After the LORD sent an angel to kill 180,000 Assyrian soldiers that had threatened Jerusalem; King Sennacherib of Assyria went back to Nineveh, where his sons killed him with swords and then they fled to Ararat. Shortly thereafter, King Hezekiah became gravely ill. The Prophet Isaiah visited the king with a message from the LORD, “Put your affairs in order because you are going to die. You will not recover.” Then Isaiah left the King.
2 Kings 20:1 ESV In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, "Thus says the LORD, 'Set your house in order, for you shall die; you shall not recover.'"
Hezekiah immediately turned his face to the wall and began to pray earnestly, reminding the LORD that he had been loyal and faithful to the LORD serving Him with singleness of mind.” He wept bitterly.
2 Kings 20:2-3 ESV Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, saying, (3) "Now, O LORD, please remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
Before Isaiah had even left the king’s courtyard, the LORD sent him back to Hezekiah with a message that the LORD heard his prayer and in three days he would be healed and live for fifteen more years. Then Isaiah laid a cake of figs on the boil that had caused the illness and he recovered.
2 Kings 20:4-7 ESV And before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him: (5) "Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the leader of my people, Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD, (6) and I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David's sake." (7) And Isaiah said, "Bring a cake of figs. And let them take and lay it on the boil, that he may recover."
Hezekiah asked Isaiah to give him a sign that in three days he would go up to the temple and that the LORD was going to give him fifteen more years of life. Isaiah gave him the choice of either having the shadow go forward ten steps or back ten steps. He chose to have the shadow go back ten steps and the LORD performed it. The entire universe had to go in reverse for the sun of our solar system to reverse the shadow on the steps. God reversed time for Hezekiah.
God is willing to go to such great lengths for us today just as He did thousands of years ago for Hezekiah. All things are possible with God. We should never give up on any circumstance or illness. We never know when our persistence in prayer will be answered. King Hezekiah did live fifteen more years more.
Prayer: LORD God Almighty, you love us as your children and you give us so many blessings. Thank you LORD. Lead us in your will and help us to be faithful, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment