2 Chronicles 32:20,21 – “Now because of this King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, prayed and cried out to heaven. Then the Lord sent an angel who cut down every mighty man of valor, leader, and captain in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned shamefaced to his own land. And when he had gone into the temple of his god, some of his own offspring struck him down with the sword there.”
Today’s One Year Bible reading, both Old Testament and New Testament (Romans 15:30,31), contain passages that reveal the power of prayer. Sennacherib king of Assyria had threatened to overthrow Hezekiah and the kingdom of Judah. He insulted the Lord by suggesting His inability to deliver Judah from his hand. Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah “prayed and cried out to heaven” and a mighty miraculous intervention took place. “The Lord sent an angel.” What (or who) might God send from heaven if we would cry out to Him?
Another example of the power of prayer is in 2 Chronicles 32:24 – “In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death, and he prayed to the Lord; and He spoke to him and gave him a sign.” Prayer delivered a sick and dying king and gave him a second chance on life. How many of us have been near death’s door but prayer was offered and we escaped the grave? We must pray when the situation is desperate!
In 2 Chronicles 33 Hezekiah’s son Manasseh did much evil in the sight of the Lord. God sent the Assyrians who took Manasseh captive. Look at what happened in verses 12 and 13: “Now when he (Manasseh) was in affliction, he implored the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed to Him; and He received his entreaty, heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.” Another version says that Manasseh’s prayer moved God. And herein is the key dear friend: when other things do not move God, prayer will! Think of it! Manasseh was a wicked king but God heard his prayer. How much more He hear the prayer of His people!