No Help From This World, Chapter Twenty-Four

JERUSALEM'S inhabitants are terrified-and with good reason!  Assyria, the mightiest empire of the day, has attacked "all the fortified cities of Judah and proceeded to seize them."   Now, Assyria's military machine is threatening the capital city of Judah.  (2 Kings 18:13, 17)  What will  King Hezekiah and the rest of Jerusalem's inhabitants do?

Since the other cities of his land have already fallen, Hezekiah knows that Jerusalem is no match for Assyria's powerful military force.  Moreover, the Assyrians have an unparalleled reputation for cruelty and violence.  That nation's army is so fear-inspiring that  opponents sometimes flee without even a fight!  In view off Jerusalem's dire circumstances, where can her inhabitants turn for help?  Is there any escape from the Assyrian army? And how did God's people get into such a situation?  To answer these questions, we have to look back  and see how Jehovah dealt with his covenant nation in earlier years.

Next time: Apostasy in Israel

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, 2000