"Misplaced Confidence" May 19 Readings: Isaiah 33-36

Today's Reading - Isaiah 33-36

Background

Today's reading, Isaiah 36-37, is a story covered both in 2 Kings 18-19 and in 2 Chronicles 32. It is a turning point moment in the life of Judah. Because of Hezekiah's self-confident sin, his son Manasseh became a wicked king who led Judah to its final destruction.

Devotional - Misplaced Confidence 

"God himself couldn't sink the Titanic." 

The story has been passed down since that fateful moment in April of 1912 when the Titanic hit an iceberg, began to fill with water and within hours was at the bottom of the Atlantic ocean. Someone, in typical human hubris, was supposed to have spoken those overconfident words as the Titanic launched on it's only voyage. It may or may not be a true story but it is completely in line with the workings of human self-confidence.

Too often, we leave God out of our calculations. We place our confidence in our own abilities, our advancements and technology, and we forget that this world operates on the dictates and according to the purposes of a sovereign God.

There is a prime example of this in Isaiah 36-37. Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, was threatening God's people and he sent his representative, known as the Rabshakeh, to deliver his challenge. This man brimmed with confidence - and well he should have. No reasonable person would have bet on Judah against Assyria. It was a mismatch of epic proportions. Hezekiah simply did not have the army to match up with Sennacherib and his forces.

The royal spokesman said to them, “Tell Hezekiah: The great king, the king of Assyria, says this: What are you relying on? 5 You think mere words are strategy and strength for war. Who are you now relying on that you have rebelled against me? 6 Look, you are relying on Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff that will pierce the hand of anyone who grabs it and leans on it. This is how Pharaoh king of Egypt is to all who rely on him. 7 Suppose you say to me, ‘We rely on the Lord our God.’ Isn’t he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You are to worship at this altar’? 36:4-7

They could not trust in their allies, whom Assyria was crushing in battle. Egypt would be no help against the Assyrians. That much was true. But then he picked a fight he couldn't win. He ridiculed Hezekiah's faith in God. That is where the Rabshakeh made his fatal mistake. 

Never underestimate God and never leave him out of your calculations. 

We know "the rest of the story." God miraculously delivered Hezekiah and brought the king of Assyria down. The Rabshakeh's confidence was as misplaced as that of the person who supposedly pronounced the Titanic unsinkable, even by the hand of God. Every human calculation said that Judah could not defeat Assyria, but life isn't only about human calculations. There is a God in heaven and he acts in the affairs of man. He leads, guides, provides, and protects his people and anyone who assumes the inactivity of God is making a huge mistake.

The one who trusts in God can have true confidence. Oh, things might not always work out the way we want, but the God who loves us and runs this world will strengthen us by his mighty hand. He is a God his people can trust. 

Thank you, Lord, that you are faithful and good. Our enemies cannot do anything to stop your work in me, and in your people. Help me to always trust in you!

Think and Pray

Is your full faith in God's power?