Isaiah 37 -- God At Work

I love this passage!  When Hezekiah was faced with a seemingly impossible situation, he humbled himself, went to the Temple, and spread out his troubles before God.  Then he prayed:  “Lord All-Powerful, You are the God of Israel … only You are God … You made the heavens and the earth.  Hear, Lord, and listen.  Open Your eyes, Lord, and see.  It is true, Lord, that the kings of Assyria have destroyed all these countries and their lands.  They have thrown the gods of these nations into the fire, but they were only wood and rock statues that people made…  Now, Lord our God, save us from the king’s power so that all the kingdoms of the earth will know that You, Lord, are the only God.”

He didn’t ask simply to save his people.  He asked God to defend His own honor.  He wanted God to be glorified by what He would do, above all else.

“When Hezekiah had been deathly ill, Isaiah had assured him of deliverance.  God’s promises ARE sure, but God’s people must claim them by faith before God can work … In the building up of our faith, the Word of God and prayer go together,” my commentary said.

God responded with three things:  Jerusalem would be delivered, the Assyrians would leave, and the people would not starve.  Then the angel of the Lord killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers during the night.  The Assyrian king left and never returned.  Twenty years later, his sons assassinated him in the temple of his god!  He had been a tool used by God to discipline God’s people, but his pride led him to speak against Almighty God, and that led to his demise.

Father, thank You for reminding me of Your sovereignty and omnipotence!  Help me to remember that, when I am afraid, I can bring my problems before You and ask for Your protection as well.  Remind me to be humble and worshipful of You as I do, and the allow me to watch and see You at work protecting me!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford