On April 27, 2011 an F-4 tornado tore a path across central Alabama, including the big cities of Birmingham and Tuscaloosa. This 190 mph monster had a maximum width of 1.5 miles and caused damages totaling $2.2 Billion. When all was said and done, direct injuries from the storm numbered 1500, and 64 people lost their lives.
Angie Richardson is a retired employee of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. She, along with her son Zachary, are the caretakers for her disabled husband, Stewart. Even before the tornado, 2011 was a tough year for Angie. Her mother’s health was taking a turn for the worse, and her daughter was struggling with a difficult pregnancy. Angie was hoping for a change, but on that morning of April 27, she never anticipated how many challenges she still had to face.
None of us knows the challenges and storms (or how many) that await us in the coming days/years. As the clouds gather around us possibly foretelling the ominous events of our personally, unknown future, we begin to fear the outcome and how we will survive.
That’s very much how Hezekiah must have felt as he saw the Assyrian army marching toward him and his capital of Jerusalem under siege.
Let’s recount the biblical story and the gathering storm in Hezekiah’s day so that we can learn from him how to be a survivor of the storms/challenges of life.
The Assyrians had conquered numerous cities of Judah in a campaign to ultimately conquer Jerusalem, the capital city of the Kingdom of Judah.
- Hezekiah diverted the water supply outside the city to prevent the Assyrians from having access to it.
- Hezekiah had the city wall repaired and added an outer wall in some locations.
- Hezekiah had weapons and shields made for a potential attack.
- Hezekiah encouraged the people to be strong and trust the Lord.
- The, an apparent and temporary failure. He capitulated to the Assyrian king by offering to pay him tribute money.
- The tribute money was accepted, but it did not stay the Assyrians from their siege of Jerusalem.
- The king of Assyria threatened Judah through his emissaries in an attempt to coerce the surrender of Hezekiah and the city of Jerusalem.
- He even shouts his message in Hebrew to those along the wall of Jerusalem to frighten them into surrender.
- The Assyrians even suggest that they have been sent by God to capture the city.
How did Hezekiah respond:
1. He humbled himself. (19:1; cf. Isaiah 37:1)
- “...God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)
- “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)
- Satan was cast out of Heaven because of pride. (Isaiah 14:12-15)
- King Nebuchadnezzar was humbled for his arrogance (Daniel 4:28-35).
- Hezekiah knew that he needed God’s help and that meant he must humble himself before God...not exalt himself. Hezekiah is not running from his enemy, he is re-focusing and seeking the help of His God! Some battles don’t even require you to lift a weapon or endanger a life. Such will be the case for Hezekiah!
- Don’t misunderstand, there’s no problem with having confidence...when it’s in the power of your God and your response is according to HIs will. (cf. 1 Samuel 17:45)
2. He sought counsel from the godly. (19:2; cf. Isaiah 37:2-7)
- I’ve been reading the book proverbs once a month and it has MUCH to say about receiving counsel!
- “Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.” (Proverbs 11:14)
- “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.” (Proverbs 12:15)
- “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” (Proverbs 13:20)
- “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.” (Proverbs 15:22)
- “Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.” (Proverbs 20:18)
- Not only did Hezekiah seek counsel...he sought it from God’s prophet because he wanted God’s wisdom! You can find someone that will tell you what you want to hear! Or, you can find the right one (counselor) that will tell you what God wants you to hear!
3. He prayed to the God of Heaven. (19:14; cf. Isaiah 37:14-35)
God can move heaven and earth through prayer!
- Asa
In 2 Chronicles 14, Asa must lead his men against the Ethiopians (Cushites). Asa prays to God saying, "there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty." God then struck down the Ethiopians and they fled.
- Jehoshaphat
Jehoshaphat also prayed to God when it seemed they were up against an unbeatable army. Judah brought together all the people of Judah in 2 Chronicles 20 and everybody prayed. The Lord answered and told King Jehoshaphat and his people to not be afraid or discouraged for the battle was not theirs, but God's. When the battle came Judah and the people of Jerusalem sang and praised and the Lord.
- Elisha
In 2 Kings 6, the king of Syria sends chariots and horses to surround Elisha in Dothan. Elisha prays and asks God to blind the Syrians (Arameans) so that he may be able to trick them and God answers Elisha's prayer. Elisha then leads the Syrians directly into Samaria.
- David
In Psalm 116, David talks about how the "cords of death entangled me." The rest of the chapter goes on to say that if I cry out "O Lord, save me" he will, because He is full of grace, righteousness, compassion, He protects the simple hearted and when you are in great need he will save you.
4. He waited on God to work. (19:35-37)
“Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah” (Psalm 46:8-11)
“...but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
Conclusion:
With God’s help, you can survive the storms and challenges that come in life!
Author Gerald L. Sittser writes:
"Two years ago, I wrote a book about suffering. I have received many letters from people who wanted to tell me their own stories of suffering. I have asked permission from a few to tell their stories to others. One woman, Mary, was in a terrible automobile accident when she was only five years old. Her grandmother, aunt, and only sibling-a younger brother-were killed. She, the only survivor, was trapped in that chamber of death for more than an hour before an emergency crew could get her out. It took her parents, who were touring Europe at the time, three days to get home. By the time they arrived, she had retreated into a cocoon of silence that lasted for nearly two years. Gradually, she emerged from her silence and returned to normal, or so it seemed.
Mary forgot the accident, but the memory of it did not forget her. She was married in her 20s and had a baby. When her little son reached the age of her brother at the time of his death, the memories flooded back. She had a nervous breakdown... That experience set her on a journey of pain, healing, and redemption.
She was well on her way to emotional and spiritual health when she wrote to me. She concluded her letter by admitting the obvious: She would never have chosen what had happened to her. 'Let this cup pass from me,' she would have said to God. But she did not have a choice.
She came to realize over time that her suffering had a good effect. It served God’s redemptive purpose. She understood the tension in which Christians must live-- the tension between human weakness and God’s strength, life’s afflictions and God’s redemptive plan, catastrophic suffering (which she surely faced) and spiritual victory. She was living what Paul wrote: "We are often troubled, but not crushed; sometimes in doubt, but never in despair; there are many enemies, but we are never without a friend; and though badly hurt at times, we are not destroyed. At all times we carry in our mortal bodies the death of Jesus, so that his life also may be seen in our bodies" (2 Cor. 4:8-10, TEV)...”
We, also, live in that tension between “human weakness and God’s strength, life’s afflictions and God’s redemptive plan, catastrophic suffering and spiritual victory.” And, we CAN survive with God’s help!
