Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Wed.’s Devo- “Why should you be any different?”

Read: 2 Kings 19; Isaiah 37; 2 Chron. 32:9-23
The Assyrian army, which was the most powerful and ruthless army in the world at the time was threatening King Hezekiah and Judah. The Assyrians boasted of all the nations they had defeated and how Judah’s god couldn’t save them. Then they asked, “Why should you be any different?” That was the question of the hour. It really wasn’t a contest of military might because Judah was no match for the Assyrian army. It was a clash of kingdoms. Was the God of Judah able to win when other gods couldn’t? Hezekiah knew the answer to that. He humbled himself and bowed down before the God of Heaven and beseeched his help. He knew that God was not a god of wood and stone but the living God of the whole universe.
The Assyrians tried to terrorize Hezekiah’s men with threats and insults but God told Hezekiah to not be disturbed by their blasphemous speech against Him. The battle was a spiritual battle, not a battle of human strength so God fought the battle for them. God spoke through Isaiah and said that He had planned this a long time ago and it was time to manifest on the earth.
That night the angel of the Lord went to the Assyrian camp and killed 185,000 soldiers sending King Sennacherib home in shame. When he got home his own sons killed him with a sword. As for King Hezekiah, he gained the respect of all the nations around him and they blessed him with gifts which were able to preserve and prosper his nation once again.
You may be asking the same question about your circumstance, “Why should you be any different than all the other people on the earth that are suffering from financial, physical, and family troubles and I would give you the same answer. The God you serve is not wood or stone but alive and ready to deliver. It doesn’t matter if you prayed before and got no answer, this is the day of salvation. We can stand on what God said to King Hezekiah, “I decided this long ago, long ago I planned it, and now I am making it happen.” Lift up your head, your redemption draws near!
Lord, You are our defender and our victory. We trust in your unfailing love.

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