God shows His faithfulness by altering nature to confirm His promise.
“Isaiah said, ‘This shall be the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that He has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten steps or go back ten steps?’” (v.9) Here, the prophet Isaiah, who ministered in the southern kingdom of Judah during the late 8th century BC, speaks to King Hezekiah (who reigned from 715 to 686 BC) in Jerusalem, the capital city of Judah. Jerusalem sits in the hill country of the central region of ancient Israel and served as both the political and spiritual center for God’s chosen people. Isaiah is relaying a message that God is willing to provide a supernatural sign to confirm His promise of healing and deliverance to the king (2 Kings 20:6). By referencing a shift in the shadow, the LORD demonstrates that He is not confined by natural laws—He is the One who created them and can alter them if He chooses (Genesis 1:3).
“Isaiah said, ‘This shall be the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that He has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten steps or go back ten steps?’” (v.9) emphasizes both God’s power and His mercy. King Hezekiah is in a dire situation, having been severely ill, and God offers a remarkable display of His mastery over time and creation. The mention of “ten steps” is likely referring to the steps on the sundial of Ahaz (2 Kings 20:10), possibly located somewhere within Jerusalem’s royal complex. This miracle assured Hezekiah of God’s faithfulness to extend his life and rescue him from the threat of death. Such an unprecedented sign echoes throughout scripture, reminding believers of the many wonders God performed on behalf of His people.
“Isaiah said, ‘This shall be the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that He has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten steps or go back ten steps?’” (v.9) further reveals that God’s desire is not only to preserve the life of His servant, but also to show compassion and to strengthen the king’s faith in Him. Hezekiah’s trust in God, signified by praying earnestly for deliverance, points ahead to the New Testament’s portrayal of Jesus as the sign from God who came to heal and restore (Luke 7:22). The request to confirm His word through a visible alteration of time demonstrates God’s willingness to meet people where they are with reassuring evidence of His sovereignty and grace.
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2 Kings 20:9 meaning
“Isaiah said, ‘This shall be the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that He has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten steps or go back ten steps?’” (v.9) Here, the prophet Isaiah, who ministered in the southern kingdom of Judah during the late 8th century BC, speaks to King Hezekiah (who reigned from 715 to 686 BC) in Jerusalem, the capital city of Judah. Jerusalem sits in the hill country of the central region of ancient Israel and served as both the political and spiritual center for God’s chosen people. Isaiah is relaying a message that God is willing to provide a supernatural sign to confirm His promise of healing and deliverance to the king (2 Kings 20:6). By referencing a shift in the shadow, the LORD demonstrates that He is not confined by natural laws—He is the One who created them and can alter them if He chooses (Genesis 1:3).
“Isaiah said, ‘This shall be the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that He has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten steps or go back ten steps?’” (v.9) emphasizes both God’s power and His mercy. King Hezekiah is in a dire situation, having been severely ill, and God offers a remarkable display of His mastery over time and creation. The mention of “ten steps” is likely referring to the steps on the sundial of Ahaz (2 Kings 20:10), possibly located somewhere within Jerusalem’s royal complex. This miracle assured Hezekiah of God’s faithfulness to extend his life and rescue him from the threat of death. Such an unprecedented sign echoes throughout scripture, reminding believers of the many wonders God performed on behalf of His people.
“Isaiah said, ‘This shall be the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that He has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten steps or go back ten steps?’” (v.9) further reveals that God’s desire is not only to preserve the life of His servant, but also to show compassion and to strengthen the king’s faith in Him. Hezekiah’s trust in God, signified by praying earnestly for deliverance, points ahead to the New Testament’s portrayal of Jesus as the sign from God who came to heal and restore (Luke 7:22). The request to confirm His word through a visible alteration of time demonstrates God’s willingness to meet people where they are with reassuring evidence of His sovereignty and grace.