Isaiah 36

 Outline:

The enemy of God’s king and His people is powerful, deceptive and arrogant. 

Jesus, God’s king, displays His power by saving through weakness, humility and truth. 

Home Group Questions:

We read in 2 Chronicles 32 that Sennacherib invaded Judah after Hezekiah's religious reforms and faithfulness. What does this teach us about the relationship between faithfulness and ease of life? Why is it dangerous for leaders to teach, and for believers to expect, that life will be easy because of good works or religious activity? Why do you think God allows believers to suffer or experience attacks from the enemy even when they are faithfully serving him? 

Judah sought help from an old enemy, Egypt, who had once enslaved and oppressed them. In what ways might believers return to the "Egypts" of their own lives? What might cause people to do so? What are some good strategies to prevent that from happening? 

Rabshakeh's strategy was to make the people of Judah doubt their king's words and God's goodness. How does Satan use similar tactics today to make believers doubt God's goodness, God's Word, or God's ability to save? Which of these tactics do you find most effective in your own life? 

Rabshakeh spoke with great confidence, even though he completely misunderstood God. Why can confidence be so persuasive even when it is wrong? How can Christians prepare themselves so they are not shaken when confident voices in our culture challenge the truth of God's Word? 

Through Rabshakeh, God made Judah aware of their weakness. Why do you think God wanted Judah to recognise this? Judah's apparent weakness against Assyria points to the pattern later fulfilled at the cross, where God's power is displayed through weakness. Where in your own life might God be asking you to trust him in your weakness rather than looking for worldly strength or a quick way out?