face our own Rabshakehs today—voices that question our beliefs, tell us we are foolish for trusting in something we cannot see, or intimidate us with the might of the worldly challenges that surround us. We might hear echoes of doubt in our own minds, asking, "What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?" Those moments can be disorienting, leading us to question the very foundations of our faith.
In contrast to Rabshakeh's confidence in human authority, Hezekiah's choice reflects an unwavering assurance in divine provision. In the face of adversity, he turned to prayer, seeking God’s guidance and intervention. The preceding chapters of Isaiah reveal Hezekiah as a king who earnestly sought God—he cleansed the temple, restored worship, and pleaded for divine assistance when the Assyrians threatened Jerusalem. His confidence was not in military strength or alliances but in God’s omnipotence and faithfulness.
Our challenge lies in replicating this divine trust when we are cornered by our own proverbial Assyrians. When doubt whispers in our ears, we must choose to respond with truth. Scripture affirms in Hebrews 11:1 that faith is "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." We can cultivate our confidence in God by recalling His past deeds, immersing ourselves in His Word, and leaning into prayer, much like Hezekiah did.
Let us also consider how Hezekiah responded to Rabshakeh's taunting. Rather than quelling in fear, Hezekiah brought the matter before the Lord. This act of dependence on God is what nourishes our trust. In challenging moments, we must not entertain the doubts cast by the enemy but, instead, turn those doubts into prayers. We should seek God, listen for His direction, and claim His promises.
Ultimately, our confidence must be rooted in the unchanging character of God—who is faithful, mighty to save, and deeply compassionate. When everything around us shatters, we can rest in the assurance that God is in control. Like Hezekiah, may our response to the Rabshakehs of our day be one of unwavering faith, reminding ourselves and others that our confidence is indeed in the Lord, the "great king" far mightier than any human force.
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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?"
"¶ 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 36:4
Isaiah 36:21 - "But they held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not."
Mark 4:36-37
Mark 4:36-37
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?"
Genesis 36:4 - "And Adah bare to Esau Eliphaz; and Bashemath bare Reuel;"
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."
1 Chronicles 4:36 - "And Elioenai, and Jaakobah, and Jeshohaiah, and Asaiah, and Adiel, and Jesimiel, and Benaiah,"
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."
Job 36:4 - "For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee."
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."
Isaiah 38:4 - "¶ Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah, saying,"
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?"
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?"
Numbers 4:36 - "And those that were numbered of them by their families were two thousand seven hundred and fifty."
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 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 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."
Acts 4:36 - "And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,"
Isaiah 40:4
Isaiah 29:4
Psalms 36:4 - "He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil."