Facing a Crisis

Facing a Crisis

This Sunday, we were privileged at CDC to have our own Pastor Micky give the message on Facing a Crisis from 2 Kings 18:8-9. Continuing our study on the life of Hezekiah, we see how the great king faced an incredible crisis and saw a miraculous deliverance from God.

In today’s world, there is a lot of crisis – the terrorist threat in Mumbai, the Thailand situation, the world economic crisis. In personal lives, we too face crisis – health, school, work, family. A crisis can happen anytime, anywhere. It is a not a question of if, but rather when we face a crisis.  

The threat

In Hezekiah’s case, the crisis was threatening indeed. The King of Assyria stood at his doorstep, sending him and Judah a threatening, boastful letter. Indeed, none of the other nations were able to stand against the might of Assyria, and they were a cruel people, killing the masses, and abusing those that remained with hooks placed in their noses like cattle. Christians are not exempt from crisis. They many not be as severe as the situation facing Hezekiah, but they may be terrible enough on a personal basis, and something that we do not feel able to handle. Indeed, with the economic situation worsening rapidly, things might quickly go downhill. However, God uses testing to strengthen, and help us become better and more mature as His servants. Enemies create fear, like the King of Assyria, but for the children of God, He did not give us a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.

The trust

Hezekiah’s prayer was incredible in itself. He laid out the letter before God and prayed “You alone are God over all kingdoms. You have made heaven and earth. You are the living God. You see and hear. It is true the Assyrian king defeated the nations but their gods are lifeless idols. Deliver us, O God so that all kingdoms may know that You alone are God! Hezekiah spread out the problem before the Lord and trusted God.

Yet Hezekiah had also prepared for this siege, stopping up the Gihon Spring, digging an underground tunnel and strengthening the walls. Still, even that would not be able to hold out against a prolonged siege.

Still, in the face of insurmountable odds, Hezekiah depended on God, trusting Him to work a miracle.

The triumph

And God answered Hezekiah, firstly through His Word via the prophet Isaiah and then in deed, for that night, 185,000 Assyrian soldiers died. Later the cruel Assyrian king was himself murdered by his own sons in his temple. God delivered the city with not a single arrow shot. That’s how mighty our God is!

In closing, Pastor Micky challenged us to remember God’s phone number Jeremiah 33:3 Call unto the Lord, and He will reveal great and unsearchable things to us! He will deliver us from our problems, no matter how terrible or severe. But we must trust Him, and hold on to Him to the end. May the Lord, give us the faith and perseverance as we go through this difficult time, and help us trust in Jesus till the very end. In Jesus name, Amen