Where is the fury of the oppressor?

God speaks in Isaiah 51:13 through His servant the prophet to encourage and as well to challenge the children of Israel who were faint-hearted and easily disturbed by the enemies, "And forget the Lord your maker, Who stretched out the heavens And laid the foundations of the earth; You have feared continually everyday because of the fury of the oppressor, When he has prepared to destroy. And where is the fury of the oppressor?" Isaiah also had already given an elaborate description of the evil acts of these oppressors and their coming disaster in Isaiah 29:19-20. Similarly, during the rebuilding of the wall at Jerusalem, the enemies wanted to be forceful participators. Sanballat became unnecessarily furious and indignant about the work (Nehemiah 4:1-3), however, Nehemiah would not allow him to further his evil intention. So, Nehemiah prayed to God because of the disturbance and the threat of the enemies (Nehemiah 4:4-5). Unknown to these wicked people, they failed to realize that they were provoking the God of Israel. In Nehemiah chapter 4 verses 7-8, they raged and conspired to attack the children of Israel rebuilding the wall. Even Shemaiah was hired by Sanballat and Tobiah as a secret informer, but they were all ashamed when the work was successfully completed (Nehemiah 6:10, 15-16). In the same vein, Goliath of Gath brag against the children of Israel for 40 days, vaunting himself and deriding them. Initially, he was feared and the children of Israel hid themselves from him, but when the time of his doom came, it was a young boy, David, whom he referred to as dog who finished him with a sling and a stone, so where is the fury of the oppressor? God also speaks through prophet Zachariah of being a defence and avenger of His children from their oppressors (Zechariah 9:4, 8 &16).

At another time, Sennacherib was a troubler and also an oppressor who challenged God to battle though he thought his threat and rage was against the people of God. Owning to the analysis of his conquest (Isaiah 36:18b-20) which Hezekiah rightly affirms in Isaiah 37:3, 18-20, Sennacherib message to the people of Judah through Rabshakeh was perplexing and disturbing. It was in fact a day of trouble, rebuke and blasphemy because for a desperate enemy to target fortified cities and take them is an indication that he is serious and not joking (Isaiah 36:18b). But unfortunately for him, he had a misconceived idea of the source of help and confidence of the children of Israel, and that results into a great defeat for him. He actually belittled the prowess of their God (Isaiah 36:7-10). He thought that the children of Judah trusted in Egypt, and if not in Egypt, it must be that they depended on God whose altar they have pulled down. Later, he thought it was Hezekiah who will deliver them, but in all, he miscalculated (Isaiah 36:14-15, 18). The enemy always seeks a league, evil alliance, condescension and submission (Isaiah 36:16). But wisdom is profitable to direct says Solomon, the people held their peace as the king had commanded them not to reply him a word. There is really no need to converse with him, "For the king's commandment was, Do not answer him" (Isaiah 36:21). When the enemy starts his babbling, the king's command is "Do not answer him" The children of Judah were quiet but sorrowful, so, King Hezekiah had to report the enemy to prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 37:1-5). And God did not keep them in the dark, He gave a swift response and assured His people victory over their enemy (Isaiah 37:6-7). Despite God's assurance of defending and fighting for His people, Sennacherib sent again the second time to terrify them. He had evil energy to oppose and disturb the peace of the people of God (Isaiah 37:10-13). He wanted to shake their trust and confidence in their unshakable God. And that's the tactics of the devil even today to shake our confidence in the almighty who has promised to deliver.

However, Hezekiah did the most amazing thing, he would not disturb the prophet of God again it is needless to do so though the challenges of this heathen king was overwhelming for him. He went into the sanctuary to seek the face of God concerning it (Isaiah 37:14-20), "God let's read this letter together for it is mind-boggling, see what this mere man wrote against you, though I will not dispute the fact that he has destroyed many, but I believe You are not his match. O God  see this man who has challenged You into a battle, You have to do something and stop his menace (paraphrased). Hezekiah decided to quickly turned the battle to God when he received the second letter from Sennacherib. And God being who He is "The man of war" who delights in fighting for His children whenever the enemy become furious and troublesome. Prophet Isaiah says of Him, "As for our Redeemer, the Lord of hosts is His name. The Holy one of Israel." God immediately acted because the battle has now been handed over to Him (Isaiah 37:21-29). He commanded an angel to destroy 185,000 soldiers to prove to Sennacherib his nothingness (Isaiah 37:36). Because he has lifted his eyes on high against the Holy one of Israel and has reproached the Lord, your disturbance is too much and you must pay dearly for it, so judgment came immediately (Isaiah 37:33-38).

Even the apostles (2 Corinthians 7:5) and Jesus were not exempted. The Pharisees, Sadducees, rulers and chief priests of Jesus's days hated Him, they pestered Him sore and furiously seek every opportunity to get Him. The account in Luke 20:20 clearly reveal their evil scheme, "so they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and authority of the governor." But there is no need to be pretentious, apparently all their evil schemes were known to Jesus (Luke 20:221-23), He voiced out, Why do you test Me? He knew they were subtle, dubious, wicked and cunning, and all their aim was to catch Him. With divine perception, He replied them, and their evil scheme against Him was eventually aborted (verses 24-26). They were clever spies who closely and carefully monitored Him so as to capture Him, they are evil though they feigned themselves to be true but really they were not. According to Luke 14:1-6, "they watched Him closely," they watched to see His actions, dispositions, judgment, decisions and reactions in order to catch Him. They also wanted to restrict Him to healing the sick on every other day except the Sabbath. And it was as if Jesus too loves their trouble, despite their allegation, He repeatedly heal the sick and diseased on the Sabbath. And this sparked more fury and contention from the these spiritual leaders who fume with rage because He continuously upset them by healing the sick on the Sabbath day. They were wrath against their Messiah and Lord though they did not acknowledged His person. When the man with dropsy stood before Him and they watched to see what He will do, He posed a question to the lawyers and Pharisees, "Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath?"  Since that is the bone of contention, but they did not respond.

At another instance, the ruler of the synagogue was poised for action because Jesus healed the sick on the Sabbath. He told His followers to come for their healing any other day apart from Sabbath: "there are six days in which a man can work, so you have to choose and decide on which of those days you will come for your healing and not on the Sabbath. Stop complicating this matter, if you sick folks didn't show up on the Sabbath, there will be no cause for alarm. And since you are the reason for this uproar, be warned and learn to change. As custodian of the Mosaic law, we must see to it that everything is done orderly, so from henceforth there should be no more miracles on the Sabbath" (paraphrased). To them, Jesus was a mere nuisance who wanted to establish Himself and do whatever He wishes (John 9:16, 5:18). But He was actually there teaching on the Sabbath before the infirmed woman was healed (Luke 13:10-14). So, when Jesus responded, they were dumbfounded but His followers rejoiced (Luke 13:15-17). Again, on another Sabbath day (Matthew 12:9-14), after Jesus had healed a man with a withered hand that they went out to plot how to destroy Him. Yet, they could not until when it was His appointed time to die. He continued to do more miracles, He preached, cast out devils, He did all He needed to do. He fulfilled God's eternal purpose for mankind-that is to reconcile men back to God before He was eventually crucified later in chapter 27. And He did not die permanently, but on the third day He arose and He is alive forever Hallelujah!