Isaiah chapters 36-39.
"What confidence is this in which you trust?" (Isaiah 36:4) said Rabshakeh sent by the king of Assyria to challenge and take the land of the people of God.
Today, we are being asked by our enemy, the devil, this same question in temptations and trials in our lives.
"Who is your confidence? Who do you trust?"
This is because we are in spiritual battle against principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this age and spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6)
The enemy wants us to question the goodness of the LORD in our lives. For if he succeeds in making us doubt in HIS goodness, then he is won. He used this same tone of question when he tempted Eve in the garden of Eden. "Has God indeed said, 'you shall not eat the fruit of the trees of the garden'?" (Genesis 3:1) The enemy wants to rob us of our dependence and reliance on the LORD. But we should not give in to the lies of the enemy when he whispers his lies into our ears and in mind. We have to choose to do the same as King Hezekiah did. "And so it was, when King Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD." (Isaiah 37:1)
What is your reaction when hearing of the lying words of the enemy? Your reaction can either make you strong or weak. Your reaction can turn to victory or defeat. We must choose to turn to the Lord as the King Hezekiah did. For the LORD never rejects those who trust in HIM nor let them be ashamed. Therefore, the word of the LORD came to king Hezekiah by the prophet Isaiah as comfort and with victory. (Isaiah 37:6-7)
But the enemy doesn't just stop at one failing attempt, he continues on through others' voices. "Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you, saying 'Jerusalem shall not be be given into the hand of the king of Assyria'." (Isaiah 37:10) But again, Hezekiah turned to the LORD in prayer. (verse 14-20) and in result, the word of the LORD came to Hezekiah again by Isaiah the prophet (verses 22-35) and defeated the enemy (verses 36-38).
Again, in Isaiah 38, Hezekiah is sick and near death and he turns to GOD in prayer and the LORD adds 15 more years to his age. But we find in Isaiah 39 when Hezekiah received letters and a present from the king of Babylon upon his healing by the LORD, he was pleased and opened up all the treasures of his house to show off. As a result the word of the LORD comes in rebuke. But instead of repenting from his error, he remarked 'at least, I have peace during my days'. (verse 8)
In our hard times and difficulties, we turn to GOD and taste HIS faithfulness. But in victories we sometimes tend to lose our alertness and become prideful. If we find ourselves as such may we to turn to GOD immediately in prayer and repentance. For HE is a good GOD and HIS mercy endures forever.
"Delight yourself also in the LORD,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4
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