Misinformation and Silence

Then the Assyrian king’s chief of staff told them to give this message to Hezekiah: “This is what the great king of Assyria says: What are you trusting in that makes you so confident?  Do you think that mere words can substitute for military skill and strength?  Who are you counting on, that you have rebelled against me?  On Egypt?  If you lean on Egypt, it will be like a reed that splinters beneath your weight and pierces your hand.  Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, is completely unreliable!  “But perhaps you will say to me, ‘We are trusting in the Lord our God!’  But isn’t he the one who was insulted by Hezekiah?  Didn’t Hezekiah tear down his shrines and altars and make everyone in Judah and Jerusalem worship only at the altar here in Jerusalem? [2 Kings 18.19-22]

Assyria's king's chief of staff poses some great questions to Hezekiah and the people of Judah and Jerusalem.  These questions reveal what those outside the realm of God's people thought.

Some of what this chief of staff said was spot on - namely that Judah was foolish in depending upon Egypt!  However, he was gravely mistaken is his estimation that Hezekiah had offended God by tearing down His shrines and altars and leaving only the altar in Jerusalem.  The fact was, those other shrines and altars were pagan and were not the LORD's.

So, while Sennacherib's chief of staff had it right that Judah should not trust in Egypt, was was sorely wrong in regards to the shrines and altars that had been eliminated.  This kind of misinformation is exactly what God's people need to be equipped to deal with today!

Naysayers of Christ and Christianity, like Sennacherib's chief of staff, "think" that they know what is going on in regards to God's people.  And, even though they may indeed have a few facts straight, they also are usually grossly misinformed about the most basic tenets of faith.  Unfortunately, only those intimately acquainted with God and His ways will survive such an onslaught of misinformation!

In these contemporary times, condemning fingers are pointed at fundamental Christianity and its stance on moral, social, and ethical issues.  In many instances, Christianity has caved-in to the pressure and bought in to ideas and practices that are clearly contrary to the wishes and will of the LORD.

So while Christians may be ostracized by the world, and rightly so in some regards, they also hold some truths that the unrepentant world cannot know or understand.  Interestingly enough, if we follow Hezekiah's advice, instead of arguing with the world's misinformation, we will remain silent and watch and see the LORD's deliverance.

Father, give Your children the grace and mercy to know when to speak up and resist the onslaught of misinformation and when to simply remain silent and watch and see Your hand at work on our behalf for the glory of Your Name!