the midst of the sea.—Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians.[1]
Go forward, now, to an after age, and behold the same Almighty Hand delivering the city Jerusalem from a great army which was marching against it. Byron has taken the incident for the subject of one of his loftiest poems, "The Destruction of Sennacherib." The same narrative shows, moreover, in a striking manner, the power of prayer, and pictures God as a listener to earnest prayer,—thus showing His interest in human affairs, and His omnipresence as well as His omnipotence. Sennacherib, king of Assyria, had sent a message to Hezekiah the king of Judah, that he was on his way with an army to take Jerusalem, and calling upon him to yield at once. The narrative thus proceeds: "And Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed unto the Lord, saying, Lord of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth. Incline thine ear, O Lord, and hear: open thine eyes, Lord, and see: and hear all the words of Sennacherib, who hath sent to reproach the living God.—Now, therefore, Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the Lord, even thou only." Observe, now, the prompt answer to this prayer. "Then Isaiah, the son of Amoz sent unto Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel: Whereas thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib,
- ↑ Exodus xiv. 24—30.
