June 20 – The Offer - Isaiah 36:16-22

 June 20 – The Offer - Isaiah 36:16-22

 

     The field commander continues his speech.  He tells them not to believe Hezekiah.  He says make peace and then he outlines the Assyrians plan.  As a people and nation, they will be displaced and exiled to a land like theirs but not theirs.  This was a tactic used to subdue and break national unity, clan loyalty and family identity. 

     The commander then lists all the gods who were supposed to protect all the lands Assyria and Sennacherib had defeated.  He then states do you think your God can deliver you.  This was a direct challenge to God. 

      The people remain silent because Hezekiah knew what the tactic was, and he told them to no answer the field commander.  The three officials came back to Hezekiah with their clothes torn a sign or an expression of deep grief or mental tribulation.  They told him what had been said.  We must remember that the enemy will always use intimidation as a tactic.  He has an agenda of robbing, killing, and destroying but we have the Lord and so his threat or hollow.