The lyrics of a popular Christian song at the time of this writing is “do what you are famous for”. There are so many amazing things God has done that it would be impossible to capture them all in this blog entry. Here is one of my favorites.
Assyria had defeated the Northern Kingdom of Israel and taken them captive or killed them. Shortly thereafter they came to the area surrounding the Southern Kingdom of Judah and laid siege to it to destroy it and take the people captive.
The words of the king of Assyria sent by messenger to King Hezekiah of Judah. 2 Kings 19:11 Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly: and shalt thou be delivered? 12 Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed; as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Thelasar? 13 Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivah?
Hezekiah’s prayer. 2 Kings 19 (KJV) 14 And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. 15 And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubim, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth. 16 LORD, bow down thine ear, and hear: open, LORD, thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God. 17 Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands, 18 And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone: therefore, they have destroyed them. 19 Now therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD God, even thou only.
The result. 2 Chron 32 (KJV): And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven. 21 And the LORD sent an angel, which cut off all the mighty men of valour, and the leaders and captains in the camp of the king of Assyria. So, he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he was come into the house of his god, they that came forth of his own bowels slew him there with the sword. 22 Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all other, and guided them on every side. 23 And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.
There were times in the Bible when God called His people to fight. Sometimes when things were so bad and they were so outnumbered, God just told them to stand still and hold their peace and watch God work. A classic example of this is Exodus 14, when the Pharaoh was pursuing the Israelites to destroy them. Moses tells them:
Ex 14 (KJV): 13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever. 14The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
The rest is history.
When faced with trials, pray with all of your might to God almighty. Do what He tells you to do and believe that He is with you to save. Sometimes you just need to stand and watch, because the enemy is just too powerful for you – BUT NOT FOR OUR GOD.
I write this at the time of the 2020 election.
