Isaiah 36-38: The Zeal of the Lord

These chapters tell of the fate that comes to those who doubt God and those who trust Him.  Sennacherib thought he was so smart.  He had already attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and held Jerusalem under siege.  He was sure Hezekiah and his God were no match against his cunning and the strength of his army.  If he didn't sway the Israelites with his words of strength, he would sway them with his promise of a land flowing with bread and wine.

Then the commander stood and called out in Hebrew, "Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria! This is what the king says: Do not let Hezekiah deceive you. He cannot deliver you! Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the LORD when he says, 'The LORD will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.'

"Do not listen to Hezekiah. This is what the king of Assyria says: Make peace with me and come out to me. Then every one of you will eat from his own vine and fig tree and drink water from his own cistern, until I come and take you to a land like your own—a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards. - Is. 36:13-17 NIV

But Sennacherib had not counted on the 'Zeal of the Lord.' and his promise as spoken by the Prophet Isaiah.

"This will be the sign for you, O Hezekiah:
"This year you will eat what grows by itself,
and the second year what springs from that.
But in the third year sow and reap,
plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
Once more a remnant of the house of Judah
will take root below and bear fruit above.
For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant,
and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors
The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. - Is. 36: 30-32 NIV

Not only would Sennacherib be defeated, but Jerusalem would produce the very crops he promised he would give them.  Hezekiah and the rest of the Israelites holed up in Jerusalem recognized the difference between threats without any substance and the Zeal of the Lord.  Only the Zeal of the Lord can accomplish the impossible.