How does 2 Kings 18:25 challenge our understanding of God's sovereignty in events? Setting the Scene • 2 Kings 18 sets Jerusalem under siege by Sennacherib of Assyria. • Rabshakeh, the Assyrian envoy, taunts Hezekiah’s officials, claiming: “Now, was it without the LORD that I have come up against this place to destroy it? The LORD Himself told me, ‘Go up against this land and destroy it.’” (2 Kings 18:25) • His words force us to wrestle with how far God’s sovereign hand extends—even through pagan mouths. The Claim in 2 Kings 18:25 • A pagan spokesman invokes Israel’s God to legitimize invasion. • The statement might be: – An outright lie to demoralize Judah. – A half-truth: Assyria was indeed God’s instrument, but Rabshakeh twisted the purpose. • Either way, it amplifies the question: Does God direct even hostile forces? What We Know about God’s Sovereignty • Scripture consistently teaches that the Lord “works all things according to the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:11). • Yet God never sins nor forces anyone to sin (James 1:13). • He directs history while holding every participant morally accountable. Scriptural Evidence of God Steering Even Unbelievers • Isaiah 10:5-7: “Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger… Yet it is in his heart to destroy.” – God wields Assyria as a tool yet condemns its prideful motives. • 2 Kings 19:25: “Have you not heard? Long ago I ordained it; in days of old I planned it; now I have brought it to pass…” • Proverbs 21:1: “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD like channels of water; He directs it wherever He pleases.” • Acts 4:27-28: Herod, Pilate, and the mob did “whatever Your hand and Your purpose had predestined to occur.” • These passages confirm that God can employ unbelieving rulers without endorsing their arrogance. Balancing Sovereignty and Moral Accountability • God’s decree: Assyria would chasten Judah for covenant unfaithfulness. • Human intent: Assyria sought conquest and self-glory (Isaiah 10:7-13). • Divine outcome: Judah humbled, remnant preserved, Assyria judged (2 Kings 19:35-37). • Lesson: God’s sovereignty never excuses evil; it overrules it for higher purposes (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28). Takeaways for Our Perspective on Events Today • Even when circumstances appear driven by hostile powers, the Lord is neither surprised nor powerless. • Claims that “God told me” must be weighed against revealed Scripture—Rabshakeh’s boast was exposed by Isaiah’s prophecy. • Sovereignty does not eliminate prayerful dependence or righteous action; Hezekiah still sought the Lord, and God delivered (2 Kings 19:1-19). • Our confidence rests in the same sovereign hand that directed Assyria’s rise and fall, ensuring His promises stand firm. |
    |