In the 37th chapter of Isaiah—you should read it—we find the amazing story of Sennacherib, the powerful king of the brutal Assyrians, who came against Judah in the eighth century B.C.

Sennacherib himself was arrogant and boastful. Hezekiah, king of Judea, realized that his people had brought potential destruction on their own heads due to their pagan worship. He appealed to the Lord of the universe, whom he still knew, to intervene and save them. Sennacherib was laying seige to Jerusalem.

The Lord, through the prophet Isaiah, said that He would indeed save the people of Judea. He told Hezekiah what was going to happen (the hallmark of Bible prophecy, which proves that the Bible is self-authenticating!): Sennacherib would not be allowed to capture Jerusalem; in fact, he would turn around and go back home the way he had come.

History affirms this account. Sennacherib himself, of course, wrote that he had “shut up Hezekiah” like a “bird in a cage.” Isn’t it fascinating how we write history? It’s all a matter of perspective!

The point is, repeatedly, God has promised to preserve the Jewish people and not allow them to be entirely wiped-out. Today, the Assyrian empire is gone; Israel remains.

As I write this, it is 11:45 a.m., CST, and Israel is still alive.

Assyria is gone.

Does that speak to you in any way? Have you given the Bible a chance, or have you heard it is full of myth and contradictions?