The Assyrians Are Forced To Withdraw Temporarily

After hearing Rabshakeh out and observing his efforts to demoralize the Jews, Hezekiah’s representatives were really worried that people might turn away, when they reported to the king.  Hezekiah sought the Lord’s guidance in dealing with the threats, in II Kings 18:37-19:4.  “Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.  And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.  And he sent Eliakim, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.

And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.  It may be the LORD thy God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God; and will reprove the words which the LORD thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that are left.”

Isaiah told them that they didn’t need to worry, That God would take care of the Assyrian threat because of their blasphemy against him, in II Kings 19:5-7.  “So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah.  And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say to your master, Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words which thou hast heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.  Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and shall return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.”

Learning that Sennacherib had taken Lachish and was besieging Libnah, Tabshakeh reported back to him.  Learning that the Ethiopians , who had control of Northern Africa were threatening to invade Assyria, Sennacherib sent messages to Hezekiah warning he would be back and defeat them as soon as the Ethiopian threat was resolved, in II Kings 19:8-14.  “So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.  And when he heard say of Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, Behold, he is come out to fight against thee: he sent messengers again unto Hezekiah, saying, Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God in whom thou trustest deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.  Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly: and shalt thou be delivered?  Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed; as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Thelasar?  Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivah?”

When Hezekiah got the message, he took it to the temple and spread it before God, asking that he would save Judah from the Assyrians. In II Kings 19:14-19.  “And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD.  And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.  LORD, bow down thine ear, and hear: open, LORD, thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God.  Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands, And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.  Now therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD God, even thou only.”

The Assyrians had conquered every group they invaded, despite the people’s prayers to their gods.  Hezekiah prayed that God would defeat them, showing he was the only true God.   God had already promised that Sennacherib would be forced to return home.where he would be killed, but this letter stille troubled Hezekiah, and he sought reassurance of God’s power.  Even when we believe God’s promises, sometimes our faith is tested by the thing we see around us.