Sometimes we wonder whether or not prayer works – whether God actually hears our prayers and answers. Well, perhaps we should ask Hezekiah, king of Judah!
Sennacherib, king of Assyria (the most powerful nation of the world at that time) had attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and conquered them. Next on his list was Jerusalem. Assyria was notorious for their cruelty in war. In Isaiah 36, Sennacherib taunts Hezekiah, belittles Jehovah and sends a threatening letter. Hezekiah reads the letter, goes up to the temple of the Lord, spreads it out before the Lord and prays, pouring out the anguish of his heart to the Lord. (Isaiah 37.14-20)
This is what the Bible says… “Then Isaiah (the prophet), son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: BECAUSE YOU HAVE PRAYED TO ME… Who is it you, Sennacherib, have ridiculed and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel! … But I know where you are and when you come and go and how you rage against me. And because your insolence has reached my ears, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth, and I will make you return by the way you came!’ … “Therefore, this is what the Lord says concerning the king of Assyria: ‘He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow here. He will not come before it with shield or build a siege ramp against it. By the way that he came he will return; he will not enter this city,’ declares the Lord. ‘I will defend this city and save it, for My sake and for the sake of David my servant!”
“Then the angel of the LORD went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning–there were all the dead bodies! So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there! One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisroch, his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer cut him down with the sword, and they escaped to the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son succeeded him as king.” (From Isaiah 37 NIV)
Got a problem that is bigger than you are – a situation that seems impossible and almost paralyzes you with fear? You might want to take it to the Lord in prayer! Just say’n 🙂
Coffee With The Lord 