Thought for November 2

 History:

• 1783: Washington bids farewell to the army
• 1859: John Brown found guilty of murder, inciting revolt, and treason
• 1867: "Harper's Bazaar" 1st published
• 1886: Carl Benz receives patent for vehicle with gas engine operation
• 1895: First organized auto race in US--Chicago
• 1898: First official cheerleaders take the field at the University of Minnesota
• 1917: Balfour Declaration supports Jewish State in Palestine
• 1947: Howard Hughes flies the Spruce Goose for the only time
• 1955: David Ben-Gurion forms Israeli government
• 1959: Charles Van Doren confesses that "Twenty One" was fixed
• 1983: Michael Jackson releases single of "Thriller"
• 1983: MLK Holiday established
• 2000: First crew arrives at the International space Station
• Born: Daniel Boone, Marie Antoinette, James K Polk, George Boole [Boolean algrebra], Warren G Harding, Burt Lancaster, Ray Walston [My Favorite Martian], Ken Rosewall, Stefanie Powers, kd lang, David Schwimmer, Nelly, 
• Died: George Bernard Shaw, Willie Sutton [bank robber], Walt Bellamy, 

Thought:

The northern kingdom of Israel had fallen to the Assyrians in the sixth year of King Hezekiah's reign over Judah. Now, in the 14th year of Hezekiah's reign, the Assyrians came toward Judah. 2 Kings 18-19 tell this story which is also reported in 2 Chronicles 32 and Isaiah 36-39. It is a story for 2022. Notice:

• The Assyrians are the most powerful army in the world at the time. They had taken Israel and Samaria captive and removed most of the people to the land of the Medes. The Assyrians would uproot the people and disperse them to other parts of their kingdom so that they would lose their nationality and be absorbed into Assyria. Then they would move other people into the captured territory. [The Babylonians only took some of the best and removed them to train them in the Babylonian ways--Daniel] This is the beginning of the issue with Samaritans who were left behind and ultimately intermarried with the surrounding tribes and those that the Assyrians brought in to Canaan. 
• Hezekiah fears Sennacherib. The Assyrians demand 300 talents of silver and 30 talents of gold. So Hezekiah sends all the silver from his house and the Lord's house. He also sends the gold from the doors of the Temple. [18:14-16] Assyria still demands that Hezekiah yield to Assyria. Have you noticed this is how extortion works. Pay me and I'll leave you alone. But you pay and then the demand comes for more. Our minds work that way too. I will compromise just this once and then I'll be strong. But that leads to a little more compromise and finally, I am enslaved.
• Sennacherib sends messengers to the wall of Jerusalem 
• Don't rely on Egypt to help you. That's like leaning on a crushed reed for support. [18:21]
• Don't rely on your God. Look at all the kingdoms we have conquered and their gods did not help them. [18:33-35]
• Don't rely of Hezekiah when he tells you your God will deliver you [18:30]
• Don't rely on your army. Even if we gave you 2000 horses, you could not supply the riders [18:23]
• Ever been there. The opposition, the disease, the challenge, the barrier, the obstacles, the troubles seem so great that there is no place to turn. Where can I get help? 
• Hezekiah calls for Isaiah. Isaiah has a simple answer from the Lord: [19:6-7]
• Do not fear. Isn't that what Jesus always says. Do not fear. Faith is the antidote to fear. 
• God has heard the blasphemy of the Assyrians. WOW!. The Assyrians said your God cannot save and God heard that lie, that blasphemy. Assyria thought that it was more powerful than the Creator of the universe. We know that if God is for us, who can be against us. So my fear is calmed by the knowledge that our God is all power, all authority, all wisdom, all love, all grace, all mercy. And we claim the promise that God is able to make all grace abound toward me. God can pour out amazing, transforming, empowering grace on me. 
• Sennacherib will go home and die. [18:7]
• Sennacherib is unrelenting and sends a threatening letter to Hezekiah [19:8-13]. Last time Hezekiah called for Isaiah. Now Hezekiah goes directly to the Lord. Look at the prayer--deliver us that all the kingdoms of earth may know that Thou alone are God. [19:19] My prayer is for God's glory. My prayer is that whatever happens in my life will demonstrate to the world that He alone is God. How I face persecution, disease, rejection, loss, success, victory--I want it all to demonstrate that He is God.

Today, the enemy may seen great and the circumstances may seem insurmountable, but turn to the Lord--do not fear, for the One who loves you has the power to help you. That's good news. 

Tomorrow, God hears and answers Hezekiah's prayer

Blessings

Larry