Obedience and logic

 I love those moments when God reveals things to you that you have never seen before. It is amazing how scripture that you have read over many times before can have new meaning in a moment because God knows just what you need.

        Consider this story in Isaiah. Isaiah 36

I have read through this story before and nothing in particular stood out to me. It was a story of the king facing incredibly discouraging circumstances...before the most I would have taken away was, "I need to trust God, He can provide", but there is so much happening in this chapter.

Our flesh can be SO convincing. Even logical. But it is a trap...it may be an "easier" choice, but it comes with a high price..our freedom. In this story God's people were standing face to face with an army that had already taken out many  "more capable" opponents. They greatly out numbered those under king Hezekiah. And their enemy came to offer a way out...convincing them it is was unless to continue to stand...that they should not believe that God could deliver them. Afterall others had thought the same thing and it was obvious their size and strength could easily overtake them! But had they chosen to respond to their flesh, they would have lost so much.

It seems such a risk to stand where God asks...sometimes it is!! Sometimes everything screams RUN and God asks us to stay & stand. The enemy, our friends, our family, circumstances and even logic  may present a strong case to turn away, give in or give up because afterall, it has never happened before (v 18-20). It is simply too hard, too risky, but there can be life in the risk. Provision in faith, and security that confounds all logic. He asks us to do things we cannot fathom. He leaves the choice to us....to stand...fight...don't allow youself to run.

What is amazing about this passage is that the army coming to wage war could have easily come and defeated the army under Hezekiah, but they didn't just attack. He tried to speak defeat so that God's people would just give up. I know that has happened in my life, the enemy may not even attack, instead he just plants doubt and lies in hopes that I will surrender without a fight (it's easier if we give in rather than engage him in a battle. If we battle and depend on God the enemy has no grounds to move forward, so he will try to get you to lay down). I don't want to give the enemy any ground through surrender because it seems the easier thing to do in a fight.

The last few verses are interesting...in the face of the threat of their enemies they said nothing.

But the people remained silent and said nothing in reply, because the king had commanded, "Do not answer him."  v 21



In the face of their enemy what did they say? Nothing...they just stood...why did they do this? Because it is what the king commanded of them. That is what God wants our response to be..He wants our obedience. It was the last order these men had received from their king, to remain silent and stand. At times God prompts us to battle or to respond in other ways, but the importance is obedience. There is wisdom there. A cross reference for this verse was Matthew 7:6. Protect that which God gives to you..don't throw God's promises or gifts (your pearls) in a moment of panic and defense. Don't give the enemy the pleasure of a response when God just asks us to stand firm. There is wisdom in knowing when to confront and when to be silent. God will continue to guide us, so when you are in a battle and you aren't sure what your response should be...be obedient to the last commands you received from the king.