II Kings 18:17 And the king of Assyria sent the Tartan, (Supreme commander – second in charge) the Rab-saris, (chief officer) and the Rabshakeh (cupbearer) with a great army from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. When they arrived, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is on the highway to the Washer’s Field.
Hezekiah possibly hoped or thought that he had at least bought some time when he sent the gold and silver from the temple and treasury to the king of Assyria. But here we are one verse later, and the enemy is at the gate. The enemy has positioned themselves to be seen, to be in a place where they can inflict damage, and to be sure that Hezekiah and everyone in the city knew they were there, were equipped and ready for battle, and were seasoned in capturing cities.
Does this sound familiar to you dear reader? Have you done everything in your power to stand against the plans of the enemy in your life, even perhaps taken desperate measures that have caused pain to yourself and to others?
Sometimes we need to change our conversation from “I need peace”, to “I bring peace”, while fully understanding the potential cost of bringing peace, but also realising the long term and devastating costs involved in compromising because we “need” peace.
The next steps that Hezekiah takes will be critical and will mark out the future for himself, his people, and his city Jerusalem, and so impact global history. In II Chronicles we read that Hezekiah dug a tunnel and diverted the water supply so that the enemy would have no supply and that the city would be safe.
The next steps that we take are equally important, as they will impact us, our family and the generations to come. Be intentional – ensure your supply of ‘living water’ is secure – dig deep now – be ready for all seasons.
It’s good to remember that just because the enemy is at the gate and looks ominous it does not mean we are defeated, far from it, actually it means we are going to see God display His power in new ways that we have not seen before. Our faith is our best weapon, not faith in ourselves, or circumstances, but faith in the living God, who values his name and his people.
It’s a cliff-hanger moment – beautifully presented, with all the ingredients of a Hollywood blockbuster. Over the next few weeks, we will see the story unfold, and my prayer for you is that your faith enlarges, your vision grows, and your confidence is positioned in God each day.
Blessings
Allan
Principle 21 – Faith overcomes fear every time.
Strength – Harmony: People exceptionally talented in the Harmony theme look for consensus. They don’t enjoy conflict, rather, they initially seek areas of agreement. However, it’s never peace at any price.