On what are you basing this confidence of yours?

Isaiah 36-39 is the account of the siege of Jerusalem as described in 2 Kings 18-20. It’s a real event that takes place during the reign of King Hezekiah. It’s a great story. Hezekiah is one of the good kings – well, one of the better kings, anyway. He is terrified when the Assyrians attack but believes Isaiah’s words and trusts God’s protection. And God protects his people. He is the king who begs for his life when he has a life-threatening disease – and God hears and answers and lets him live on. In his newfound confidence, he gives a deputation from Babylon a tour around his royal treasures, although Isaiah warns him that they will one day carry them off.

Here are a few points from this story to ponder upon today –

• on what are you basing this confidence of yours? Isaiah 36:4

This is the question Sennacherib, King of Assyria, wants King Hezekiah to answer. Because in his experience, the answer to this question makes all the difference. On whom are you depending? If Hezekiah had put his confidence in a human ally, like Egypt, then it’s a level playing field. If he has put his trust in the God of Israel, then that is a different story all together.

• Do not listen to Hezekiah.  Isaiah 36:16

The best way to defeat Hezekiah and his people is to get them to turn on each other. There’s been a siege. The people are downhearted. Hungry. Thirsty. Weak. And Sennacherib’s commander fills their minds with doubt? Does Hezekiah really know what he is doing? The Lord God is with us, not him. Hezekiah is misleading you, lying to you. We can promise you a land of plenty.

But the people remained silent and said nothing in reply, because the king had commanded, ‘Do not answer him.’  Isaiah 36:21

Because sometimes it is better to say nothing at all.

• do not be afraid of what you have heard  Isaiah 37:6

These words are designed to strike fear into the hearts of Hezekiah and his people. and what does Hezekiah do? He turns to God. He sends for Isaiah. He begs for mercy. And God tells him not to be afraid.

• do not let the god you depend on deceive you when he says…  Isaiah 37:10

Sennacherib has not finished with Hezekiah yet. He is still trying to get him to doubt the God he is depending on, to lose confidence in the one true God. And what does Hezekiah do? He prays –

Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see; listen to all the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God.  Isaiah 37:16-17

He states the truth. His faith is unshaken. His hope is based on the reality of who God is. He trusts God to deal in His way and His time with those who are ridiculing Him.

And this is what he wants –

Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, Lord, are the only God.  Isaiah 37:20

So that everyone may know…

And God hears. The Assyrian camp is destroyed. And Sennacherib is killed by his own sons with his own sword. Just as God said it would be.

• You restored me to health and let me live.  Isaiah 38:16

When Hezekiah is terminally ill and prays, God hears and adds 15 years to his life. It changes his perspective on life. It’s the same for anyone who is healed from a life threatening disease or escapes a potentially fatal situation. It changes their perception of life. They are grateful for every single day. They make it count.

• There will be peace and security in my lifetime.  Isaiah 39:8

An envoy comes from Babylon and in his over-confidence, Hezekiah shows him everything. Everything. All his treasures. He holds nothing back. This is a potential enemy and he shows him everything. Isaiah warns that a day will come when all of these treasures will be carried off to Babylon. And Hezekiah’s response is surprising. Although very, very human. What do I care? It won’t happen in my lifetime. Why do I have to worry about it?

We see that attitude in the world around us today. In the way we exploit the planet. In the way we exploit the poor all over the world. In the way that we choose our leaders. We have no thought for the future, for the next generations. Because we will not be here to see it.

This is a great story of trust in the one true God that can spill over into unhealthy over-confidence.

We always have to remember who God is and what He can do, yes. That is the foundation of our faith and hope.

But we also have to remember who we are – that we are fully human and as such, can make the most spectacular mistakes and lack judgement in the most surprising of situations.

If Hezekiah can, any one of us can…