The Enemy Will Not Relent. Why Should We?

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? “I’ll tell you what! Strike a bargain with my master, the king of Assyria. I will give you 2,000 horses if you can find that many men to ride on them! With your tiny army, how can you think of challenging even the weakest contingent of my master’s troops, even with the help of Egypt’s chariots and charioteers? What’s more, do you think we have invaded your land without the Lord’s direction? The LORD himself told us, ‘Attack this land and destroy it!’” [2 Kings 18.19-25] 

The questions posed by Sennacherib's chief of staff in 2 Kings 18.19-25 reveal the relentless contest every believer in God will face if they truly rid themselves of modern idols. Let's explore the questions asked by the enemy of faith one by one.

What are you trusting in that makes you so confident? 

First off, the question "What...?" reveals a strictly humanistic view of warfare. The chief of staff limited his assessment of Hezekiah's ability to defend Jerusalem on military skill and strength. I mean, it just makes sense, right? Jerusalem was not prepared in any way, humanly speaking, to defend itself against the mighty army of Sennacherib, king of Assyria. The enemy of faith looks at "the facts."

Who are you counting on, that you have rebelled against me? On Egypt?

Then, the challenge shifts to "Who...?" Although the Assyrian king's man was getting closer to the truth, he still missed it greatly. Based on what he saw of Hezekiah's military ability, he rightly concluded that Hezekiah must not be depending on his own military skill and strength and so, must have been depending on someone else's military might. But, Sennacherib's man knew that Egypt could and would not rescue Jerusalem. The enemy of faith decries faith (even if it is misplaced).

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?

Here is where Assyria revealed their greatest ignorance of the LORD God of Israel. And, here is where "seeing, hearing and understanding" must come from the Spirit of God to believers today.

When God's people finally identify and reject today's modern idols, the enemy will attempt to associate those idols with God thus alleging it is an offense against Him to reject those idols. What am I talking about? I am talking about debt, insurance, medicine and technology. Every enemy of genuine faith will allege these man-made idols are sanctioned by God making it seem foolish to even speak against them (let alone get rid of them). The enemy of faith attempts to confuse the would-be true believer. 

The enemy of faith does all this in complete misrepresentation of Almighty God and His Word - specifically, the first three Commandments:

“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. “You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. [Exodus 20.2-7]

A child of God must make every effort to "see, hear and understand." Otherwise the common sense, humanistic arguments of the enemy will win them over. 

Unironically, today's One Year Chronological Bible reading also contains words from the prophet Micah that could not be more appropriate for a genuine believer who rejects today's common sense idols of debt, insurance, medicine and technology:

As for me, I look to the LORD for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me. Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light. I will be patient as the LORD punishes me, for I have sinned against him. But after that, he will take up my case and give me justice for all I have suffered from my enemies. The LORD will bring me into the light, and I will see his righteousness. Then my enemies will see that the LORD is on my side. They will be ashamed that they taunted me, saying, “So where is the LORD—that God of yours?” With my own eyes I will see their downfall; they will be trampled like mud in the streets. [Micah 7.7-10]

How much more significant are Micah's words in the light of Jesus Christ Who revealed God's very nature and character in flesh and blood? Jesus demanded unwavering faith "walking it out" to prove it could be done. Jesus warned sternly about trusting our own man-made ways:

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24, Mark 8.34, Luke 9.23]

But, unless we, under the revelation of God's Word instructed by the Holy Spirit, recognize and reject our own ways - our man-made idols -  we cannot follow Christ in any way, let alone in the miraculous power He demonstrated. Otherwise, we buckle under the taunts of our enemy that decry our actions as foolishness.

The enemy will not relent. Why should we?

Father, may every person who presses in to You and Your Word see, hear and understand revelation of Your Truth in Jesus Christ. May every person who presses in to You and Your Word be relentless in having no other god but You. May every person who presses in to You and Your Word refuse to be subservient to any other god understanding that You are a jealous God Who will not tolerate such misplaced affection for others. May every person who presses in to You and Your Word avoid any possibility of Your name being misused in any way. So be it.