Daily Edifier: Against All Odds

Against All Odds

“Now therefore, O LORD our God, save us from his [Sennacherib’s] hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD, You alone. Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD God of Israel, Because you have prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of Assyria. this is the word the LORD has spoken against him...’(Isaiah 37:20-21)

In the 1984 movie Against All Odds, Jeff Bridges is an ex-football player sent by gangster James Woods to find his girlfriend Rachel Ward in Mexico but they fell in love and complications arise. In the Bible, King Hezekiah was one of Israel’s greatest godly kings and he was delivered by God against all odds. Burt Reynolds could only star in Deliverance, but nobody can deliver like God.

A great challenge to Hezekiah came when Sennacherib the king of Assyria threatened to attack Israel. The Assyrians were powerful bullies of the region and they mocked the idea of having a God who could save Israel. (Isaiah 36:14-15) Just like in the days of Hezekiah some 2700 years ago, the world today is full of ungodly Assyrians who mock the idea of a living God who delivers.

Without God’s help, Israel would not overcome. Their backs were against the wall, and they would be destroyed by an overwhelming force. King Hezekiah saved Israel because he prayed. And just because he prayed, God moved on his behalf. In fact, God moved so powerfully that Hezekiah did not even have to lift one finger to fight. God is so powerful that it only took one angel to kill 185,000 Assyrians, forcing Sennacherib to withdrew. (Isaiah 37:36)

To add insult to injury, Sennacherib was even killed by his own two sons. (Isaiah 37:38) To be a mere conqueror like Alexander the Great or Genghis Khan, we have to do the actual fighting, but to be more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37) means that God will do the fighting for us and give us the spoils of victory. Imagine that, seeing our enemies of poverty, sickness, debt, shame and oppression destroyed without lifting a sword. God wants to act on our behalf if only we will call on Him.

A motive Hezekiah had in seeking God’s help was so “that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD, You alone.” (Isaiah 37:20) This is what happened and God was glorified. Jim Carrey may be Bruce Almighty for a day, but God wants to let the whole world know that He is God Almighty, that He is a living God. The postman may ring twice, but unlike the United States Postal Service, God will deliver for us. Instead of doing something fishy like Finding Nemo, seek God by searching His Word for the answers to the crises that we may face. As we meditate on the Word of God daily and follow the voice of the Holy Spirit, God will surely answer and deliver for us in His time and in His way.

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