2 Chronicles 32:1-8: a reflection

1After these things and this faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came, entered into Judah, encamped against the fortified cities, and intended to win them for himself. 2When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come, and that he was planning to fight against Jerusalem, 3he took counsel with his princes and his mighty men to stop the waters of the springs which were outside of the city, and they helped him. 4Then many people gathered together and they stopped all the springs and the brook that flowed through the middle of the land, saying, “Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find abundant water?” 5He took courage, built up all the wall that was broken down, and raised it up to the towers, with the other wall outside, and strengthened Millo in David’s city, and made weapons and shields in abundance. 6He set captains of war over the people, gathered them together to him in the wide place at the gate of the city, and spoke encouragingly to them, saying, 7“Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or dismayed because of the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude who is with him; for there is a greater one with us than with him. 8An arm of flesh is with him, but the LORD our God is with us to help us and to fight our battles.” The people rested themselves on the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

When the Assyrian army invaded, Hezekiah did two things. He prepared prudently, stopping up the water sources, repairing the walls, making weapons, organizing the defense. And then he gathered the frightened people and spoke to their fear: Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid of the king of Assyria or the vast army with him, for there is a greater one with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.

Notice the balance in Hezekiah. He did not spiritualize away the practical work; he prepared diligently, doing everything within his power to defend the city. But he did not rest his confidence in those preparations. His courage was grounded in something beyond the walls and weapons: with us is the LORD our God. He named the difference plainly: the enemy had only an arm of flesh, human strength; Israel had God himself. And on that, the people rested.

That is a wise pattern for facing our own overwhelming threats. On one hand, do the prudent work, prepare, plan, act, use the means available to you. On the other hand, do not rest your confidence in your own preparations, but in God, who is greater than any arm of flesh arrayed against you. The threat may be real and large; the enemy's forces may be many. But there is a greater one with you. Do your prudent part, and then let your courage rest not on your own resources but on the God who fights for his people. There is a greater one with us than with them.

Lord, Hezekiah prepared diligently and then set his courage not on his walls and weapons but on you: with us is the LORD our God, greater than any arm of flesh. When I face an overwhelming threat, help me do my prudent part and then rest my confidence in you, not in my own preparations. Whatever forces are arrayed against me, there is a greater one with me. Let that steady my heart, as it steadied your people. You fight for those who are yours.