After Hezekiah has internally restored worship of Yahweh God and returned the service of the house of the Lord, he now had to deal with external threats. The Assyrians were the dominant world power at the time and they had already conquered the northern kingdom of Israel and many other nations. Now they invaded Judah and were attempting to take city of Jerusalem. Hezekiah held his ground and together with his officers and mighty men, they began to fortify the city and prepare for war with King Sennacherib. King Hezekiah encouraged his people with the words of Joshua and told them to be strong and courageous (v7), because the Lord, their God will help fight their battles (v8).

However, the Assyrians openly defied the God of Judah likening Him to the powerless gods of the nations they had conquered. They attempt to bring fear by taunting Judah with words and letters of contempt. They spoke of the God of Jerusalem as they spoke of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men's hands. Verse 15 says:

“Now, therefore, do not let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you in this fashion, and do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you out of my hand!”

The Israelites were placed in a position of testing. They were at a crossroad where they had to decide whether to trust the Word of God and believed that Yahweh, the God of their forefathers could fight their battles OR to believe in the proven powerful nation of Assyria who had indeed taken down Israel and their neighbouring nations. Whose words should they trust? God tested them and to know all that was in their heart. (v31)

Dear brothers and sisters, if you were in their position, who would you trust? Would you trust the Word of an unseen yet faithful and powerful God? Or would you choose to believe the words of a seemingly powerful force that is about to devour you. It is a position of testing, because it is in situation like this when we are made to choose our allegiance, where we come to an awareness of whether who we say about Him is truly what we believe in our hearts. Remember when Jesus told the disciples that they will fall away on the day he is arrested, Peter boldly told Jesus, “though they all (referring to the disciples) fall away because of you, I will never fall away” (Matthew 26:33). However, when the testing came, Peter denied Jesus three times at courtyard where Jesus was trialled. Of course, Peter repented and the resurrected Jesus ministered and strengthen him despite his failure. Peter went on to become one of the most important leaders of the early church.

What did Hezekiah do in this passage? Hezekiah, together with Isaiah the prophet, came before the Lord and prayed. They turn to the Lord and seek his face. In their fear, they call onto the name of Yahweh and the result? The Lord sent an angel to cut off all the mighty warriors and commanders and officers of the camp of the king of Assyria. Did you see the irony?! The most formidable army of Assyria was taken down by… one angel of God. God did not even have to personally show up, an angel was sufficient. Through this testing, the people saw for themselves who Yahweh was and they emerged further strengthened in their faith.

Dear brothers and sisters, every crisis is a crossroad of trust, where our faith are put to the test. It is time we claim the faithful promises of God and turn to Him. Just like proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us, trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Choose God at the crossroad of trust!

Prayer: Dear God, thank you for putting us through crisis to reveal and to strengthen our true perspective of who you are. You meant good in the testing of our faith. Lord, help us oh God to lean on you on our journey of sanctification, as you stretch and strengthen our trust in You. In Jesus most precious name we pray, amen.