Like the moon is this picture, God’s ways are often obscured, hazy, unclear; at least when looking at them from our earthly point of view. He even tells us in Isaiah 55
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
I believe this story of Hezekiah’s illness and recovery is one that is beautifully mysterious.
2 King’s 20:1-7
Hezekiah’s Illness and Recovery
In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. 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 and not live.’” 2 Then he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying, 3 “Remember now, O Lord, I beseech You, how I have walked before You in truth and with a whole heart and have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 4 Before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 5 “Return and say to Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of your father David, “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 I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will deliver you and this city from 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 Then Isaiah said, “Take a cake of figs.” And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.
This story has always intrigued me. Imagine being told that you will die and not live. Perhaps some of you don’t need to imagine this, you have already gone through this , or are in the midst of it right now. Perhaps cancer, heart troubles, etc. But to have someone come to me and just say, “That’s it, God says you’re going to die! Your time is up!” I love Hezekiah’s response, “2 Then he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying, “Remember now, O Lord, I beseech You, how I have walked before You in truth and with a whole heart and have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
Hezekiah knew he was completely helpless to do anything about this illness. He knew that Isaiah was a godly prophet and that what he said truly came from the Lord. And yet he didn’t just accept his fate. He prayed a simple prayer of desire through faith. ‘Lord, I want to live, please let me live.” God doesn’t even let Isaiah get out of the palace before he sends him back to Hezekiah telling him that God has heard his prayer and that he will live 15 more years.
Now I’d love to tell you that Hezekiah makes great use of the 15 years, but he doesn’t and he blunders almost immediately after God’s healing. But the point of this post is not Hezekiah’s failure, but his pure and simple prayer of, “Lord, Remember me!” Precious believers, God tells us that we have not because we ask not, and sometimes when we do ask, it’s for selfish reasons. Yet sometimes, we are just helpless before the crisis in our lives, and we need to come humbly before our Father and say, “Lord, Remember me.”
He hears us, He sees us, and He loves us. Come to Him today and cast those heavy burdens upon the only One who can bear them, Our Precious God and Savior. He hears, He sees, He cares, He responds in His Oh, So Mysterious Ways.
hisshadowings.com 