TEXTS AND APPLICATION: What most catches my attention in these chapters (largely related to Hezekiah’s reign over Judah) are the words of the diplomat of the Assyrian king when he spoke to the Hebrews:
2 Kings 18:19 Then the Rabshakeh said to them, “Tell Hezekiah this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: ‘What are you relying on?'”
The question was simple: On what are you depending as you battle against Assyria? The diplomat said that Egypt could not help the Hebrews — but nor would God, he said. The gods of the other nations could not save them from Assyria, and the God of the Hebrews would not protect them, either.
Here’s the question for me today: On what do I rely when life gets difficult? Do I rely on my educational training? On my speaking ability? On my ministry experience? On my friends? On myself?
If I’m honest, I rely on myself first too often, and then turn to God only after I’ve made a bigger mess. The diplomat of Assyria got it wrong about God, but I sometimes get it wrong, too, when I rely on something other than God. If I try to fix things first and then turn to God, I’m relying on self. I’m living in a backwards way.
PRAYER: Pray that I would turn to God first in all matters today — that I would fundamentally depend on Him.
TOMORROW’S READING: Isaiah 49-53