SCRIPTURE
"And they spoke of the God of Jerusalem as they spoke of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men's hands." (2 Chronicles 32:19)
OBSERVATION
Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, threatened to besiege Jerusalem and warned them of what would happen if he did (worse case scenario the inhabitants of Jerusalem would have to eat their own dung and drink their own urine, 2 Kg. 18:27).
In order to entice the people to surrender he sent his servants to taunt the Israelites. Saying things like, "Hezekiah (the king of Judah) is misleading you by relying on the Lord." "Make peace with me and you will have your own grapevine, fig tree, and water cistern." "I will take you and settle you in a land that is better than where you are now." "No go of all the nations I have conquered has been able to deliver them. What makes you think you can rely on your God?"
Sennacherib's tactic was to wear the people down so they would despair of their situation and turn from God to follow him. He was taking advantage of their hardship to get them to abandon their faith and loyalty to the one true God. He was offering them quick relief from their suffering.
APPLICATION
It is tempting when I'm in the midst of stress, difficult situations, etc. to give in and go the easy way. To find quick relief. It is easy in those times to doubt God's deliverance and to look at the proverbial "carrot on a stick", the lure of comfort, the enemy is dangling in front of me. But those times are just opportunities for me to prove my faithfulness to God. Instead of taking the shortcut and trying to find relief, I am to be faithful to the Lord and follow his ways, wherever they may lead. The truth is, even though I may find quick relief through compromise, it is never lasting, and in the end will bring more pain than the original situation ever could. Do I really trust God and what he says or am i going to give in to the enticements of the enemy? In the end he will prevail. "So the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all his enemies, and he provided for them on every side." (2 Ch. 32:22) God not only will come through for me but he will provide much more "on every side" than the enemy could ever offer. I just need to stay on the right side.
PRAYER
Father, when times are tough you are still God. Thanks for the reminder that you will provide far more then the enemy ever could. In those times of challenge you are still God and you are still working to deliver your people.
