{"id":45193,"date":"2020-12-01T10:17:15","date_gmt":"2020-12-01T07:17:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=45193"},"modified":"2025-05-09T18:25:28","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T15:25:28","slug":"what-was-the-dial-of-ahaz-and-how-did-the-shadow-go-backwards-for-hezekiah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2020\/12\/01\/what-was-the-dial-of-ahaz-and-how-did-the-shadow-go-backwards-for-hezekiah\/","title":{"rendered":"What Was the “Dial of Ahaz”? And How Did the Shadow Go Backwards for Hezekiah?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In <\/span>ancient <\/span>times, <\/span>people <\/span>did <\/span>not <\/span>have <\/span>watches, <\/span>clocks, <\/span>or <\/span>digital <\/span>devices <\/span>to <\/span>tell <\/span>time <\/span>as <\/span>we <\/span>do <\/span>today. <\/span>Instead, <\/span>they <\/span>relied <\/span>on <\/span>natural <\/span>means <\/span>to <\/span>track <\/span>the <\/span>hours <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>day. <\/span>One <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>most <\/span>common <\/span>tools <\/span>was <\/span>the <\/span>sun <\/span>dial<\/span><\/strong>, <\/span>an <\/span>instrument <\/span>that <\/span>used <\/span>the <\/span>position <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>sun’s <\/span>shadow <\/span>to <\/span>determine <\/span>the <\/span>time.<\/span><\/p>\n

In <\/span>some <\/span>places, <\/span>a <\/span>special <\/span>device <\/span>was <\/span>placed <\/span>in <\/span>an <\/span>open <\/span>area <\/span>where <\/span>the <\/span>sun <\/span>could <\/span>strike <\/span>it <\/span>from <\/span>all <\/span>angles. <\/span>This <\/span>device <\/span>typically <\/span>had <\/span>markings <\/span>or <\/span>steps\u2014<\/span>called <\/span>“<\/span>degrees” <\/span>or “<\/span>steps”<\/span><\/strong>\u2014<\/span>which <\/span>indicated <\/span>the <\/span>time <\/span>as <\/span>the <\/span>sun\u2019s <\/span>shadow <\/span>moved <\/span>across <\/span>them. <\/span>Another <\/span>form <\/span>used <\/span>stair-<\/span>like <\/span>structures <\/span>built <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>east <\/span>and <\/span>west, <\/span>where <\/span>the <\/span>shadow <\/span>would <\/span>descend <\/span>or <\/span>ascend <\/span>based <\/span>on <\/span>the <\/span>sun\u2019s <\/span>position. <\/span>As <\/span>the <\/span>sun <\/span>rose <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>east, <\/span>the <\/span>shadow <\/span>would <\/span>fall <\/span>down <\/span>the <\/span>steps; <\/span>as <\/span>it <\/span>set <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>west, <\/span>the <\/span>shadow <\/span>would <\/span>rise <\/span>up <\/span>the <\/span>steps. <\/span>By <\/span>watching <\/span>the <\/span>movement <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>shadow, <\/span>people <\/span>could <\/span>tell <\/span>whether <\/span>it <\/span>was <\/span>morning, <\/span>noon, <\/span>or <\/span>evening.<\/span><\/p>\n

This <\/span>background <\/span>helps <\/span>us <\/span>understand <\/span>what <\/span>the <\/span>Bible <\/span>refers <\/span>to <\/span>as <\/span>\u201c<\/span>the <\/span>dial <\/span>of <\/span>Ahaz\u201d<\/span><\/strong>\u2014<\/span>a <\/span>time-<\/span>telling <\/span>structure <\/span>likely <\/span>built <\/span>by <\/span>King <\/span>Ahaz (<\/span>Hezekiah’s <\/span>father). <\/span>Although <\/span>Scripture <\/span>does <\/span>not <\/span>describe <\/span>the <\/span>dial <\/span>in <\/span>detail, <\/span>it <\/span>was <\/span>evidently <\/span>used <\/span>to <\/span>measure <\/span>time <\/span>based <\/span>on <\/span>the <\/span>sun\u2019s <\/span>shadow.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hezekiah\u2019s <\/span>Illness <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>Miraculous <\/span>Sign<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

In <\/span>2 <\/span>Kings <\/span>20, <\/span>King <\/span>Hezekiah <\/span>fell <\/span>gravely <\/span>ill. <\/span>The <\/span>prophet <\/span>Isaiah <\/span>came <\/span>to <\/span>him <\/span>with <\/span>a <\/span>message <\/span>from <\/span>God: “<\/span>Set <\/span>your <\/span>house <\/span>in <\/span>order, <\/span>for <\/span>you <\/span>shall <\/span>die, <\/span>and <\/span>not <\/span>live” (<\/span>2 <\/span>Kings <\/span>20:<\/span>1, <\/span>NKJV). <\/span>But <\/span>Hezekiah <\/span>turned <\/span>his <\/span>face <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>wall <\/span>and <\/span>prayed <\/span>earnestly, <\/span>weeping <\/span>before <\/span>the <\/span>Lord. <\/span>God <\/span>heard <\/span>his <\/span>prayer <\/span>and <\/span>sent <\/span>Isaiah <\/span>back <\/span>with <\/span>a <\/span>promise: <\/span>Hezekiah <\/span>would <\/span>be <\/span>healed <\/span>and <\/span>live <\/span>fifteen <\/span>more <\/span>years (<\/span>vv. <\/span>2\u2013<\/span>6).<\/span><\/p>\n

Yet <\/span>Hezekiah <\/span>asked <\/span>for <\/span>a <\/span>sign<\/span><\/strong> to <\/span>confirm <\/span>the <\/span>promise. <\/span>The <\/span>Lord, <\/span>through <\/span>Isaiah, <\/span>offered <\/span>him <\/span>a <\/span>choice:<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201c<\/span>Shall <\/span>the <\/span>shadow <\/span>go <\/span>forward <\/span>ten <\/span>degrees <\/span>or <\/span>go <\/span>backward <\/span>ten <\/span>degrees?\u201d<\/span><\/em> (<\/span>2 <\/span>Kings <\/span>20:<\/span>9, <\/span>NKJV).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Hezekiah <\/span>reasoned <\/span>that <\/span>it <\/span>would <\/span>be <\/span>too <\/span>easy <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>shadow <\/span>to <\/span>move <\/span>forward\u2014<\/span>after <\/span>all, <\/span>that\u2019s <\/span>the <\/span>natural <\/span>direction <\/span>as <\/span>time <\/span>progresses. <\/span>But <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>shadow <\/span>to <\/span>move <\/span>backward<\/span><\/strong> would <\/span>defy <\/span>the <\/span>laws <\/span>of <\/span>nature. <\/span>That <\/span>would <\/span>be <\/span>a <\/span>true <\/span>miracle.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201c<\/span>It <\/span>is <\/span>an <\/span>easy <\/span>thing <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>shadow <\/span>to <\/span>go <\/span>down <\/span>ten <\/span>degrees; <\/span>no, <\/span>but <\/span>let <\/span>the <\/span>shadow <\/span>go <\/span>backward <\/span>ten <\/span>degrees\u201d<\/span><\/em> (<\/span>v. <\/span>10).<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Then <\/span>Isaiah <\/span>prayed, <\/span>and <\/span>God <\/span>caused <\/span>the <\/span>shadow <\/span>on <\/span>the <\/span>dial <\/span>of <\/span>Ahaz<\/span><\/strong> to <\/span>go <\/span>backward <\/span>ten <\/span>degrees<\/span><\/strong>\u2014<\/span>a <\/span>stunning <\/span>supernatural <\/span>event <\/span>that <\/span>symbolized <\/span>God\u2019s <\/span>absolute <\/span>power <\/span>over <\/span>time <\/span>and <\/span>nature (<\/span>2 <\/span>Kings <\/span>20:<\/span>11; <\/span>Isaiah <\/span>38:<\/span>7\u2013<\/span>8).<\/span><\/p>\n

Theological <\/span>Significance<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

This <\/span>miracle <\/span>teaches <\/span>us <\/span>several <\/span>powerful <\/span>truths:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. \n

    God <\/span>is <\/span>Sovereign <\/span>Over <\/span>Time <\/span>and <\/span>Creation<\/span><\/strong>
    Just <\/span>as <\/span>God <\/span>stopped <\/span>the <\/span>sun <\/span>for <\/span>Joshua <\/span>in <\/span>battle (<\/span>Joshua <\/span>10:<\/span>12\u2013<\/span>14), <\/span>He <\/span>now <\/span>reversed <\/span>time <\/span>for <\/span>Hezekiah. <\/span>Time <\/span>is <\/span>a <\/span>created <\/span>reality, <\/span>and <\/span>the <\/span>Creator <\/span>is <\/span>not <\/span>bound <\/span>by <\/span>it. <\/span>He <\/span>can <\/span>halt, <\/span>extend, <\/span>or <\/span>reverse <\/span>time <\/span>according <\/span>to <\/span>His <\/span>will.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. \n

    God <\/span>Answers <\/span>Prayer<\/span><\/strong>
    Hezekiah\u2019s <\/span>heartfelt <\/span>prayer <\/span>moved <\/span>the <\/span>heart <\/span>of <\/span>God (<\/span>Isaiah <\/span>38:<\/span>5). <\/span>The <\/span>Lord <\/span>is <\/span>not <\/span>distant <\/span>or <\/span>unmoved <\/span>by <\/span>our <\/span>cries. <\/span>He <\/span>responds <\/span>to <\/span>faith <\/span>and <\/span>humility.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  3. \n

    God <\/span>Gives <\/span>Confirming <\/span>Signs<\/span><\/strong>
    While <\/span>faith <\/span>should <\/span>not <\/span>rely <\/span>solely <\/span>on <\/span>signs (<\/span>Matthew <\/span>16:<\/span>4), <\/span>God <\/span>sometimes <\/span>graciously <\/span>provides <\/span>confirmation <\/span>to <\/span>encourage <\/span>His <\/span>people. <\/span>In <\/span>Hezekiah\u2019s <\/span>case, <\/span>the <\/span>reversed <\/span>shadow <\/span>was <\/span>both <\/span>a <\/span>confirmation <\/span>and <\/span>a <\/span>witness <\/span>of <\/span>God’s <\/span>presence <\/span>and <\/span>power.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  4. \n

    Nothing <\/span>is <\/span>Too <\/span>Hard <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>Lord<\/span><\/strong>
    As <\/span>Jeremiah <\/span>32:<\/span>27 <\/span>declares:<\/span><\/p>\n

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    \u201c<\/span>Behold, <\/span>I <\/span>am <\/span>the <\/span>Lord, <\/span>the <\/span>God <\/span>of <\/span>all <\/span>flesh. <\/span>Is <\/span>there <\/span>anything <\/span>too <\/span>hard <\/span>for <\/span>Me?\u201d<\/span><\/em>
    God <\/span>can <\/span>restore <\/span>time, <\/span>health, <\/span>relationships, <\/span>opportunities\u2014<\/span>anything <\/span>that <\/span>seems <\/span>lost.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/li>\n

  5. \n

    Encouragement <\/span>for <\/span>Us <\/span>Today<\/span><\/strong>
    If <\/span>God <\/span>could <\/span>turn <\/span>back <\/span>time <\/span>as <\/span>a <\/span>sign <\/span>of <\/span>healing <\/span>and <\/span>restoration, <\/span>He <\/span>can <\/span>certainly <\/span>redeem <\/span>lost <\/span>time<\/span><\/strong> in <\/span>your <\/span>life. <\/span>Whether <\/span>you’ve <\/span>missed <\/span>opportunities, <\/span>made <\/span>mistakes, <\/span>or <\/span>feel <\/span>that <\/span>it’s “<\/span>too <\/span>late,” <\/span>remember <\/span>that <\/span>God <\/span>can <\/span>restore <\/span>what <\/span>was <\/span>lost<\/span><\/strong> (<\/span>Joel <\/span>2:<\/span>25). <\/span>He <\/span>can <\/span>bring <\/span>renewal <\/span>even <\/span>in <\/span>your <\/span>most <\/span>hopeless <\/span>moments.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    Final <\/span>Thought<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Let <\/span>this <\/span>story <\/span>inspire <\/span>faith <\/span>and <\/span>hope <\/span>in <\/span>your <\/span>walk <\/span>with <\/span>God. <\/span>He <\/span>is <\/span>not <\/span>limited <\/span>by <\/span>natural <\/span>laws. <\/span>He <\/span>can <\/span>reverse <\/span>time, <\/span>restore <\/span>brokenness, <\/span>and <\/span>fulfill <\/span>His <\/span>promises <\/span>in <\/span>ways <\/span>that <\/span>surpass <\/span>human <\/span>understanding. <\/span>All <\/span>He <\/span>asks <\/span>is <\/span>that <\/span>we <\/span>believe<\/span><\/strong> and <\/span>trust <\/span>in <\/span>Him.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Shalom.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n