A Prayer In the Impossible (Isaiah 36-38)

 

Sometimes something just hits you. Or maybe it’s more like the surprise of the sunrise that suddenly bursts over the horizon. At other times, that something comes along like a well-flavored chili that has sat in the refrigerator for three days, slowly permeating the sauce and meat with seasoning. Well, as I was reading my Bible this morning, a story I’ve read many times gave me courage to pray for some very difficult situations with a bit of refreshed hope. 

First, I need to quickly explain the story, and then I will move to the prayer. 

In the Hebrew Scriptures there is a story told three times by three different authors (2 Kings 18-20; 2 Chronicles 32; Isaiah 36-39), which alerts us to its deep significance. It’s the tale of Hezekiah, king of Judah. In the Isaiah account, comes the king of Assyria, plowing up nations, demolishing countries, and defeating enemies. He has effectively shut down God’s people, toppling many cities and towns in Judah and has laid siege to Jerusalem. Things look bad as the king of Assyria taunts Hezekiah, and Hezekiah’s God. But twice, in Isaiah 36-37, Yahweh promises he will rescue his people in a most surprising way – defeat Assyria without warfare or weapons! And so, it happens. Then you flip over to Isaiah 38, and you find out Hezekiah was deathly ill during this time. The prophet came to Hezekiah and told him to get his house in order because he was going to die. Hezekiah prays, and Yahweh restores his health, with another promise that he will deliver his people from the king of Assyria. 

In this story, there is a lot of prayer going on in the impossible! Life-taking disease, loss of livelihood, crushing oppression of a tyrant, hunger and decimation that comes from sieges, captivity, etc. Yet, Hezekiah and Isaiah are found praying in the impossible, and God does the impossible! 

This led me to pray in the face of the impossible. I know people whose marriages have not only disintegrated but have turned into conflagration and combat. It’s impossible. I know of other marriages that are quietly unraveling. It’s impossible. I know of abusive men tyrannizing their wives and children and there’s no one to step in and help. Impossible. I know of people who have been given the dreaded “With this disease, you only have so much time to live.” Impossible. There’s more, and they’re all impossible! I’m sure you know of these kinds of situations and others. And so, this prayer is a prayer in the impossible. 

LORD, who can turn Hezekiah’s deadly disease – this impossible condition – out the door and restore life where only death presided; who can send the powerful and destructive and dominating and predatorial king of Assyria packing with his braggadocios tail between his legs and restore welfare and peace to your people; it is to you we pray. I beg you for these who are in impossible situations (here, I piled in names of people and families and churches and their impossible circumstances …), may they see you drive out these intolerable, intractable conditions and situations. May they see you defeat the enemy and bring about the good that presently seems unthinkable and unviable. And so, may they sing your praises with Hezekiah,

               “Behold, it was for my welfare

                              that I had great bitterness;

               but in love you have delivered my life

                              from the pit of destruction,

               for you have cast all my sins

                              behind your back” (Isaiah 38:17).

O Lord, hear our prayer, and let our cry come to you! In the name of the One who did the impossible, and walked out of the grave on the third day, body, blood, bones, toenails, and hair, never again subject to mortality or misery. Amen. 

Join me in praying in the impossible. 

Mike