What role does faith play in Hezekiah's healing in Isaiah 38:21? The Scene in Brief - Isaiah 38 records King Hezekiah’s terminal illness. - After his tearful prayer (vv. 2-3), the LORD sends Isaiah back with the promise of fifteen added years (v. 5) and deliverance from Assyria (v. 6). - Verse 21 gives the practical instruction: “Now Isaiah had said, ‘Prepare a lump of pressed figs and apply it to the boil, and he will recover.’ ” How Faith Enters the Picture - God’s word of healing arrives first (vv. 5-6). The medical step comes second (v. 21). Hezekiah must trust that word before he ever feels better. - Faith embraces both the divine promise and the God-given means (the fig poultice). Obedience proves trust. Key Elements of Hezekiah’s Faith • Personal Reliance – He “turned his face to the wall and prayed” (v. 2). His first move is toward God, not physicians. • Humble Petition – He reminds God of his wholehearted walk (v. 3), not as merit but as covenant transparency (cf. 2 Kings 20:3). • Immediate Assent to God’s Word – When Isaiah returns, Hezekiah does not question the promise or the sign (shadow on the steps, vv. 7-8). He rests in it. • Obedient Action – He allows the poultice to be applied. Faith does not scorn practical treatment; it works through it. Scripture Echoes That Illuminate Faith’s Role - Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.” Hezekiah’s assurance comes before the boil is cured. - James 5:14-15: “the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick.” The pattern—prayer first, healing following—matches Isaiah 38. - Psalm 103:2-3: “He forgives all your iniquities, He heals all your diseases.” Hezekiah’s experience showcases both spiritual and physical restoration. Why God Includes the Fig Poultice • Demonstrates that faith cooperates with, rather than replaces, God-ordained means. • Protects against superstition: the figs alone do not heal; God’s promise does. • Teaches that obedience in small things (applying figs) validates belief in big things (fifteen more years). Results of Faith - Physical recovery: “and he will recover” (v. 21). - Extended life: fifteen additional years (v. 5). - Strengthened testimony: Hezekiah’s song of praise (vv. 9-20) becomes Scripture, encouraging believers to trust God in their own crises. Takeaway Summary Faith in Isaiah 38 is the hinge on which Hezekiah’s healing swings. He trusts the spoken promise, submits to the simple remedy, and witnesses God’s power. Divine sovereignty and human faith work together—God speaks, Hezekiah believes, and healing follows. |
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