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Hezekiah had been one of the very best kings of Judah/Israel. Yet he suddenly became ill, and when Isaiah
arrived, he wasted no time in telling Hezekiah that he was about to die.
Turning away from everything and everyone around him and turning to the
Lord, Hezekiah prayed, asking that God remember His covenant of protection of
the Davidic line. Isaiah received new
words from God and returned to tell Hezekiah that God had heard his prayers and seen
his tears. His sickness would not result in death. In fact, he’d live 15 more years and even be back
worshiping in the Temple in 3 days! That’s
when Hezekiah asked for a sign and God graciously provided a miraculous
one. The shadow on the sundial regressed 10 degrees! Whether God reversed time, moving everything
in the universe back to where it had been a short time before, or whether he
simply moved the earth and sun (easy for Him!), the miracle is still amazing!
My commentary did note that Hezekiah’s main stumbling block
was pride. When messengers from the king of the rising
nation of Babylon showed up with gifts and get-well cards, that pride kicked
in, and he took the messengers on a backstage tour, showing them all of his
great wealth. Of course, the messengers
were also doing reconnaissance work for a future invasion, but Hezekiah in his
pride totally missed that! As soon as
they left, Isaiah told Hezekiah what a mistake he’d made. Accepting his own stupidity and sin, Hezekiah
agreed with God’s will and didn’t
try to change it. He’d been incredibly
blessed during his reign and had been granted 15 additional years of life, and
he willingly accepted God’s judgment.
Father, pride does seem to be the parent sin of all other
sins, and it gives us a feeling of false security. Satan uses it in us to rob You of the glory
that is Yours alone. Please keep it at
bay in my own life. Help me to always
remember that all I have comes solely from You in Your grace. Don’t let me ever presume to steal Your
glory.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
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