Tuesday 14 March 2006

With him is an arm of flesh, but God is with us

“With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.” - 2 Chronicles 32v8

Hezekiah had seen God do great things in the spiritual realm. The idols were destroyed, the high places had been torn down, and the Passover had been restored.

Now, however, he faced a new and real threat. The mighty King Sennacherib and his mighty army were roaring down from the north wiping aside all opposition. Israel had fallen to the mighty Assyrian army and things looked dark for Judah. Defeat looked certain.

Hezekiah had it all figured out though. “Sennacherib has a mighty arm of flesh,” he said, “but we have the Lord our God to help us and fight our battles.” These words of comfort caused the people to find rest.

Sometimes it seems like in our Christian lives we are looking up at a mighty army of opposition like Sennacherib had. The arm of flesh which opposes us seems too strong for us to bear. In those days we would do well to heed the words of Hezekiah and find our own rest in them as well. They might have a mighty arm of flesh, but we have the Lord our God on our side to fight our battles for us. We have no need to fear. When God is on my side, why should I fear what man can do to me?

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