An Immediately Answered Prayer

O. T. #1622 "An Immediately Answered Prayer"
Feb. 5, 2020
Isaiah 37-Part 3
But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against Me. (verse 28)

LET IT GLOW

How would we react if we received a letter threatening to destroy us? I would slide on my face all the way to my prayer room and cry out to God, like Hezekiah. Continue reading to find out how it turned out for him.

With all those threats toward Jerusalem and its king, God was still in charge. He was going to give a sign (evidence) that all was well and going to turn out all right. There would be good harvest of crops and fruit. A remnant of Judah would take root downward and bear fruit upward. Judah would be blessed with a divine reprieve to continue its prosperity as a nation.

How did God rescue Jerusalem? He sent an angel of the LORD, who was Christ Himself, to kill 185,000 men in the Assyrian army. It happened that night that Isaiah delivered the message of deliverance (2 Kings 19:35). God didn't waste any time answering Hezekiah's prayer.

What happened to Sennacherib, king of Assyria? Twenty years later, his own sons killed him while he was worshiping his false god.

Sometimes God answers our prayer immediately. We should praise and thank Him for it hearing our prayer. If His answer is no or wait, we have to trust in God's will and praise Him and thank Him anyway. Some of my prayers took 20 and even 40 years to be answered. So keep on believing, friend. God is at work.

LET IT GROW

The king of Assyria thought he was in control of his fate, but boy was he ever wrong. His army was strong, his empire was great, and he had conquered many nations. Although he had overpowered many cities in Judah, he was not going to do so to Jerusalem.

King Hezekiah of Judah had gone to the Temple and laid the threatening letter from the king of Assyria. God gave an answer to Hezekiah's prayer through the Prophet Isaiah-as God had planned long ago, it would come to pass. According to our  key verse, God knew the activity of the king of Assyria, Sennacherib's going out and coming in, and had always an eye upon him. God even knew the rage (to quiver, with any violent emotion, especially anger or fear) that the guy had toward God.

 That ruthless king would return home by the same road he came on and would not attack Jerusalem because God would put a hook in his nose and a bridle in his lips and turn him back. (verses 28-29)
His army would not even shoot an arrow, nor march around Jerusalem's gates with shields, nor try to tear down the walls.

When things look hopeless for us, we should pray to our God. After all,  He knows all that is going on in our little world, sees all that is happening to us, and our comings and goings. He even knows how we have been mistreated. He can mend broken hearts. God can change our attitudes, too. Dear child of God, He can turn things around for us. So, take comfort in His will being done as we yield to it.

Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for His mercy is great. (2 Samuel 24:14)

LET IT GO

Jesus, how good You are!
Thank You for hearing my prayers and answering according to the right way.
Glory to Your name.