God-reliance – Moment to Moment (Bible blog)

Who are you relying on?

[Hezekiah] did what was right in the Lord’s sight…Hezekiah relied on the Lord God of Israel…

He remained faithful to the Lord and did not turn from following him but kept the commands the Lord had commanded Moses…

Assyria’s King Sennacherib attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them…

Then the royal spokesman said to them, “Tell Hezekiah this is what the great king, the king of Assyria, says: ‘What are you relying on?'” (2 Kings 18:3, 5-6, 13, 19)

Father, Hezekiah did all the right things, serving you. And yet trouble came.

The enemy came, screaming, “What are you relying on?”

I can identify with Hezekiah, Father.

Sometimes I feel I’m trying to do all the right things, relying on you, being faithful to you, and obeying you.

And yet trouble comes.

Then the Enemy comes and screams at me, “What are you relying on? God?”

Satan would have me question you. His motives are evil. But his question is actually a good one.

What am I relying on? Am I truly relying on you?

It’s so easy to rely on myself, especially when trials come. To rely on my wisdom, my strength.

And maybe through these things I’m going through, you’re reminding me just how much I need you.

Hezekiah had to turn from relying on Egypt to relying on you. (Isaiah 30-31)

Father, help me to turn from relying on myself to relying on you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Humble God-reliance

I see in this passage a remarkable parallel to chapter 1, verses 8-10. In both passages, Paul faced a trial that was too much for him. A trial that overwhelmed him.

In both passages, the lesson was the same: humble God-reliance.

Too often we fool ourselves into thinking we are wise. That we are strong enough to handle whatever may come.

But God never created us to be self-reliant. He created us to be God-reliant.

That’s why he sometimes allows us to face the trials we do. To remind us we’re not as wise or strong as we think we are.

And to bring us back humbly to his feet, hands raised in dependent, childlike trust.

When we do, we find out his grace is sufficient for us. That his power is made perfect in our weakness.

And we can say with Paul,

Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.

So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9b-10)