The Assyrians were notoriously ruthless in their conquests, inflicting painful deaths as they gobbled up neighboring lands. Hezekiah knew that Judah would be targeted sooner or later. For the first fourteen years of his reign, he focused on spiritual preparations, until finally the ever-looming threat became real. When King Sennacherib of Assyria shows up and begins his invasion of Judah, Hezekiah quickly organizes his leaders to fortify Jerusalem, make additional weapons, and shield the city’s water supply (v 1-6). But the resistance of Hezekiah is a matter of both action and trust. While taking practical, resourceful measures to withstand the attack, he calculates his odds in battle using the LORD’s promise to fight on behalf of His people. Everyone’s faith is boosted by the words of Hezekiah, their leader (v 7-8). However, this faith was aggressively challenged by the enemy. Among the many weapons of Assyria was the spreading of fear ahead of their army. So while the siege is still in its first stage, Sennacherib tries to talk the people into surrendering without the effort of armed conflict. “On what are you trusting, that you endure the siege… Is not Hezekiah misleading you?” (v 9-11). However, as Sennacherib continues his taunt, it becomes clear that he does not understand the situation. His argument goes like this. Since no other nation’s gods have been able to deliver from his power, “how much less” can Judah expect to be rescued by a God whose altars Hezekiah has himself torn down? Little did the Assyrian king know that the thorough idol-bashing efforts of Hezekiah had only ensured the defeat of Assyrian forces! (v 12-15). Using the Hebrew language to make sure everyone understands them, the servants of Sennacherib intensify the rhetoric in order to increase the fear. Meanwhile, their king puts his contempt in writing: “The God of Hezekiah will not deliver His people from my hand” (v 16-19). With the LORD’s authority so boldly called into question, the prophet Isaiah joins Hezekiah in prayer, and God answers by sending an angel who promptly destroys the Assyrian menace overnight. With shame on his face, Sennacherib hightails it home, where he is assassinated by two of his sons (v 20-23). Hezekiah was not perfect. He was a fallible human being, once healed of sickness only to later become proud (v 24-26; see 2 Kings 20:1-19 for details). But the overall testimony of this man’s life was certainly faithful, and God’s blessing was upon him and all his works (v 27-33). For further meditation: