Hezekiah was the son of one of the most evil men in history King Ahaz and became one of the few really good, righteous kings of Judea. In his later years he became terminally ill. The prophet Isaiah came and told him he was going to die. This led to Hezekiah pleading with God in prayer for his life. Amazingly, God relented and Hezekiah was given 15 more years to live, Who but God can add even 1 minute to your life? Doctors with the miracles of modern medicine can only do if God allows it. There are a number of lessons to learn from this situation in our Old Testament reading today.

1. Even good people, can suffer from sickness and disease. The Bible says that Hezekiah did what was right in the sight of the Lord. Being righteous does not exempt us from the trials of life. God is sovereign in all his ways and does allow sickness to come to Godly men and woman. The Bible says suffering builds endurance and endurance teaches patience.

   "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts to us in our pains."- C.S. Lewis

2. God's mind can be changed. - Isaiah the great Prophet told Hezekiah he was going to die. Absolute word from the Prophet, who can argue with that - well it seems Hezekiah could. He didn't give up and accept his fate, instead he immediately cried out to God and sincerely begged God for a reprieve and he got one.

3. God answers prayers for Healing - Hezekiah cried out desperately to God for healing. God answers sincere prayers from our hearts. In Hezekiah’s case, his answer came immediately. Isaiah barely walked to the middle of the courts before he had to return to give the prophetic word that God was going to heal Hezekiah. It is the will of God to heal.

   But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our peace fell upon Him, And by His wounds we are healed. -Isaiah 53:5

4. God gives instructions for healing and expects us to follow them. In Hezekiah's case, Isaiah told the King's servants how to make an ointment and how to use it. In our case there are a few instructions the Bible gives to sick Christians. Pray, confess your sins, then call on the Elders (Christians that have walked closely with God for many years) to come and lay hands on you, anoint you with oil and pray for you (James 5:13-15). Also to take communion as the taking of the bread representing Jesus body is for our healing. It is also understood that God can use modern medicine to heal, never limit God’s method of healing. To abstain from medicine like some extreme teaching is not scriptural at all. Just be aware that the instruction from God may actually be something that seems totally unrelated. To heal his leprosy in the Bible, a many named Naaman in 2 Kings was told to wash 7 times in the Jordan river. Many do not receive healing because they ignore the instructions given in God's word.

5. God often uses Signs. God uses the power of your faith to heal, many in the Old Testament particularly were given a sign to strengthen their faith enough that God could then heal them.

The story of Hezekiah is amazing. God answered a specific request for healing after the prophetic word came that he would die. God changed his mind after Hezekiah prayed. Hezekiah went to God on the basis of his righteous life, none of us are righteous on our own today, but if you are in Christ, you have traded your sin for his righteousness. You are righteous before God in Christ. Never neglect praying for the sick.

Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.- James 5:16