It was a simple request. “Now therefore, O LORD our God, SAVE us from his hand (the wicked King of Assyria’s hand), that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD, even thou only.” King Hezekiah prayed thus, trusting God implicitly. (Our gracious God loves that little word “save!”)

Then God sent word to Hezekiah through is Prophet Isaiah: “Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shields, nor cast a bank against it. By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD. For I will defend this city to save it for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.” Isaiah 37:33-35

Wow!

Then comes the miracle! “Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and SMOTE in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all DEAD corpses.” Verse 36, some day I want to meet that “Angel of the Lord!” Though in reality, I think I know him already, personally so. (This is likely a pre-incarnation appearance of the Son of God, of the Second Person of the Trinity, of Jesus Christ our Lord!)

Dead: 185,000 enemy soldiers! Who had been encamped around Jerusalem for some time. (Sounds like the “Death Angel” flew once again! Remember Passover Night!)

Yes, when the Israelites arose earth the next morning, they found all those dead bodies littering their cityscape!

But alas, a small “handful” of soldiers (purposely, on God’s part, I think) escaped!

“So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.” Verse 37, not suggesting that Sennacherib personally was there, but that his “high ranking” officers (representing him) were allowed of God to rush back “home” and report the great defeat!

God has, historically, once more kept His Word!

“For thus saith the LORD of hosts; he (any enemy) that toucheth you (the Jewish people) toucheth the apple of his (God’s) eye.” Zechariah 2:8, what a promise! Demonstrably true!

“Now the LORD had said unto Abram … I will make of thee a great nation … and I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” Genesis 12:1-3

And Israel yet (again) in the future (ultimately in the Tribulation) will face numerous fierce foes (of which Assyria is merely a foreshadowing) … to remarkably find that God still protects His people!

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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