Connect Isaiah 37:34 with another instance of divine deliverance in Scripture. Setting the Scene • Judah is cornered: Assyria surrounds Jerusalem (Isaiah 37). • Israel was cornered before: Egypt pursued them to the Red Sea (Exodus 14). • In both moments, God speaks a word of absolute protection before a single arrow flies or a single chariot advances. Isaiah 37:34—The Promise “By the way that he came he will return, and he will not enter this city, declares the LORD.” • No breach of Jerusalem’s walls. • The invader leaves the same road he marched in on—defeated, humiliated, empty-handed. • God’s word alone secures the city before the army ever departs. Exodus 14:13–14—A Matching Deliverance “But Moses told the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s salvation, which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.’” • The people stand trapped between sea and swords. • God declares deliverance before the first wave parts. • The enemy Israel feared that morning is gone by evening (Exodus 14:30). Shared Themes of Divine Intervention • God’s Word precedes God’s Work – Isaiah 37:34: promise spoken, then the angel strikes (Isaiah 37:36). – Exodus 14:13–14: promise spoken, then the sea divides (Exodus 14:21–22). • Enemy Neutralized Without Human Battle – Jerusalem’s soldiers never draw swords. – Israel never charges Pharaoh’s army. • Route of Retreat Mirrors Route of Advance – Assyria returns “by the way that he came.” – Egyptians enter the seabed on dry ground, retreat under collapsing walls of water. • Glory Reserved for the LORD Alone – Isaiah 37:20; Exodus 14:31: both accounts end with God exalted and His people strengthened in faith. Lessons for Today • God’s promises are not probabilities; they are certainties sealed by His character (Numbers 23:19). • He specializes in “no-way-out” moments, so that faith rests on Him, not strategy (2 Chronicles 20:12). • When God says the enemy will not breach the wall or survive the sea, believers can stand still, confident that the battle is His (Psalm 46:10–11). |
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