Isaiah 35, 36

     How do you respond to the arrogant blasphemous pride of the world? That's a tough question, and the world's disdain and false ideologies take many shapes and forms. But in this particular case Rabshakeh throws the one and only true God of the universe in a useless category with other non existent gods. He elevates the King of Assyria over Jehovah. Ultimately it's the same as the world today that elevates money, or Allah, or "tolerance", or science (I could go on and on) over our great God.  In times like these your response absolutely matters. We live in a culture that is getting increasingly blasphemous about our Savior and our Lord. Sometimes we should stand up and say something. Other times it's wise to recognize that a response like verse 21,22 is called for...
      
     "But they were silent and answered him not a word , for the king's command was, "Do not answer him."....Then Eliakim...and Shebna...came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn..."

    There are times when the best answer to blasphemy is a disdainful silence, and this seems to have been such a time. Any type of reproof would have fallen before deaf ears. There are other times when we should speak up. Perhaps when a person isn't so high on pride, or when there is actually a legitimate teaching opportunity. But this silence in the face of such a arrogant pronouncement gives the equally good reply that, "God is so beyond your little plan that you don't even deserve a response."

     Eliakim and Shebna didn't know exactly what was going on, but history would show that even at this moment, God was in control of this entire situation. The result? Rabshakeh would not be successful, and that's putting it nicely.  I know, shocker. 

     We serve the all powerful all mighty God of the universe, He doesn't need our defense. There will be times when we face this kind of blasphemy, and our response can either show God's grace and holiness or it can misrepresent him. Pray for His strength to have the right response, because you never know when you're going to need it.