Sinking Sand – When Our Pursuit Blinds Us • Sacrificing Others for our Own Goals | Hezekiah’s Wall

This Bible teaching from Founded in Truth Fellowship, likely delivered by Matthew Vander Els, explores the complex story of King Hezekiah of Judah during the Assyrian invasion in the 8th century BCE. While the books of Kings and Chronicles largely portray Hezekiah as a good king who had faith in God and did what was right in the Lord’s sight, similar to his ancestor David, the prophet Isaiah offers a contrasting perspective. This teaching delves into the nuances of Hezekiah’s actions, examining how even seemingly righteous endeavors can be tainted by pride and a lack of complete reliance on God, ultimately leading to potential spiritual pitfalls and the neglect of others.

The narrative begins by establishing the historical context of ancient Israel’s division into the northern kingdom (Israel) and the southern kingdom (Judah). As the mighty Assyrian Empire rose to power, it invaded and conquered the northern kingdom, exiling its inhabitants. During this time, Hezekiah reigned over Judah and is credited with several significant actions in preparation for a potential Assyrian attack led by King Sennacherib. Recognizing the imminent threat after Sennacherib’s conquest of Lachish, a prized city in Judah, Hezekiah took proactive steps to fortify Jerusalem.

One of Hezekiah’s most notable achievements was the construction of a tunnel to reroute the water from the Gihon Spring, which was outside the city walls, into the city itself. This engineering marvel, known as the Tunnel of Siloam or Hezekiah’s Tunnel, ensured that Jerusalem would have a sustainable water supply during a siege, while denying it to the Assyrian forces. Archaeological evidence, including Hebrew carvings discovered in the tunnel dating back to the 8th century BCE, corroborates this biblical account. Furthermore, Hezekiah is also credited with building a second significant defensive structure known as the Broad Wall to encompass the expanded residential areas of Jerusalem, which had likely grown due to refugees fleeing the northern kingdom. This massive wall, estimated to be around 25 feet tall and 22 feet wide, was another testament to Hezekiah’s efforts to protect his people.

However, the teaching highlights a crucial counter-narrative presented by the prophet Isaiah. While Hezekiah’s preparations seemed prudent and even commendable from a strategic standpoint, Isaiah’s prophecies reveal a deeper spiritual issue. According to Isaiah, the people of Jerusalem, including their leadership and perhaps even Hezekiah himself, were placing their faith in their own preparations – the walls, the water supply, and the weapons – rather than in God. Isaiah points out that they built reservoirs and fortified the city but did not look to the one who made the water or planned the city long ago. Instead of humbling themselves and seeking God’s intervention with repentance and dependence, they were filled with nationalistic pride and a false sense of security based on their own efforts.

The speaker draws a parallel between this historical account and the human tendency to experience confirmation bias or conscious dissonance, where individuals ignore obvious truths or details because they desperately want something to be true. This is illustrated through a personal anecdote about impulsively buying a “mini limited edition” pillow fighter on eBay, despite the description clearly stating it was “mini.” The desire to recapture a piece of childhood nostalgia blinded the speaker to the reality of the purchase. Similarly, Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem were so focused on their tangible preparations for war that they seemingly overlooked their spiritual posture and their relationship with God.

Isaiah’s condemnation extends to the joy and revelry within Jerusalem at a time when they should have been weeping and wailing in repentance. Their focus on their own strength and resources led them to disregard the true source of their safety and provision. Even Hezekiah’s initial attempt to pay tribute to the Assyrian king and his subsequent showing off of Jerusalem’s treasures to envoys from Babylon are presented as evidence of his misplaced pride and reliance on worldly solutions rather than on God. The teaching also notes the potential cost of Hezekiah’s preparations, suggesting that the Broad Wall may have been built on top of people’s homes, prioritizing security over the well-being of the city’s residents.

The story concludes with God miraculously delivering Jerusalem from the Assyrian army without a siege, highlighting that it was God’s intervention, not solely Hezekiah’s defenses, that saved the city. However, the underlying spiritual issue of pride and self-reliance remained, ultimately contributing to the future destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon, the very empire whose envoys Hezekiah had proudly shown his treasures to.

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Application for Everyday Life

• Be mindful of where your true reliance lies. Are you primarily trusting in your own abilities, resources, or strategies, or are you genuinely dependent on God in all circumstances?
• Guard against nationalistic or personal pride becoming a substitute for faith. Pride in your nation, your achievements, or your possessions can blind you to your need for God and can lead to the neglect of others.
• Practice humility and repentance, especially during times of difficulty or uncertainty. Instead of solely focusing on outward solutions, turn to God in prayer and seek His guidance and mercy.
• Be careful not to tell God what He expects of you or how He should act. Focus on understanding and obeying His commands rather than projecting your own desires onto Him.
• Examine your motivations behind your pursuits and goals. Are you potentially sacrificing the well-being or needs of others in your quest to achieve what you desire?
• Avoid “confirmation bias” in your spiritual life. Be willing to acknowledge uncomfortable truths and examine your beliefs critically, even if they challenge what you want to believe.
• Remember that true security and provision come from God, not from earthly defenses or material possessions. Focus on building your faith on the solid rock of Jesus Christ rather than the sinking sand of self-reliance.
• Engage with the world with love, grace, and mercy, reflecting the character of God. Avoid building metaphorical “walls” that isolate you from others or prevent you from showing compassion.

References

• 2 Chronicles 29
• 2 Chronicles 32:2
• 2 Kings 18
• 2 Kings 20:16
• Isaiah 22
• Matthew 7:21
• Jonah 3

Resources

• 2 Chronicles 29 – Biblehub.com
• 2 Chronicles 32:2 – Biblehub.com
• 2 Kings 18 – Biblehub.com
• 2 Kings 20:16 – Biblehub.com
• Isaiah 22 – Biblehub.com
• Matthew 7:21 – Biblehub.com
• Jonah 3 – Biblehub.com
• The Bible