I love looking at scriptures that perhaps I would normally pass over on my way to scriptures that perhaps seem more noteworthy. I think we always find a diamond or two in the most surprising places.
II Kings 18:13 “In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against the fortified cities of Judah and took them”.
The cities are not listed, but perhaps they would be Jericho, Gilgal and Geba, these three cities in Judah were to the north of Jerusalem and closer to the border of Israel. We don’t know for sure from this scripture. History lists the fortified cities of Judah as Eshtaol, Zoreah, Engannim, Tappuah, Jarmuth, Adullam, and Socoh.
All these dramatic events were happening 700 years before Christ. We can’t imagine the terror, the atrocities, the cruelty that was taking place. We can maybe imagine the concern of King Hezekiah for his people, entrusted to him by God.
This was all summed up by the writer in three words “and took them”. We see the exact same scripture in Isaiah 36:1, “In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them”.
We know that Isaiah was the prophet who lived in Jerusalem at the same time as King Hezekiah.
So perhaps this short record has a historical and prophetical interest. It gives us a context in what Hezekiah was facing, it also gives us context in that the reality of the day did not seem to marry up with the promises of God.
Is that not our circumstance so many times? We do not deny the facts, however stark and horrid they are, and we do recognize the ability of God to transcend these and to do something totally exceptional.
The factual evidence facing Hezekiah was overwhelming at this point – Israel is taken captive and his own fortified cities are captured. The might of Assyria is being aligned against Judah now, and against Jerusalem particularly.
Hezekiah knew that the current situation was not the last word of God, that God was trustworthy, more than able to defend his people and his name.
What about you, what losses have you heard about, or even suffered? What circumstances of situations seem overwhelming, and that perhaps there is no point fighting any more. What if Hezekiah had thrown the towel in? One of the greatest moments in the history of mankind is just around the corner and one of God’s greatest principles is seen at work!
Hezekiah’s name would be written into the inspired word of God for all time and his name would be found in the genealogy of Christ – just like yours – as a son or daughter of God.
Principle 17 – our current situation is not the last word of God in our lives.
Strength – Belief: People exceptionally talented in the Belief theme have certain core values that are unchanging. Out of these values emerges a defined purpose for their lives.