Thought for November 4

 History:

• 1646: Massachusetts imposes death penalty for denying that Bible is God's word
• 1841: First wagon train arrives in California
• 1862: Gatling Gun patented
• 1873: Gold crown for tooth patented
• 1879: Thomas Elkins patents Refrigerating Apparatus and James Ritty patents first cash register to keep bartenders from stealing.
• 1904: First stadium built specifically for football [Harvard]
• 1921: Hitler establishes the Brown Shirts
• 1922: Howard Carter discovers King Tut's tomb
• 1939: First air conditioned auto--Packard
• 1948: TS Eliot wins Nobel for literature
• 1979: Iranian students seize US Embassy in Tehran taking 90 hostages
• 1981: Dr. Nichopoulas acquitted of overprescribing drugs for Elvis
• 1994: First conference focused exclusively on the World Wide Web
• 2001: First Harry Potter movie premiers
• 2008: Barack Obama elected President
• 2021: Europe again the epicenter for Covid cases
• Born: Augustus Toplady [wrote "Rock of Ages"], Will Rogers, Gig Young, Ruth Handler [Barbie], Walter Cronkite, Art Carney, Doris Roberts, Loretta Swit, Laura Bush, Kathy Griffin, Jeff Probst [Survivor], Ralph Macchio [Karate Kid], Matthew McConaughey, Puff Daddy, Dez Bryant
• Died: Felix Mendelssohn, George Peabody, Grover Cleveland Alexander [baseball HOF], Cy Young, Yitzhak Rabin, Richard Hooker [doctor who wrote MASH], Michael Crichton, Sparky Anderson, Andy Rooney, 

Thought:

One last thought on King Hezekiah and the Assyrians. In 2 Chronicles 32, another account is given of these events. Notice that when Hezekiah first heard that Sennacherib was invading he stopped up the springs to deprive the Assyrians of water, rebuilt parts of the city wall, made weapons and shields, and then gathered the people in the center of Jerusalem. Look at his speech in 32:7-8.

• Be strong and courageous. Sounds like God's words to Joshua. Perhaps Hezekiah recalls how God led Joshua in the conquest and is now using those same words to encourage and strengthen his people. We do this for each other--quote scripture to encourage friends or to remind ourselves of God's promises and commands.
• Do not fear or be dismayed by the size or appearance of the opposition. Often we find ourselves counseling someone with this thought. We know it looks bad, we know it may seem hopeless, but don't worry, God is on His throne and He will answer.
• The one with us is greater than the one with him. Greater is He who is in you that he who is in the world. We remind ourselves and others of this truth. 
• The Lord our God is with us to help us fight our battle. We take strength and courage from knowing that God is with us. But I think Hezekiah errs here. First, whose battle is it? We are certainly in the battle, we are certainly under attack. We surely are feeling the consequences of the fight, but whose battle is it? It helps me to remember that I am a soldier in His army fighting His battle against the evil one. Second, this realization causes me to ask the question, "Am I on His side?" Am I on the right side of this battle. Often I am asking Jesus to fight my battle, rather than asking what role He has for me in fighting His battle. 
• The people relied on these words. The leader tells the people to take courage from knowing that the Lord is with us. We rely on Him for the battle plan, we rely on Him for the ammunition, we rely on Him for the provisions, and we trust Him because He has already won the battle. 

Now Hezekiah will later become fearful, tear his clothes and wear sackcloth. He will be struck by fear.  What happened? It happens to me and may happen to you. I have counseled with pastors and spiritual leaders that this has happened to. We forget what we have proclaimed. Hezekiah proclaimed the truth that we can live without fear for our God is with us no matter the circumstances. Then he takes a look at the Assyrian army and hears the haughty talk of the messengers and forgets what he proclaimed. I lead a Bible study, encourage a friend, write this blog and try to proclaim the truth of God. Then trouble comes, the enemy attacks with a force that seems overwhelming and I forget what I said. 

Lord help us to believe what You have promised, proclaim it to others but never forget it ourselves.

Blessings

Larry