This chapter gives us a lesson on how the enemy uses fear against us. Now we need to remember the situation. Hezekiah had done many good things, like removing idols (2 Kings 18:4), and re-instituting proper worship (2 Chronicles 29-31). He was now making preparations to resist the invasion (2 Chron 32). In the past Judah had made overtures to Assyria, and had sought help from Egypt.
All of us are a mixture of good and bad. When we make a decision to repent and turn to do things God's way, it is still true that we have done wrong things in the past. The enemy will use this to sow doubt into our mind. Here Assyria reminds them that they have sought help from Egypt. Assyria mocks at this. Note that they were right to do so, for Egypt would be of no help at all. Some of the things the enemy accuses us of, or ways in which he seeks to put fear in our hearts will contain an element of truth.
Then he turns to the good things that Hezekiah had done (getting rid of the idols). He mocks him, saying how will God help them now. So the enemy will accuse us for the wrong we have done, and for the good we he have done. When we give up depending on something that God has told us to get rid of we can feel vulnerable for a time. The enemy will feed upon this vulnerability.
We need to recognise the strategies that the enemy uses, for fear is a nasty game, and things will not be pleasant. We will continue this analysis of his fear strategy tomorrow.
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