18 And they shouted it with a loud voice in the language of Judah to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them, in order that they might take the city. 19 And they spoke of the God of Jerusalem as they spoke of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men’s hands (2 Chronicles 32:18–19).
Sennacherib, king of Assyria, had sent his officials to King Hezekiah in Jerusalem to threaten him into surrendering before the Assyrian army came and lay siege to Jerusalem. The officials not only insulted the Jews on the walls but insulted the God of Israel as well. He implied that the LORD God was not able to deliver them out of the hands of Sennacherib and his army. He also slandered Hezekiah, king of Judah as well. Verses 16 and 17 say, “And his servants said still more against the LORD God and against His servant Hezekiah. 17 And he wrote letters to cast contempt on the LORD, the God of Israel, and to speak against Him.
It is like today; they say all manner of evil against the LORD God Almighty; they even call Him Mother and declare that He is a woman. It is a blatant insult to God to be called a woman, no offense to women. But it should be an insult to any man, not that God is a man, but He is male, to be called a woman. And likewise, it should be an insult to women to be called men. Because that is not who we are. We are proud to be who God created us to be because He does not make mistakes, nor does He misidentify humans. He created us to be who and what He created us to be.
Just like Sennacherib misunderstood God and did not know His great power and might, he had no fear of God. People today have no fear of God because they don’t know Him, nor do they want to get to know His loving nature. But know this: those who refuse His love will have to endure His wrath. Sooner or later, God’s patience will run out on the sinner, and He will take His revenge on the transgressor.
Then the Scriptures state that they (the Assyrian officials) shouted it to the soldiers on the walls in order to frighten and terrify them so that they would lose heart and not put up a fight but would surrender.
Same concept today. They shout God is not great! He cannot save you, nor can He deliver you, because God is not real. But as for us, we have your best interest at heart, and we are doing this for your own good. To save your life. To save the life of your grandmother. To save the life of your elderly loved ones. And they pump people full of fear until the nation is perplexed and rocked with anxiety, worry, and panic.
But our God told us that He did not give us a spirit of fear but of power, of love, and of a sound mind. We are God’s prized possession. He loves us agelessly. There is no way that He will ever leave us nor ever forsake us. God will deliver us out of their hands, but even if He doesn’t, to be absent from the body is to be present with Him. Because for us to live is Christ, and for us to die is gain. Jesus is all we need and all we want.
Therefore, when hard times come, look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, the One who purchased us with His own blood. Turn to Him, and do not be concerned with scare tactics or terror propaganda. Just put your trust and hope in Him.
Heavenly Father, please help me to put my faith, my trust, and my hope in You and You alone. Strengthen me so that nothing this old world throws at me will knock me off track, even if it connects with me. Thank You, Father, for Your Son Jesus, who delivers me out of all of my troubles; in Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.
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