The Power of SPREADING
A number of years ago, the world was gripped with fear because of the speed and severity of how the Covid virus was spreading. Up-to-date news and social media reports informed us of the rising curve of infected people as well as the ever-increasing death rate. Reports spread of failing businesses, declining stock prices and limited medical resources. Fear was spreading at an alarming rate.
The strategy of the enemy to spread fear and intimidation through news and events is not new. In 2 Kings 18-20 we read the story of King Hezekiah who was a God-fearing king of Judah. However, Hezekiah was under tremendous pressure to surrender to the king of Assyria, who by that time have captured almost all of Judah, with the exception of Jerusalem.
The King of Assyria made two different attempts to spread fear and intimidate King Hezekiah and his people in order to surrender Jerusalem.
The first was to send messengers to Jerusalem who stood in a public place and spoke intimidating words. Their threatening words were factually correct to some extent, but their intention was to spread fear, doubt and anxiety. They even spoke in the local language used by most Jerusalem residents. Representatives of Hezekiah realised that this might intimidate locals and asked the messengers of Assyria to change their choice of language in order to stop fear spreading amongst the people of Jerusalem (2 Kings 18:26).
The enemies response…to turn to the people of Jerusalem and speak even louder words of fear and intimidation. The same thing happens to us. The enemy knows what “language” to speak to each person to spread fear and to intimidate. For some it’s the fear of dying, for others, the worry about loosing family members or loosing a job or a business. The enemy wants to address the specific area where you might allow fear to grip you and therefore, he wants to speak the language of fear that will intimidate you the most. How are you going to respond to his language of fear?
The second attempt of the King of Assyria was to send a letter to Hezekiah with more factually correct information about the names of all the kings and cities that have been destroyed around Jerusalem (like the daily reports we received during the COVID-19 period of infections and deaths). The letter attempted to make Hezekiah doubt his belief in God to save Jerusalem. The enemy was using information and facts to SPREAD fear and doubt. However, Hezekiah’s response should be our response:
“Hezekiah RECEIVED the letter…and READ it…and went to the house of the Lord, and SPREAD it before the Lord” (2 Kings 19:14).
The King received the news, he read the facts, but then he spread the facts and whatever spirit of fear and intimidation that was attached to it, before His God.
During the Covid epidemic, it was difficult to hide from all the information and news about how this virus was spreading and affecting our communities, nation and the world. We also cannot be irresponsible with our actions. But we can definitely learn that there is a role for us to READ it whatever bad news is presented to us, then SPREAD it before our almighty God. There is power in SPREADING the information, facts and reality not to those around us, but before our powerful King, the one that has the power to stop and intervene. The one that brings peace when all the world wants to spread is fear. The one that brings life, when the enemy wants to spread death through sickness and fear.
Fellow believers of Jesus Christ, let us learn to take note of what’s going on around us, but then to instinctively and faithfully SPREAD it before our King, who is mighty to save.
