Our God Wins!
Today’s Verse:
Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel. ~Isaiah 37:23
I read a story about an elderly woman who walked into the local country church. The friendly usher greeted her at the door and helped her up the flight of steps. "Where would you like to sit?" he asked politely. "The front row, please," she answered. "You really don't want to do that," the usher said, "The pastor is really boring. "Do you happen to know who I am?" the woman inquired. "No," he said. "I'm the pastor's mother," she replied indignantly. "Do you know who I am?" he asked. "No," she said. "Good," he answered, and quickly walked away. This morning,we see a situation where God asks an indignant man if he knew Whom he was talking to.
We see the presumptuous.
“Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God, in whom thou trustest, deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.” Sennacherib became very overconfident in his conquering ability. First, he boasted of his overthrow of Jerusalem and that they could do nothing against him and his country. Second, he blasphemed God by questioning Who God is and asserting that God could not help Hezekiah and Judah. He presumed that he was great enough to defeat Jerusalem and that God would do nothing to help him. Leaders who shake their fist at God are setting themselves up for a big fall.
We see the prayer.
“And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD.” Even though he was intimidated by those words, Hezekiah took the matter up with God in prayer. He acknowledged the sovereignty of God as Creator, Ruler, and God. He called on the sympathy of God for the situation that he faced. He specifically requested God’s salvation on the behalf of Jerusalem and Judah. He gives us a model in how to pray effectively when we are in a crisis. We must come speedily, specifically, submissively, and sincerely.
We see the promise.
“Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shields, nor cast a bank against it.” God heard Hezekiah’s prayer. He promised Hezekiah protection and divine intervention. He gave Hezekiah complete assurance that the matter was under control. He promised that the enemy would not so much as step into the city and that none of the people would be hurt or taken. God promised victory without Hezekiah having to go to battle or mount a defense. Thisis a powerful reminder to let God fight for us when we are in trouble.
We see the prevailing.
“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.” That night, the Lord sent one of His angels to kill the soldiers of Sennacherib while they were in their camp. Amazingly, 185,000 men were dead corpses by the next morning. Sennacherib was greatly humiliated, conquered, and whipped. Later, he was slain by two of his sons as he was worshipping his idol gods. Don’t speak arrogantly against God or presume that God doesn’t know or care. God is in control, and God responds according to His timetable and His glory. Be thankful this morning that God is on your side and that no enemy can prevail against our God. Yes, our God wins!
Have a conquering God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Lamentations 3-5