God Will Put A Hook In The Nose Of The Enemy
Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah: "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I have heard your prayer concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria. This is the word that the LORD has spoken against him:
'Virgin Daughter of Zion despises you and mocks you.
Daughter of Jerusalem tosses her head as you flee.
Who is it you have ridiculed and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel! . . .
" ‘But I know where you are and when you come and go and how you rage against me.
Because you rage against me and because your insolence has reached my ears, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth, and I will make you return by the way you came.' "
. . . That night the angel of the LORD went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning -- there were all the dead bodies! So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there.
One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisrok, his sons Adrammelek and Sharezer killed him with the sword, and they escaped to the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son succeeded him as king. 2 Kings 19:20-37
'Virgin Daughter of Zion despises you and mocks you.
Daughter of Jerusalem tosses her head as you flee.
Who is it you have ridiculed and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel! . . .
" ‘But I know where you are and when you come and go and how you rage against me.
Because you rage against me and because your insolence has reached my ears, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth, and I will make you return by the way you came.' "
. . . That night the angel of the LORD went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning -- there were all the dead bodies! So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there.
One day, while he was worshiping in the temple of his god Nisrok, his sons Adrammelek and Sharezer killed him with the sword, and they escaped to the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son succeeded him as king. 2 Kings 19:20-37
Sometimes we wonder whether God actually pays attention to the tauntings of our opponents. There are times when God's children find themselves in very difficult situations, especially at work, situations that have turned rather challenging. So they go to work every day and face ridicule, opposition and outright hostility from people who simply do not wish them well on the job.
Sometimes, even marital or family relationships can deteriorate due to differences over principle or even some form of unfaithfulness in the relationship. Under those circumstances, a faithful child of God can come under severe ridicule, hostility and daily taunts. It can even happen in the ministry. The question is: What does God have to say when His faithful child is undergoing such pain and suffering? How long will the Enemy be allowed to ridicule and taunt? Will God intervene and at what point in time? The truth is: If you are walking faithfully with God, then the ridicule is against God, not you!
That was the situation faced by Hezekiah. He was severely ridiculed by the king of Assyria; but God had a plan in place all along. God made it clear that the Assyrian king had not been taunting Hezekiah but God Almighty Himself. God delivered judgment, "But I know where you are and when you come and go and how you rage against me . . . your insolence has reached my ears. I will put my hook in your nose . . . and I will make you return by the way you came." In one night, God put to death 185,000 Assyrian soldiers and the king of Assyria ended up being killed by his own children who plotted against him.
Being at the receiving end of taunts and ridicules is never easy. But stay strong and continue to look up to Jesus. God has the power to put a hook in the nose of the Enemy and send him back where he came from. God can put to death the forces of the enemy and wipe them out in one night. God is all powerful. Take heart and continue to look up to Him!
Sometimes, even marital or family relationships can deteriorate due to differences over principle or even some form of unfaithfulness in the relationship. Under those circumstances, a faithful child of God can come under severe ridicule, hostility and daily taunts. It can even happen in the ministry. The question is: What does God have to say when His faithful child is undergoing such pain and suffering? How long will the Enemy be allowed to ridicule and taunt? Will God intervene and at what point in time? The truth is: If you are walking faithfully with God, then the ridicule is against God, not you!
That was the situation faced by Hezekiah. He was severely ridiculed by the king of Assyria; but God had a plan in place all along. God made it clear that the Assyrian king had not been taunting Hezekiah but God Almighty Himself. God delivered judgment, "But I know where you are and when you come and go and how you rage against me . . . your insolence has reached my ears. I will put my hook in your nose . . . and I will make you return by the way you came." In one night, God put to death 185,000 Assyrian soldiers and the king of Assyria ended up being killed by his own children who plotted against him.
Being at the receiving end of taunts and ridicules is never easy. But stay strong and continue to look up to Jesus. God has the power to put a hook in the nose of the Enemy and send him back where he came from. God can put to death the forces of the enemy and wipe them out in one night. God is all powerful. Take heart and continue to look up to Him!
Prayer: Father, I know that you are all powerful and you can crush every opposition I face in an instant. Please help me to steadfastly look up to you as you work things out to bring glory to your name. Amen.