Add Fifteen – Isaiah 38:1

Wake Up Call

If you had a death sentence, how would you react – passive or aggressive? There is a man in the Bible who fought aggressively against his imminent death and he got an extension of fifteen extra years. King Hezekiah was sick and near death and a prophet came to him and confirmed his outcome. “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.'”(Isaiah 38:1)

Well, if God said it, that’s just about the end of the line isn’t it? Why fight it? But Hezekiah did fight it. He pled his case to God and begged for more time. God spoke again through the prophet Isaiah and told him; “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will add to your days fifteen years.” (Isaiah 38:5) Remarkable!

Some people wonder what good it does to pray. “If this is your time to die then you are going to die” they say. Well, don’t tell Hezekiah that. Maybe some things are settled in heaven no matter what we pray but how do you know for sure which things those are?

James 5:16 says; “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” If everything is settled that couldn’t be true. God waits to see who will pray and how fervently before he makes a final decision. I would say, be like Hezekiah. Don’t settle because God probably hasn’t. Pray fervently and see what might be added to you.

 

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