Isaiah 36:4

And Rabshakeh sayd vnto them; Say yee now to Hezekiah; Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria; What confidence is this wherein thou trustest? Isaiah 36:4 (KJV)

Isaiah 36 records a pivotal moment in the reign of King Hezekiah when the Assyrian army, under King Sennacherib and led by commanders such as Rabshakeh, Tartan, and Rabsaris, advanced on Judah. The Assyrians had already subjugated many nations and now threatened Jerusalem itself. Rabshakeh, identified in Scripture as the captain of the body‑guard, delivered a taunting message to Hezekiah, asking, “What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?”

The verse challenges believers to examine the foundation of their confidence. Hezekiah was a godly king who had instituted religious reforms and relied on the Lord for guidance and protection. Yet the looming Assyrian threat tested his faith and the trust of the people. Rabshakeh’s question was designed to undermine that trust by emphasizing the might of the Assyrian king.

In our own lives, we too encounter circumstances that seek to shake our confidence in God. The passage reminds us that true confidence must rest not on personal strength or worldly resources but on the faithfulness and sovereignty of God. When faced with intimidation or apparent overwhelming odds, the appropriate response mirrors Hezekiah’s: seeking the counsel of God’s prophet, turning to prayer, and standing firm in trust.

Hezekiah’s response, recorded in the following verses, shows a leader who turned to the Lord. God answered by delivering Judah—an angel struck down the Assyrian army and Jerusalem was spared (Isaiah 37:36‑37). This deliverance underscores the promise that when we place our confidence in God, He is faithful to protect and rescue us from our enemies.

Overall, Isaiah 36:4 calls us to scrutinize the source of our confidence, to rely on God’s promises amid adversity, and to remain steadfast, trusting that He will act according to His perfect will.