THE AXE OF AHAZ AGAINST THE AXE OF HEXEKIAH

THE AXE OF AHAZ VERSUS HEZEKIAH

Perhaps this story promises to be intriguing in any case. For most Bible readers this promises to be one of the stories which really shook up the pattern of history. It promises to be the moment where the Spirit of Truth overcame the Spirit of Deception with a counter force, Deception. It also promises to be the only time we ever saw two men confronted with the same dilemma and yet one took a very desperate decision and one perhaps a very remote one.
The backdrop of this story is quite interesting and to those avid readers who like to caption the intro to the body, you will sure go like, “Hey Peeman, get to the point”. Okay, I hear you. It was of course a desperate time for Hezekiah. He had come to meet a fallen government who had left Israel in a bad state. With the help of God, he had rebuilt the nation of Israel and things seem to be going well until disaster ‘struck’ or let me just say in my native Ghanaian way, ‘happened’. King Sennacherib, the indisputable Assyrian conqueror and King had defeated cities as strong as Hamath, Arpad and even Sephar-vaim. This awesome streak had rendered him invincible to known cities and Kingdom. Now it was time for Israel to stand against an opposition with such an extreme track record. King Sennacherib had sent his most faithful field commander, Rabshakeh to get the work done. The Israelites were not going to pose much of a problem. A more formidable opposition had already been met and conquered.
Interestingly Rabshakeh attacked with what was quite an unexpected weapon. Call it ‘mind games’ but this was the most unexpected weapon anyone could pull up against a nation who wanted to fight for their own survival. Rabshakeh attacked with the ideology of Deception. He did not only disrespect the course of Elohim but also professed to hold his oracles too. He assured the Israelites that he had been actually ‘sent by the LORD’. Can you just believe that! Of course the fellow had more evidence to prove. For how can a ‘god’ (if there was one) leave his people to fend for themselves with famine and hunger and such frustration?  How can a ‘god’ not see that he and his master had conquered mightier nations? Why would not the ‘god’ of Israel not see their expertise and hire them to help him in destroying his people who have been so stubborn to listen to him. Rabshakeh sure looked like he had every evidence on the plate. Of course the people would not buy that. He changed the game! The second level of Deception. He assured the people that he could be trusted. Perhaps and perhaps again, this was not the actual strategy used against Eve but it sure looked similar. He coaxed the people in believing that he could help provide them with a great sanctuary, a great land and they could drink ‘everyone the waters of his own cistern’. A great venture! Who wouldn’t take such a bait! Especially when you are as broke as hell. (I thought Hell was rather hot). Anyway, the people’s courage had all died down and they could trust in God no more but only in the god of Assyria.
Now there comes the moment of decision. Hezekiah is confronted with a very heavy decision to make. He tries to confront the Assyrians but no. It looks like this is a more practical decision to take but no. He travels down memory lane…. many years ago.
THE STORY OF AHAZ
Ahaz was perhaps one of the most ‘rushy’ Kings ever to rule of Israel. It was not about his unfaithfulness towards God but his sheer rush in decision making. He was quite a spontaneous fellow (this is good sometimes) but it cost him. In his reign, King Tiglath-pilesar (a reputable, famous King of the same Assyrians) was a sure option for Ahaz who had been confronted with two issues-fighting the Philistines who had invaded a lot of Judah’s cities and Edomites who had conquered Judah’s land and even carried some captives. Ahaz was very ‘hot’. He needed answers. He decided to do what was obvious. He went for a bilateral agreement with a foolish King Tiglath-pilesar. It didn’t work well for him. The guy trusted Tiglath-pilesar so much that he was prepared to sell all the items in the Temple in Jerusalem so the Assyrian gods could be happy. Like most us do. In the end it was his downfall.
Hezekiah was no fool. He was not going to let history repeat itself. History had had a good rehearsal and he was not going to be its performer. He called for back-up. He called for a man believed to have prophesied the birth of the Messiah. He called for the Prophet Isaiah. The two were on a mission. This was war and the heavens had to fight for they had been confronted too. God sent down his biggest plan, Deception. Call it, God deceiving the Deceiver. Wow, I see God delivering you by deceiving your enemies! Eventually Hezekiah won. God sent angels to fight a physical battle. It was no cheat because God was legally a party anyway. The angels did a very good job, slaughtering as many as 185, 000 men in the Assyrian camp. However, the happiest person was Hezekiah because he could have left Judah down but somehow he had trusted in the might of Elohim and had taught us a great lesson, NEVER BE DECEIVED BY THE STORMS OF LIFE. GOD COMES TRUE FOR HIS OWN.

             LOVE- PEEMAN ARTHUR

    

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