Hezekiah’s Victory Over The Assyrians

Hezekiah had turned his heart wholly to serve the Lord and had led Judah and many in Israel to serve the Lord as well, and God caused everything he did to prosper.  Right in the middle of this, II Chronicles 32:1 tells us, “After these things, and the establishment thereof, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, and entered into Judah, and encamped against the fenced cities, and thought to win them for himself.”  The Assyrians had begun their big push to take over the Known world under Sennacherib, even going so far as to attack Egypt and pre4sent day Turkey.  Under Hezekiah, Judah was a very prosperous country, and Sennacherib decided to take it for himself.   It would be far more valuable than Israel or western Jordan, because God was blessing Hezekiah.    

“And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib was come, and that he was purposed to fight against Jerusalem, He took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the fountains which were without the city: and they did help him.  So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land, saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?  Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance.

And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake comfortably to them, saying, Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.” (II Chronicles 32:2-8)

At the time, Assyria had one of the world’s biggest armies.  Hezekiah blocked off the springs of water and diverted the rivers so that there would not be enough water to support the Assyrian army.  He also strengthened the city’s defenses, repairing the walls and preparing ammunition.   He spent time training his troops and preparing the people mentally, reminding them that God had promised to defend tham against the attacks.  Because they had served the Lord for several years and had developed a strong faith in God, the people trusted Hezekiah’s assurances. 

Looking for an easy victory, Sennacherib sent a small force to intimidate the Jews, warning them that if they didn’t surrender, he would destroy them like he had the countries around them.  Knowing the Jews trust in God he reminded them that none of the other countries Gods had been able to save them, and Hezekiah had gotten rid of all those gods, so that they would have even less help.  They better not believe Hezekiah when he said God would help them.  II Chronicles 32:9-19 describes the Assyrian efforts to intimidate them. 

“After this did Sennacherib king of Assyria send his servants to Jerusalem, (but he himself laid siege against Lachish, and all his power with him,) unto Hezekiah king of Judah, and unto all Judah that were at Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith Sennacherib king of Assyria, Whereon do ye trust, that ye abide in the siege in Jerusalem?  Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, The LORD our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?  Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it?

Know ye not what I and my fathers have done unto all the people of other lands? were the gods of the nations of those lands any ways able to deliver their lands out of mine hand?  Who was there among all the gods of those nations that my fathers utterly destroyed, that could deliver his people out of mine hand, that your God should be able to deliver you out of mine hand?  Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?  And his servants spake yet more against the LORD God, and against his servant Hezekiah.

He wrote also letters to rail on the LORD God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, As the gods of the nations of other lands have not delivered their people out of mine hand, so shall not the God of Hezekiah deliver his people out of mine hand.  Then they cried with a loud voice in the Jews' speech unto the people of Jerusalem that were on the wall, to affright them, and to trouble them; that they might take the city.  And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man.” 

There was nothing Judah could do to protect themselves against such a powerful force, and everyone was scared.  II Chronicles 32:20-23 tells us that Hezekiah and Isaiah the prophet prayed and God intervened.  “And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.  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.  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.  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.” II Kings 18-20 and Isaiah 36-37 give more detailed accounts of the story, but ultimately, God wiped out the Assyrian forces and Sennacherib was killed in a miraculous manner.  Other countries sought Judah and Hezekiah’s support after the Assyrians were defeated.    

Just as God allowed Hezekiah and Judah to be attacked by an overpowering force, He allows those who serve him whole heartedly today to deal with problems far larger than they can bear.  Many times, modern Christians Quote the first part of I Corinthians 10:13, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able…”  When problems come they are horrified that the problems are so much bigger than they can  deal with, and many give up, convinced God has broken his promise.  They don’t understand that the promise was nto that God would never allow them to face anything to big for them to handle, but that he would always provide victory in the problems.  The whole verse says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

Judah could not deal with the Assyrians, but when they trusted God and obeyed him, he did.   We may not be able to handle our struggles, but when we trust God and obey him, he will take care of them.   We do not need to fear what will happen, although like Hezekiah we may have some trepidation at times.    Knowing this is true, we ought not turn to the world for help in gaining the victory.  I Corinthians 10:14 tells us, “Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.”  God doesn’t need any help.  It really wasn’t Hezekiah’s victory, it was God’s, and it really isn’t our victory, but God’s.