Section 7

Around the time of the Assyrian crisis, Hezekiah fell gravely ill. The prophet Isaiah came to him with a grim message: "This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover." Upon hearing this, Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed fervently to the Lord, weeping bitterly and reminding God of his faithful service.

Before Isaiah had even left the middle court of the palace, the word of the Lord came to him again, instructing him to return to Hezekiah with a new message. God had heard his prayer and seen his tears, and He would heal him. Hezekiah would be fully recovered in three days and his life would be extended by fifteen years. The Lord also promised to continue protecting Jerusalem from the king of Assyria.

As a sign to confirm this extraordinary promise, God offered Hezekiah a choice. Through Isaiah, He asked if the shadow on the sundial of Ahaz should go forward ten steps or backward ten steps. Hezekiah chose the more difficult sign, asking for the shadow to go backward. The prophet Isaiah called on the Lord, and miraculously, the shadow on the sundial moved backward ten steps, a powerful and visible confirmation of God's promise to heal and preserve the king.