II Chronicles Greater Power

There is greater power with us than with him (2 Chronicles 32:7b).

Sennacherib, the king of Assyria Attacks Judah.
In 701 B.C. King Hezekiah received news that Sennacherib king of Assyria came and attacked Judah. He and his army surrounded and attacked the strong, walled cities. Soon Sennacherib would come to attack the city of Jerusalem. The people of Jerusalem were scared. King Hezekiah encouraged them, saying, “Be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid or worried because of the king of Assyria or his large army. THERE IS GREATER POWER WITH US THAN WITH HIM. He only has men, but we have the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.” The people were encouraged by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah (2 Chronicles 32:6b-8).

King Sennacherib wrote letters to King Hezekiah insulting the Lord, the God of Israel. They spoke against him, saying, “The gods of the other nations could not save their people from me. In the same way Hezekiah’s God won’t be able to save his people from me” (2 Chron. 32:17). When Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it, he went up to the Temple of the Lord. He spread the letter out before the Lord and prayed to the Lord:

“Lord, God of Israel, whose throne is between the gold creatures with wings (Ark of God), only you are God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You made heavens and earth. Hear, Lord, and listen. Open your eyes, Lord, and see. Listen to the words of Sennacherib has said to insult the living God. It is true, Lord, that the kings of Assyria have destroyed these countries and their lands. They have thrown the gods of these nations into the fire, but they were only wood and rock statues that the people made. So the kings have destroyed them. Now, Lord our God, save us from the king’s power so that all the kingdoms of the earth will know that you, Lord, are the only God” (2 Ki.19:14-19).

God answered Hezekiah through the prophet Isaiah and said, “I have heard your prayer to me about Sennacherib king of Assyria.” This was a prophetic message from God about Sennacherib, the promise of God to His people, and the promise of deliverance from Sennacherib (2 King19:20-34).

That night the angel of the Lord went out and killed one hundred eight-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up early the next morning, they saw all the dead bodies. So Sennacherib king of Assyria left and went back to Nineveh and stayed there (2 King 19:35-36). Verse 37 tells us that Sennacherib was killed.
[Suggest reading 2 Chronicles 32:1-23; 2 Kings 18-20; Isaiah 36-39]
[Continue to part 2]