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]
We must be on guard for misinformation.
There are far too many people quoting erroneous information and saying it is from the Bible. A Lot of people think they know what the Bible says - so that is why they don't study it. And that is why there are divisions among "God's people" and confusion in general about Who God really is what God really does.
Pay close attention here what the Assyrian chief of staff said, “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?"
In fact, Hezekiah destroyed all the instruments of pagan idol worship:
Hezekiah son of Ahaz began to rule over Judah in the third year of King Hoshea’s reign in Israel. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. He did what was pleasing in the LORD’s sight, just as his ancestor David had done. He removed the pagan shrines, smashed the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke up the bronze serpent that Moses had made, because the people of Israel had been offering sacrifices to it. The bronze serpent was called Nehushtan. [2 Kings 18.1-4]
You see, Hezekiah did not offend God, but served to purify the land of idolatry so the people might focus only on Him. Hezekiah removed all the distractions - the idols and symbols of idolatry.
It must be pointed out here that Hezekiah went so far as to destroy Nehushtan... the bronze serpent...
A little history:
Then the people of Israel set out from Mount Hor, taking the road to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient with the long journey, and they began to speak against God and Moses. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?” they complained. “There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!” So the LORD sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died. Then the people came to Moses and cried out, “We have sinned by speaking against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take away the snakes.” So Moses prayed for the people. Then the LORD told him, “Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” So Moses made a snake out of bronze and attached it to a pole. Then anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed! [Number 21.4-9]
Could this be why the Assyrian chief of staff said Hezekiah insulted the LORD? This is a fantastic object lesson for us!
The LORD did actually tell Moses to make Nehushtan (the bronze serpent on a stick - now the symbol of modern medicine) and that bronze serpent served a purpose in time. HOWEVER, what was meant for good, the people turned to evil - they began to worship the serpent instead of God just like people have worshipped all sorts of both God's creation and man's fabrication ever since. People today worship nature (God created it), science (God established every natural law), medicine (God gave every herb for our healing), and the list goes on.
We must see our idolatry and terminate it if we are to give glory to God. The history of it (as with Nehushtan) matters not - if it has become an idol (receiving glory that belongs to God) it must be forsaken and abandoned.
What a deep rabbit hole we have peered into! God is calling out His people unto holiness, faithfulness, and righteousness today ...but will they respond? Will they respond correctly or will they offer religious explanations like, "Well, God uses... (plug in whatever here: science medicine, technology, etc..) to meet my needs."
Call me radical, but I am weary of a faithless and powerless life on earth. I am disturbed that God's people's lives are no more miraculous than those who are not God's people. The only thing different is that we go to church! We pay for the same insurance, medicine, and technology as everyone else. Our bodies are supported by the same drugs that support everyone else. There is essentially nothing that truly distinguishes us from the world other than our words. And the Bible makes some clear statements about that:
And so the LORD says, “These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote. [Isaiah 29.13]
And, for the record, let's say God's people forsake all medicine because it has become an idol. Let's say God's people all die and go to heaven in faith that God is their Healer. Are they fools? Or are they faithful messengers that God alone is Healer and, if they are not healed, are FAR better off in heaven? If eternity is indeed eternal, why would anyone truly destined for heaven not trust God alone for their health/time/service on earth with GREAT anticipation of eternity with Him? Think about this.
God desires to be glorified in everything He says He is, whether it is that He is our Righteousness, or our Healer, or our Provider... To give that glory to anything or anyone else is idol worship.
Father, forgive me for not glorifying You in my life. Forgive me for giving lip service of glorifying You, but worshiping idols in believing my life is sustained by anything or anyone but You.
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