Setting: The reign of Hezekiah (715-686 BC), king of Judah, who did “right in the eyes of the LORD”.

Massive Problem: Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, attacked and captured all the fortified cities of Judah (2 Kings 18:13).

1^st Attempt to Solve Problem: Hezekiah paid the silver and gold Sennacherib demanded (2 Kings 18:14-16).

Result: The Assyrian army advanced to Jerusalem.

2^nd Attempt to Solve Problem: Hezekiah sent for advice from the prophet Isaiah.

Result: Encouragement from Isaiah: “Do not be afraid of what you have heard . . . Listen! I am going to put such a spirit in [Sennacherib] that when he hears a certain report, he will return to his own country, and there I will have him cut down with the sword” (2 Kings 19:6-7).

Result: More threats from Sennacherib.

3rd Attempt to Solve Problem: “[Hezekiah] went up to the temple of the LORD and spread [the letter] out before the LORD. And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD” (2 King 19: 14-15a).

Result: Isaiah messaged Hezekiah that God would defend and save the city. “That night the angel of the LORD went out and put to death 185,000 men in the Assyrian camp” causing Sennacherib to withdraw and return home (2 Kings 19:35-36).

Wow, talk about an answer bigger than we could hope or imagine! That’s how our God works!

So many lessons to learn from Hezekiah. When we are feeling overwhelmed, we can turn to God and His Word to find encouragement. And God is attentive to our prayers when we lay it all out before Him, even when our problem seems massive.

Hear God speak: “I am the LORD, the God of all people. Nothing is too difficult for me” (Jeremiah 32:27 GNT).