Daily Reading: Isaiah chapters 33 thru 36

Key Verse: Isaiah 36:7

Sennacherib, king of Assyria, sent his delegates to King Hezekiah to speak of his plans towards Israel.  The delegates positioned themselves at the gate for all to hear the message of the Assyrian king.  He even spoke in Hebrew instead of Aramaic to ensure that all the men would understand his words. 

In vs. 4, he asks Hezekiah what is he basing his confidence on.  He begins to taunt Hezekiah about his possible allegiance to Egypt.  Then he goes further by mocking Hezekiah's belief that Jehovah will give them victory.  He misrepresents to the people in vs. 7 that Hezekiah removed Jehovah's altars (in fact Hezekiah had removed the altars of the idols to strengthen the worship of the people towards God).  The representative was trying to give the people the impression that even Hezekiah did not truly believe that Jehovah would give them the victory.  He goes on to intimidate the people by commenting on the lack of horses and people with the ability to fight, as if they were dependant upon their own resources.  Then, he had the nerve to turn things around and say that God sent him to destroy Israel.  This is some speech.  He speaks with such conviction that it could lead people into confusion.

The number one tool of the enemy is fear.  The Assyrian representative came to the city to strike fear into the hearts of the inhabitants.  Fear sometimes makes people give up before the battle even begins.  The enemy will present such a convincing argument to you that you will begin to doubt what God has spoken.  Hezekiah was being instructed to take a great stand of faith.  Faith cancels out fear.  Where there is great faith, there cannot be great fear.  We should expect that the enemy will approach us and bombard us with what he knows will incite fear in us.  The key is to be aware of this tactic and still stand strong in your faith.  Eph.6:10-12.