Isaiah

Scripture: II Kings 18:9-13; Isaiah 36:1-2

C.I.: When Problems are Too Big!

During the month of January we are studying a series of lessons on the book of Isaiah.
The Promised Land has been divided (map) – and because of idolatry - the northern kingdom of Israel defeated!
The king who defeated Israel has now come against Judah. – Let us learn these lessons from Isaiah for victory!

I. Our Problems and God’s Solutions, (Isaiah 36-37)

A. The Taunts Used by Those Who are Against Us (Chapter 36):

1. Sennacherib, king of Assyria, has sent his field commander - to seek the surrender of God’s people.
a. Chapter 36 is one of the most brilliant pieces of psychological warfare – found anywhere.
b. It is also one of the most blasphemous & insolent diatribes against God found in scripture.
c. Let us now listen as an enemy – seeks to discredit God’s people.

2. Their Strategy (vs. 4-7):
a. The Jews had made an alliance with Egypt – and sought their help in defeating the Assyrians.
1) (vs. 5-6), “Now on whom do you rely that you have rebelled against me? – Behold, you rely
on the staff of this crushed reed, Egypt; on which if a man leans, it will go through his hand
and pierce it. – So is Pharaoh, king of Egypt to all who rely on Him.”
2) It is sad when God’s people – believe they can receive better help from man than from Him!
3) (31:1), “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, and trust in
chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong, but they do
not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the Lord.” (#’s & Power don’t impress God!!)

3. Their Resources (vs. 8-10):
a. Hezekiah had made preparations – when he saw that war was inevitable…
1) (II Chron. 32:2, 5), “When H. saw that Sennacherib had come, and he intended to make war on Jerusalem … he took courage and rebuilt the wall, erected towers on it, and made weapons & shields in great number.”
b. In offering to make this a “fair fight” – Assyria even offers them some help….
1) (vs. 8-9), “…I will give you 2,000 horses, if you are able on your part to set men on them. –
How then can you repulse one official of the least of my master’s servant….”
2) Hezekiah’s men fear discouragement – (v. 11), “Speak to your servants in Aramaic … do not speak with us in Judean, in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.”
3) How do you react when the chips are down – or at least stacked against you … discouraged?

4. Their God (vs. 13-20): [He had belittled Judah’s plans & resources/fine – but now he’s gone too far!]
a. As far as the Assyrians were concerned – the God of the Jews was no different from any other.
1) (v. 18), “Beware lest Hezekiah misleads you, saying, ‘The Lord will deliver us.’ –Has any
one of the gods of the nations delivered his land from the king of Assyria?’”
2) Have you ever thought God had forgotten you – or worse yet, didn’t even care about you??!
3) When you are up to your ears in alligators – its hard to remember that your original job was to drain the swamp - II Cor. 5:7! (Or as in our case, TO GLORIFY GOD!)
B. The Outcome (Chapter 37)

1. Our Repentance: (Change My Way of Thinking!)
a. God will use various means at His disposal – to bring us to repentance.
1) (Isa. 10:5-6), “…Assyria, the rod of My anger & the staff in whose hands is My indignation, - I send it against a godless nation & commission it against the people of My fury.”
2) Hezekiah knew his sin (trusting in Egypt & his own resources) had created the problem -
(Isa. 37:1), “And when King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes, covered himself in
sackcloth and entered the house of the Lord.”
3) Perhaps Hezekiah remembered God’s words – (II Chron. 7:14), “If My people, who are
called by My name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their
wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land.”

b. Are you facing an adversary today? Is it possible God is using it/them to bring you to repentance?
1) Various sicknesses caused by sin – financial problems caused by sin – relationship problems..
2) (Heb. 12:5-6, 10-11), “God disciplines us for our good that we may share His
holiness. – All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful but sorrowful; yet to…!”
3) Is there something that we need to do FIRST – before God can deal with our problems???!

2. Our Return: (Change My Way of Living!)
a. God doesn’t need us to tear our clothes – its not our wardrobe - but our hearts God desires.
1) (Joel 2:12-13), “Return to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, weeping, and mourning; and rend your heart and not your garments. – Now return the Lord your God, for He is gracious & compassionate, slow to anger & abounding in loving-kindness.”
2) Changing our hearts is a beginning – but returning with all our hearts - is what God desires!
3) (Acts 3:19), “Repent therefore AND return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that the times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”
4) Is it time for you to spiritually “come home”? – Does Jesus need to again become #1 for you?

3) God’s Reply:
a. When God saw the change in Hezekiah’s heart – God promised a change Hezekiah’s situation.
1) For God takes personally the plight of His people – and He will remove our problems.
2) (Isa. 37:29), “Because of your raging against Me, and because your arrogance has come up to My ears, therefore I will put My hook in your nose, and My bridle in your lips, and I will turn you back by the way which you came.”
3) God’s reply – (II Chron. 32:7), “do not fear nor be dismayed because of the king of Assyria, nor because of all the multitude with him; for the 1 with us is greater than the 1 with him”
a. (v. 36), “Then the angel of the Lord went out, and struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians; and when men arose early in the morning, behold, all of these were dead.”
b. Rabshekah said 2,000 horsemen couldn’t defeat the least of Assyria’s officers.
c. But 185,000 Assyrians couldn’t stand before 1 of God’s army.
d. (Heb. 1:14; I Jn. 4:4; Col. 1:27), “Are they not all ministering… - Greater is He…”
4) (v. 37), “ So Sennacherib, king of Assyria, departed and returned home & lived in Nineveh. – And as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, his sons killed him w/a sword.”
a. The Lord God protected His people against a great army – The god of the king of Assyria couldn’t even protect him while he was in his god’s own temple!

CONCLUSION:
It is inevitable that we will face problems bigger than we are – the only question is … HOW?!
Perhaps your biggest problem now is - if you were to die right now – how would you face God?
Or maybe you already are one of His people – but you haven’t responded to His discipline…yet.