And
because of your raging against me and
your arrogance, which I have heard for myself, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth. 2 Kings 19:28a (NLT)
Hezekiah was only 25 years old when he began
to rule in Judah, Israel’s Southern kingdom.
The young ruler started a revival that saw sweeping reforms which turned
God’s children back to the Lord.
Hezekiah even refused to pay the heavy taxes imposed by the Assyrian
Empire.
The Assyrian king (Sennacherib) didn’t like
that at all.
He sent a huge army to surround Jerusalem
with the idea of conquering the city and teaching God’s children who’s really
in control. That lesson unfolded
exactly…but not exactly how Sennacherib expected!
Trash talk
Sennecherib ridiculed Israel’s God and
reminded Hezekiah and all the people that no country’s god had ever withstood
the mighty conquering armies of Assyria.
Hezekiah paid the tax tribute (about $51 million
by today’s prices[1]) and
tried to reason with Sennacherib, but the “trash talk” from outside Jerusalem’s
walls continued. Hezekiah finally
appealed to the prophet Isaiah.
God’s word came back strong and certain to
the threats of Sennacherib:
Mighty?
YOU? What are you smoking,
boy?
I’m going to put a hook in your nose and a
bit in your mouth.
You’ll do what I say, and when I say it.
Who’s your Daddy
now?
And that’s what happened! (Read the rest in 2 Kings 19)
God Talk
With all the turmoil and trash talk in the
world it’s important to remember to Whom this world belongs.
It wasn’t Hezekiah’s or Isaiah’s faith that
defeated the armies of the mighty Assyrian Empire – it was God’s power. But God waited for Hezekiah and Isaiah and the
children of Israel to stand firm in their faith before He used His power!
There’s a lesson there for you and me (and maybe
Congress): do what’s right, stand firm in
faith against the bullies (terrorists or Congressmen) and take care of the poor
and the weak. God will see to the trash-talkers.
He’s God; and He’s got plenty of nose hooks!
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