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Do Not Answer Him, But Present it to God
A fascinating story unfolds in Isaiah 36, where a messenger of the Assyrian king, Sennacherib, taunts the men of Judah. He vividly describes the king’s plans to destroy Judah and displace its people. The taunts include a mocking offer: if Judah could produce 2,000 horsemen, the Assyrians would provide 2,000 horses from their arsenal to aid Judah’s defense (Isaiah 36:8). When the diplomats of Judah pleaded with the Assyrian emissaries to speak in Aramaic instead of Hebrew — so the public wouldn’t hear and panic — the emissaries ignored their plea and continued their threats in Hebrew (Isaiah 36:11–12).
Amid this dire situation, the Bible records a remarkable response from the Judean diplomats and their people.
“But they held their peace and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, ‘Do not answer him.’”— Isaiah 36:21 (NKJV).
They held their peace and did not respond — a profound display of discipline. Considering Judah’s dire state at the time, this restraint is even more admirable. Assyria was a nation more than ten times larger than Judah, with a massive and victorious army. In contrast, Judah was weakened, her glory days long gone. Yet, despite their overwhelming fear, the people obeyed their king’s command, holding their peace in silence (Isaiah 36:22).
This narrative resonates deeply with our experiences today. Like the Judeans, we often face overwhelming challenges — whether economic struggles, health scares, daunting deadlines, or ambitious goals. These challenges act as modern-day “Assyrian armies,” threatening to expose our frailties and shake our faith.
But why did the Assyrians resort to such elaborate threats instead of immediately invading and conquering Judah?
This “bragging fest” — much like Goliath’s tactics — reveals a strategy to instill fear and doubt. Often, the enemy or our circumstances recognize our innate capacity and the divine power within us better than we do. Their first strategy is to weaken our resolve, for in doubting, we lower our defenses, inadvertently aiding the enemy’s cause.
So, what should be our response?
Isaiah 37:14–16 offers a powerful answer;
And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord and spread it before the Lord. Then Hezekiah prayed to the Lord, saying: ‘O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.’ (NKJV).
We should follow King Hezekiah’s example: Present the matter to God. Proverbs 3:6 reminds us to acknowledge Him in all our ways, promising that He will direct our paths. When we surrender control to God, we allow Him — who knows all and can influence all — to lead us to glory.
Often, we want to control every aspect of our lives. But where does that lead, especially when our understanding is so limited? Why not cede control to the One whose wisdom is infinite? When we engage the divine protocol of prayer, we invite God to act on our behalf, transforming situations beyond what we could imagine.
This approach worked for the Judeans. The Bible recounts the supernatural defeat of the Assyrians (Isaiah 37:36–38), a testament to God’s power and faithfulness. The same God who delivered Judah is alive today and remains your Father, loving you with an everlasting love.
Instead of aiding unpleasant situations or empowering the enemy with fearful reactions, let us hold our peace and take everything to God in prayer. When we do this, we position ourselves to experience divine intervention and supernatural victory.
Your testimony will be next as you engage this divine protocol. Trust God and watch Him turn your challenges into triumphs.
Shalom,
Nonso Orji
Instagram/X(Twitter): @nonso_orji
Push Buttons is a weekly devotional of The Powerpoint Tribe.
