Isaiah 36-37

What’s Happening

The Assyrian king has invaded Judah, captured over 40 military outposts, and stationed 185,000 troops outside Jerusalem (Isaiah 36:1-3, 37:36). Upon arrival, the Assyrian general demands the King of Judah, Hezekiah, to surrender Jerusalem. The general boasts that Judah has no hope of defeating the unstoppable Assyrian army (Isaiah 36:4-5). He already knows all about their secret treaty with Egypt (Isaiah 36:6). He even mockingly offers to give Judah’s 2000 horses to improve their odds in battle. He also reminds Hezekiah that Judah’s God is the one who told Assyria to invade (Isaiah 36:8-10). Raising his voice so that all of Hezekiah’s warriors could hear, the Assyrian general promises their God will not save them (Isaiah 36:11-16). Assyria has conquered dozens of nations. Each defeated king claimed that their god would rescue them, and none ever have. The general boasts that Judah’s God will be no different (Isaiah 36:7, 17-22). 

Afraid, Hezekiah begins to mourn for his country. Desperate, he sends his chiefs to find Isaiah and ask for God’s guidance. Hezekiah hopes that God has heard the blasphemous words of the Assyrian general and will somehow rescue Jerusalem (Isaiah 37:1-4). Isaiah tells Hezekiah not to be afraid. God has heard every blasphemous word. God will distract the Assyrian king with a battle back home, and he will temporarily give up his attack on Jerusalem (Isaiah 37:5-7). Just as Isaiah prophesied, the Assyrian king leaves his army behind to fight another battle. But while leaving, Assyria’s king sends a letter to Hezekiah, repeating his previous blasphemies and warning that he will return to prove his superiority over Judah’s God (Isaiah 37:8-13).

But this time, Hezekiah is not afraid. He takes this letter to God’s temple and begins to pray. He now knows God is in control (Isaiah 37:14-17). Judah’s God is the God of heaven, earth, and history, and he asks that God would deliver his nation from the Assyrians and prove to the world his power (Isaiah 37:18-20). In response, Isaiah tells Hezekiah that God will answer his prayer. Assyria will pay for its blasphemies. Assyria has taken credit for victories God has won (Isaiah 37:21-29). For this pride, Isaiah promises that Assyria’s army will be defeated by dawn (Isaiah 37:30-35). In the night, an “Angel of the Lord” wages war against Assyria, and by morning the army lies dead outside Jerusalem. Shortly after, the Assyrian king is assassinated while visiting the temple of his supposedly superior pagan god (Isaiah 37:36-38). 

Where is the Gospel?

While most of us might not rule nations, and while our decisions might not affect whole cities, that doesn’t mean it's any easier to trust God when we are under threat and the stakes are high. What seems wise is to rush into action, activate our contingency plans, and call in favors. Others will tell us, like Assyria’s general, that God cannot help us. But God calls us to trust him and ask for help. Hezekiah trusted God. Instead of trusting foreign military aid when under threat, he trusted that God controlled the future of Judah and that no god or king could defeat him. He prayed that God would rescue him and his people—and God did. In response to Hezekiah’s faith, God defeated Assyria, saved Judah, and proved he was greater than any military, general, king, or god. Isaiah wants us to know that if we trust God and ask for help, he will give it.

And just as God sent his angel to rescue Hezekiah, God has sent us his son, Jesus, to rescue us. Like Hezekiah’s angel, Jesus sent legions of demonic enemies to flight (Mark 5:1-13). 

Jesus even told his disciples that if they asked for anything in his name, God would answer it (John 14:13). No matter the powers arrayed against them or the persecution that loomed on the horizon, Jesus said that if they asked for God’s help, he would give it (John 16:1-4, 23-24). Like Isaiah encouraged Hezekiah with the promise of victory, Jesus also promised that while he would die, he would defeat death, rise from the dead, and rule victorious forever (John 16:28; Mark 9:31). Three days later, that’s exactly what happened. In Jesus’ death and resurrection, God proved ultimately and eternally that he is greater than any military, general, king, or god. Jesus wants us to know that we can trust him, and when we ask for help, he will always give it.

See for Yourself

I pray that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to see the God who is more powerful than any other god or king. And may you see Jesus as the one whom we can always ask for help.