II Kings 19:24
II Kings 19:24 – I dug wells and drank foreign waters, and I dried up with the sole of my foot all the streams of Egypt.
Let’s again remember where we are here – this is part of Isaiah’s prophetic message to Hezekiah and Judah, in response to the claims and threats of the Assyrian leaders. This word from Yahweh, through Isaiah, is in response to Hezekiah’s heartfelt prayer where he recognizes that Sennacherib is not just speaking against the people of Judah, by relationship his threats and accusations were directed also at God. Hezekiah had a concern for God’s name at the heart of his prayer.
Here again, we are invited to listen to the claims of the enemy, and although they are a little poetic they are in essence true. This enemy is a powerful force on earth and has traveled around helping themselves to others’ resources often leaving nothing for the people of the areas they have attacked.
Isaiah is setting out the scene, the enemy’s bragging is being positioned against God’s power and we are about to hear what God has to say in response to the threats of the Assyrians against God’s chosen people.
The story is not yet finished, God is about to speak and have the last word on these matters. How encouraging for us, when we are in the middle of the storms of life that we can come to the same God that Hezekiah sought, have the same encounters, and for ourselves receive a fresh word of hope and strength from Heaven.
This story causes me to run to prayer, to run to God’s promises in God’s word, and to hold on to them with all I have. My prayer for you is that we are running together.
Principle of Change 64 – run with all we have to pray and to God’s word.
Strength – Restorative – we know that there is an answer out there and we are not intimidated by challenges.