Whom shall I fear - Example from the Bible: Hezekiah, the Frightened King (Isaiah 37)

Sennacherib, king of the Assyrians, sent threatening, intimidating letters to King Hezekiah, and surrounded him with a great army. These letters were filled with terrifying, insidious lies, like burning arrows that frighten the mighty.

In-depth reflection on these letters reveals that he tried to establish a frightening internal dialogue, in the mind and the heart of Hezekiah. And this was done through four horrifying ideas:

First: He tried to upset his conscience, to feel guilt for his dependence on Egypt. And he reminds Hezekiah of the Lord’s opinion of dependence on Egypt, “Look! You are trusting in the staff of this broken reed, Egypt, on which if a man leans, it will go into his hand and pierce it. So is Pharaoh, king of Egypt to all who trust in him” (Isaiah 36: 6).

Second: He tried to convince Hezekiah that he came to the fight with the Lord’s approval. “Have I now come up without the LORD against this land to destroy it? The LORD said to me, ‘Go up against this land, and destroy it” (Isaiah 36: 10).

Third: He tried to cause Hezekiah to doubt in his ability to face his army. “Now therefore, I urge you, give a pledge to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses—if you are able on your part to put riders on them! How then will you repel one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put your trust in Egypt for chariots and horsemen?” (Isaiah 36: 8, 9)

Fourth: He tried to terrify Hezekiah by letting him look around to see the kingdoms and nations that he had defeated. “Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, “The LORD will deliver us.” Has any one of the gods of the nations delivered its land from the hand of the king of Assyria? Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Indeed, have they delivered Samaria from my hand? Who among all the gods of these lands have delivered their countries from my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem from my hand?” (Isaiah 36: 18-20)

And so it was, when King Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and he said to the Prophet Isaiah: “This day is a day of trouble and rebuke and blasphemy; for the children have come to birth, but there is no strength to bring them forth” (Isaiah 37: 3).

King Hezekiah was terrified with great fear and his strength left him, and he felt like he was not able to do anything.

However, he did the greatest thing. The Bible says: “Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. Then Hezekiah prayed to the LORD, saying: Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God... Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD, You alone” (Isaiah 37: 17, 20).

Instead of opening an internal dialogue within himself, Hezekiah directed the talk to his God. And he made the problem the Lord’s problem and not his problem: to “reproach the living God” and not to “reproach me.”

What was the Divine treatment for fearful King Hezekiah?!
God not only listened to the fears of Hezekiah.
He also sent his Word to assure him and encourage him.
And He refuted the four lies of the enemy.

The Bible says that Isaiah sent to Hezekiah, saying: “Thus says the LORD: ‘Because you have prayed to Me against Sennacherib… he shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there… by the way that he came, by the same shall he return; and he shall not come into this city,’ Says the LORD, ‘for I will defend this city, to save it for My own sake and for My servant David’s sake.’” Then the angel of the LORD went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand…” (Isaiah 37: 21, 33-36).

My dear reader, learn from King Hezekiah. When fear and messages of terror and anxiety comes, learn not to read it only, but train yourself to spread it before the Lord and surrender it to the Lord.

Trust that God not only sees, hears and knows, but also, that He replies and answers and sends His Word.

Therefore, take all your fears and your worries, and in His presence, spread it at the feet of the Lord.

Do not keep it in your heart as a secret – this will terrify you. Do not spread it before others – this will further increase your fear. Spread it before the Lord and wait for His blessed reply, which will certainly reassure your heart.

Dear brother, trust that he hears you and me.

Learn to cast your burden while it is yet a small stone, before it turns into a big mountain.

Magdy Samuel