“Then Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria at Lachish, saying, “I have done wrong; turn away from me; whatever you impose on me I will pay…” ~ II Kings 18:14
REFERENCE
William Shakespeare said that a coward dies a thousand times before his death, but the valiant taste of death but once. A person who lacks courage suffers the feared effects of death many times, while the valiant person doesn’t think about death until it arrives. This talk is not about dying but about how King Hezekiah showed embarrassing cowardice in capitulating to the Assyrian king.
The Bible records that Hezekiah did what pleased God, yet fear made him distrust God. It is embarrassing when one who hailed for his trust in God talks like Hezekiah did when a man of faith groveled before a man. Where was the confidence, boldness, and courage that comes from trusting in God? Hezekiah loved God but feared man; the king of Assyria sensed that, and so he intimidated Hezekiah with threats. If you can be intimidated, the devil will intimidate you.
Cowardice is a lack of bravery. Hezekiah allowed Assyria’s might, Sennacherib’s boastful words, and his eminent résumé to shake his trust in God. He lacked the inner strength to trust God in uncertain times, so he just gave up; in fact, he did more than give up; he offered Sennacherib anything he wanted. Cowardice almost made Hezekiah sell his nation for free; he gave up all the silver in the treasury and stripped the temple of Solomon of all the gold therein.
As believers, cowardice begins where faith in God dies. If we trust the Lord, we must trust Him still in the face of uncertainties and danger; only then does the beauty of trust shine. A torch’s light is of no value during the day; its intensity is tested when the darkness of night falls. God often told Joshua, “Be bold and be courageous.” Why? Satan likes to intimidate us to stop us.
Jim Hightower said, “The opposite of courage is not cowardice; it is conformity. Even a dead fish can go with the flow.” You are a coward when you find it difficult to resist the temptation to sin, say no to an illicit relationship or filthy riches. It takes courage to stand for holiness and God. Don’t let the Sennacheribs of this world intimidate you; greater is He that is in you.
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL TEXTS:
Joshua 1:6-9,Matthew 14:28-30, and Proverbs 3:5-6
PRAYER
+ Ask that God will teach you how to see difficulties from His perspective and for strength to focus on His power, trusting Him still in the face of uncertainties and danger.
+ Lord, baptize me with a generous dose of courage and boldness so that I will stand for and with You in all the affairs of life.
