Isaiah Encourages Hezekiah
19 And when King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth and entered the house of the Lord. 2 Then he sent Eliakim who was over the household with Shebna the scribe and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz. 3 They said to him, “Thus says Hezekiah, ‘This day is a day of distress, rebuke, and rejection; for children have come to birth and there is no strength to deliver. 4 Perhaps the Lord your God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to reproach the living God, and will rebuke the words which the Lord your God has heard. Therefore, offer a prayer for the remnant that is left.’” 5 So the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah. 6 Isaiah said to them, “Thus you shall say to your master, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me. 7 Behold, I will put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own land. And I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.”’”
Sennacherib Defies God
8 Then Rabshakeh returned and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah, for he had heard that [a]the king had left Lachish. 9 When he heard them say concerning Tirhakah king of [b]Cush, “Behold, he has come out to fight against you,” he sent messengers again to Hezekiah saying, 10 “Thus you shall say to Hezekiah king of [c]Judah, ‘Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you saying, “Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.” 11 Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the lands, destroying them completely. So will you be [d]spared? 12 Did the gods of [e]those nations which my fathers destroyed deliver them, even Gozan and Haran and Rezeph and the sons of Eden who were in Telassar? 13 Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, and of Hena and Ivvah?’”
Oh poor Rabshakeh, still throwing out threats even as he leaves without being able to carry out any of them. Though it’s ironic that Hezekiah send the messengers to Isaiah saying “perhaps… God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh…” Of course He heard them, and no doubt was saddened by such a fool (Rabshakeh) wallowing in his ignorance. Though it’s possible what Hezekiah really meant was “perhaps God will hear AND do something about these arrogant words.”
As Isaiah confirms, of course God did hear those words, and He had a plan to put the king of Assyria and Rabshakeh to shame–despite all their boasting. Indeed, for all the swaggering of Assyria, and all their military might, there was nothing they could do about the plans of God. His will is supreme, unchallenged, and it will prevail, which is both a warning (to those who would oppose) and a comfort to His children.
For if God’s will cannot be undone, and we are a part of His family, then we can take comfort in the fact that God is in control, no matter the nonsense that happens in our world, and no matter how dark our days might seem. And He will work all things for the good of those who love Him. There is no one and nothing that can oppose God’s good and perfect will, and that’s a thought of peace, joy, and comfort indeed.