Then Rabshakeh said to them, “Say now to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria, “What is this confidence that you have?
— 2 Kings 18:19
This is a fascinating and pointed taunt directed by the king of Assyria toward the king of Judah. And when you examine this mockery carefully, you find a question embedded within it that all of us need to slow down and ask ourselves seriously.
After mocking Hezekiah in various ways, the Assyrian commander zeros in on one simple question: what is this confidence that you have?
A Question Worth Taking Seriously
The Assyrian king knew what the Jews believed. He knew they trusted in one God — the Creator of the universe, the God who had delivered them from slavery in Egypt and brought them into the land they now occupied. And he also came with an impressive record of his own. He had defeated nation after nation. In the thinking of ancient military culture, a king’s victories were proof that his gods were stronger than the gods of those he had conquered. The Assyrians had an unbroken streak — and they were using it as a taunt.
The commander pressed the question further:
Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war? In whom do you now trust, that you have rebelled against me?
— 2 Kings 18:20
In whom do you trust? This is the question that cuts to the heart of everything.
The Enemies We Face
When we are facing trials, temptations, adversaries, and enemies, this is the question we need to put to ourselves honestly. Scripture leaves no doubt that we are surrounded by enemies throughout our Christian walk.
Peter writes:
Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
— 1 Peter 5:8
And Jesus declared:
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.
— John 10:10
The Reformers helpfully categorised the enemies of the Christian into three groups — the world, the flesh, and the devil. At every point in the Christian walk, these three are looking to bring us down. And just like the king of Assyria, the enemy will come and ask us the very same question: in whom do you trust?
He will come with a long resume of his conquests. He will show us the list of nations he has taken down, the churches he has torn apart, the men and women of faith he has managed to destroy. He will point to people known for their resilience who eventually fell. And then, like Rabshakeh standing before the walls of Jerusalem, he will look us in the eye and ask — who exactly do you think you are? Do you really believe that the one you trust is able to keep you against this?
Upon Whom Have You Placed Your Trust?
This is the moment that reveals everything — where have we actually placed our faith? If our confidence rests in our own strength, our own track record, or our own resilience, then we have no answer to give. We do not stand a chance against this enemy on our own strength. His resume is too long.
But if we have placed our faith in Christ — that changes everything.
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
— 1 John 5:4-5But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
— Romans 8:37
I Know Whom I Have Trusted
May we be like Paul when the enemy comes and asks upon whom we have placed our confidence. May we be able to stand up and say with the same settled certainty that Paul expressed to Timothy:
For I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.
— 2 Timothy 1:12
Amen.
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