Ruthe's Secret Roses
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Your Avenging Angel
This starts out as one of those - why do bad things happen to good people - stories.
King Hezekiah followed his father King Ahaz, who had been very bad, as king of Israel. He was only
twenty-five when he became king, but he set about purifying the temple, instituting proper worship,
celebrating the Lord's holy days, and ensuring that qualified Levites were training and doing their
jobs, all according to the instructions in the books of Moses.
Despite all this good Hezekiah was doing, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, showed up with his army
around the city of Jerusalem, and blocked off their water supply.
Hezekiah got his men busy repairing broken sections of the wall, and unblocking wells. He went into
the city square to speak encouragingly to his people. We read in 2 Chronicles chapter 32, that the
people gained confidence from his words, and were with him.
Still Sennacherib's officers shouted threats up to the people on the city walls. They mocked their
faith in God, and told of other nations they had overcome, and whose gods could not help. "So how
much less do you think your God can rescue you from me?" Sennacherib taunted.
King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah cried out in prayer to God in heaven.
Just like that the LORD sent an angel, who annihilated all the fighting men and the leaders and
officers in the camp of the Assyrian king.
Yes, really. Just like that!
Can you imagine the surprise and humiliation of that cocky king Sennacherib? He withdrew to his own
land in disgrace, and when he went into the temple of his god, some of his sons cut him down with
the sword.
By ourselves we can't cut our loudest taunters down like that, but we can do what King Hezekiah did
- pray. God's angels are not cute babies. They are strong, powerful creatures, who can
single-handedly wipe out the whole army scattered around us, and keeping us in bondage.
Let's make sure we are committed to God ourselves, and doing His will. Then we can unashamedly cry
out to Him whenever we have enemy trouble, and He will send an angel, or as many as necessary, to
avenge us. We won't lose!
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