The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Isaiah 38:7-8, “’And this shall be the sign to you from the LORD,

that the LORD will do this thing that He has spoken:

8 “Behold, I will cause the shadow on the stairway, which has gone

down with the sun on the stairway of Ahaz, to go back ten steps.”

So the sun’s shadow went back ten steps on the stairway on which

it had gone down.’”’

Away back in the Book of Genesis, the LORD said to Abraham,

“Is any thing too hard for the LORD (Gen. 18:13)?” Hezekiah is

recorded in Isaiah 38:1-3, as being mortally ill. The LORD said to

him, “You shall die and not live.” The prognosis was not good.

Hezekiah began earnestly to pray. The LORD saw Hezekiah’s

Heart, heard his prayer, and added 15 years to his lifespan. It’s

always wise to pray, especially in a time of severe trouble.

Additionally, the LORD gave him a sign to validate His words.

He doesn’t always do that. I once knew a man, who had a

deathly illness. He measured his own life somewhat by accepting

Psalm 128:6 as a sign: “Yea, thou shalt see thy children’s

children…” Here in our verses, the LORD did give Hezekiah a

sign. It is important, however, that we focus on the LORD and

not on the sign. Even more, it is important to see that up and

including the time of Hezekiah’s illness and impending death,

he had lived for the LORD and done what was right in His eyes.

This should encourage us, regardless of what circumstances

seek to discourage us. The LORD is always vigilant, always

powerful, and always ready to provide for His children. Our

responsibility is to live for Him and be always “to the praise

of His glory” (Eph. 1:12).

His love works for you through us, as we pray daily for you,

Nana & Dado III

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”