February 21, 2001
Isaiah 36 (2 Kings 18:17ff) records an Assyrian bid to capture Jerusalem, which is not at this time successful. The fall of Jerusalem doesn't happen until the reign of King Zedekiah (2 Kings 25). What's interesting is to watch the exchange between Sennacherib, King of Assyria and Hezekiah's envoys. When he realizes that Jerusalem won't be easily overthrown at this time Sennacherib tries to frighten Hezekiah into surrender and he does this in two ways first, by trying to undermine their confidence in God (vs 7, 18-20) and second by trying to persuade them that their life will be much improved if they join forces with Assyria (vs 16-17). In my life the first is what satan uses most successfully... I have the hardest time spiritually when in any situation I lose sight of God. When I don't understand what God is doing, how he is working... it seems so easy to move from wondering to doubting that this will work out for my good (or at least my concept of what that is). Those are moments when I am greatly strengthened by being being deeply rooted in my convictions about God's character... to look back at all that I've learned and grown to understand in this area.
When Moses struggled under the weight of his task and wondered how he should introduce himself to Pharoh, God said very simply... "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: `I AM has sent me to you.'" (Ex 3:14) This statement "I AM THAT I AM" meant , "I am what I am." The words express absolute, and therefore unchanging and eternal Being. (from Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft). God was communicating that his character is perfectly consistent, it will never change and it will never be less than or different from all that he has told us in his Word. No circumstance can create an exception to this truth. This truth helps me to get back on track when my mind heads toward wondering what's going on. God is unchanging; he has stated, promised and proven that he is always working for my ultimate good... no matter how the circumstances 'feel' at the moment. Hezekiah responds appropriately (v 21-22) he tells his people not to respond at all, God doesn't need to be defended. His character stands on its own and God himself will prove at the right time who is God. All the insolence and doubting will be silenced and dealt with. My task is to deepen my understanding of God, my convictions so in moments of trial or testing I KNOW my GOD in whom I place my confidence!!