Don’t listen to Hezekiah. The emperor of Assyria commands you to come out of the city and surrender. You will all be allowed to eat grapes from your own vines…— until the emperor resettles you in a country much like your own… it is a land of olives, olive oil, and honey. …Don’t let Hezekiah fool you into thinking that the Lord will rescue you.
Truly from the mouth of Satan himself. “Cease all resistance.” “Accept a substitute for trusting in the Lord.” I’m not looking for an easy life, Lord – I want to fight. This planet is not my own (John 17:14-19).
“Did the gods of any other nations save their countries from the emperor of Assyria? Where are they now, the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Did anyone save Samaria? When did any of the gods of all these countries ever save their country from our emperor? Then what makes you think the Lord can save Jerusalem?”
May I see your salvation with my own eyes, Lord. May I live the “impossible” (Jeremiah 32:27).
King Hezekiah took the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went to the Temple, placed the letter there in the presence of the Lord, and prayed…
May that always be my reflex, Father (Philippiens 4:6-7).
“O Lord, the God of Israel, seated on your throne above the winged creatures, you alone are God, ruling all the kingdoms of the world. You created the earth and the sky.”
Ezekial’s understanding of who God is spot on.
We all know, Lord, that the emperors of Assyria have destroyed many nations, made their lands desolate, and burned up their gods—which were no gods at all, only images of wood and stone made by human hands.
May the things of the world be shaken so that what is eternal may be clearly seen, Lord (Hebrews 12:26-28).
“Now, Lord our God, rescue us… so that all the nations of the world will know that only you, O Lord, are God.”
Amen. May my focus ever be on the source of our deliverance and the knowledge of you – not on the deliverance itself.