Scripture Daily

Context No. 3914 of 4322 · 2 Kings

Context · Reflection

2 Kings 20:7-11: in context

7Isaiah said, “Take a cake of figs.” They took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered. 8Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What will be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I will go up to the LORD’s house the third day?” 9Isaiah said, “This will be the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he has spoken: should the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps?” 10Hezekiah answered, “It is a light thing for the shadow to go forward ten steps. No, but let the shadow return backward ten steps.” 11Isaiah the prophet cried to the LORD; and he brought the shadow ten steps backward, by which it had gone down on the sundial of Ahaz.

Hezekiah, recovering from a deadly illness by God's promise, asks for a sign to confirm that God will indeed heal him. And God graciously gives one, an extraordinary one: at Hezekiah's request, the shadow on the sundial goes backward ten steps. God does not rebuke the king for wanting reassurance; he condescends to strengthen his faith with a sign.

There is something tender in this. Hezekiah's faith needed support, and rather than scolding him for it, God met him where he was and gave him what he asked to steady his trust. God is patient with our weak faith. Like Hezekiah, we sometimes need reassurance, and while we are not to demand signs presumptuously, we can take comfort that God is gracious to those whose faith is small and who honestly seek to have it strengthened. He does not despise a trusting heart that asks for help to trust more. The God who turned back the shadow for Hezekiah is gentle with our weakness, and ready to strengthen the faith of those who bring their doubts honestly to him.

When my faith is weak and needs strengthening, do I bring my honest need for reassurance to a God who is gentle with weakness, rather than assuming he despises a trust that asks for help to trust more?

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