Scripture Text: Isaiah 36

Many people have been tricked into believing the lies of the devil in these last days, especially when they are going through hard times. Today, we will learn about how Sennacherib almost got the armies of Judah to give up by telling them lies.

King Sennacherib cursed God because Judah didn't have any power or allies to help them. Senacherib's words of defiance against the Living God made Judah feel helpless and insulted. Sennacherib spoke badly about the One True God. First, he said that Judah had no reason to trust God since it had lost a small battle in the past. "Do you believe in God?"Didn't your king get rid of all the high places and altars? And on top of that, the Lord told me to kill you!" In other words, he is telling Judah, "Your God is against you!" Again, this is true to some extent. Hezekiah did tear down the altars, and Isaiah had been preaching that the Lord would punish Judah with Assyria.

Beloved, this is exactly how the devil tries to trick us—by twisting the truth and telling lies that sound like they could have come from God. Even though Hezekiah did what he was supposed to do and got rid of the high places, and even though Assyria was a tool in God's hands, this didn't mean that God was against Judah! Even though some of the truth was told, the real enemy of God's people was the devil. In his first speech to all the people, the king said that they shouldn't put their faith in the Lord. In his second speech, he said that their God couldn't do anything. Here, he questions whether God can save them. In Isaiah 37:10–13, he gives his second and third speeches. He lists all the countries he has conquered and says, "Do not let your God, in whom you put your trust, trick you" with promises of salvation.

Here, though, Sennacherib not only lies but also makes a huge mistake. Yes, none of the gods of the different nations had ever been able to stop Assyria from taking over their land. But the Lord Yahweh is not like any other god. The God of Israel is the only one who is real and alive! He is the Holy One. He has always been there and is beyond everything. Now, Sennacherib's argument is deadly if Israel's God is just another god and their worship is the same as any other religion. But since Yahweh is the living God, all of Assyria's victories don't matter! "Sennacherib's power has nothing to do with Jerusalem's salvation," says the prophet, "but everything has to do with whether or not they will trust in the Lord."

Since the Garden of Eden, this is what the devil has done to people: he makes us doubt God's word, his promises, his character, and his love, especially when we are going through hard times. He gets us to doubt what God has really said and who God really is by telling us half-truths and tricks. When we sin, he tries to accuse us in front of God and make us doubt God's grace. When we fail, he makes us feel bad about ourselves and makes us want to give up. He makes us angry and unable to forgive when others wrong us.When we do good, he makes us believe we are self-sufficient. "You think God is good?" he hisses in our ears. Look at how much pain he's causing you! Does he love you? You'd know if he did it, right? It's better to give than to get. No, live your own life! Give your time and money to a local church? Do what you want! Do you love your enemies? It's not fair to them! If you obey, will you be happy? You need freedom! Repent? "That's only for other people." He shows us a cheap copy of all the good things God has promised us, like joy, peace, rest, and security, and tries to get us to think that the only way to get these things is to not trust the Lord and not believe what he says. Instead, we should just do what seems right to us.

So, Sennacherib gives his wicked ultimatum: 36:16 "This is what the Assyrian king says: Make peace with me." "Don't put your faith in God." Don't listen to Hezekiah. Trust me. If you don't, we'll surround your city and cause you pain and suffering you can't even imagine. If you don't follow me, you will die. But the Lord wasn't really against the people who had made a deal with him. He hadn't been lying to them. Instead, he had taken away all of their resources so that Judah could completely trust in her God. This is what "the God who waits to be gracious" does. He shows us how much we need his grace by making our idols and false allegiances fail. In Ephesians, Paul tells us, "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might." Put on all of God's armour so that you can stand up to the plans of the devil (6:10–11). And Hezekiah does this very thing.

Are you feeling like God Has forsaken you? No He Hasn't! He's right beside you and loves you despite all. He only needs you to come back to Him and realise that He is the only One that can save us. So, put your trust in Him and don't fret.

If you would like to give your life to Christ, just say this prayer:

"Lord Jesus, I come to You now, come into my life, take control of my life and change my world. I say bye-bye to the devil. I enter into the Kingdome of Light, in the name of Jesus Christ. Thank You Lord, In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, amen."

Congratulations!!!

Peace!