Growing in the Word

God Reverses the Suns Shadow

Law
In my sinfulness, I am like Hezekiah and the
children of Israel, needing a sign or wonder to
assure me that God will do as He promised.

Gospel
God hears and answers my prayers and gives
me His Word and Sacraments, which bestow all
that He has promised me in Christ Jesus.

Context

Isaiah 38:18

Hezekiahs response is immediate and telling.

He turned his face to the wall (Isaiah 38:2) and
begins earnestly praying to God. In his prayer,
Hezekiah simply reminds God of His faithfulness
and desire to do what is good in Gods sight.
Gods response is also immediate. Isaiah
has not even left the house (2 Kings 20:4) when
God tells him to return to Hezekiah with a new
message, Behold I [God] will heal you (2 Kings
20:5). God even adds to Hezekiahs comfort with
the message that He will add fifteen years to
Hezekiahs life (2 Kings 20:6). Our gracious God
adds His message of care for the
people of Jerusalem as He promises
to defend the city and deliver them
from the Assyrians (2 Kings 20:6).

The actual sequence of events before and

after this account is debated by biblical
scholars. Both Isaiah and the author
of 2 Kings, most likely Jeremiah,
simply begin the account with
Podcast
the phrase In those days (2
Like Gideon before him,
Visit
Kings 20:1; Isaiah 38:1). The
Hezekiah asks God for a
cph.org/teacherspot
massacre of one hundred
sign to confirm His promise.
and listen to the
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eighty-five thousand of the
When given a choice of signs,
each week!
Assyrians by the angel of the
Hezekiah asks the seemingly
Lord and Sennacheribs retreat to
impossiblefor the shadow of
Nineveh immediately precedes this
the sun to move in reverse (2 Kings
event in both accounts.
20:10). The daily course of the suns shadow was recorded on a type of sundial built by
The foreign enemy was defeated, but
Hezekiahs father, Ahaz. Evidently, the shadow
Hezekiah has a new enemy: his own ill health.
of the sundials post marked its course along a
Even though he is in the prime of his lifeno
series of raised steps, reaching the highest step
more than thirty-nine years oldHezekiah is told
at noon.
that he will soon die.

Commentary
Both Jeremiah and Isaiah begin the account
of Hezekiahs illness very directly Hezekiah
became sick and was at the point of death
(2 Kings 20:1; Isaiah 38:1). We read in 2 Kings
that the illness included a boil, a likely site for
a deep-set infection. Interestingly, the same
Hebrew word is used in Exodus 9:911 in reference to the boils afflicting the Egyptians during
the plagues.
Isaiah the prophet comes to Hezekiah with
some unwelcome news. He tells Hezekiah to set
his house in order for this illness will result in his
death (Isaiah 38:1). This is hardly welcome news
for anyone.
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The sign promised by God meant not just

turning the shadow back one of these steps but
ten. How God accomplished this feat is unknown.
Did the earth rotate in reverse? Did the sun move
from its normal course? It matters not! Suffice it
to know that the God of all creation once again
commanded His creation and it obeyed.
About 700 years after Joshua, King Hezekiah
in distress prayed an urgent petition that led to
another miracle involving the light of the sun. . . .
The Creator demonstrated again that He is Lord
over His entire universe and He can overrule His
own laws of nature whenever if pleases Him,
such as in response to the requests of His people (From Joshua, 1995 CPH, p. 425).

Seedlings Devotional Talks

God Reverses the Suns Shadow

Lesson 8

Text: Philippians 4:13

Hymn of the Day: Hark the Glad Sound
(LSB 349; LW 29; TLH 66)
Visual Help: Padlock that opens with a combination

I need two volunteers today, one who is really smart and one who is really
strong. As children raise their hands, ask them if theyre really strong or really smart. Choose
one of each. If youre really smart, can you open this lock? Let the child try. If youre
really strong, can you open this lock? Let the child try. Why couldnt either of you open
the lock? Will you be able to open it if I give you the combination? Help the children
open the lock.
No matter how smart or strong we are, there are things we cant do. Sometimes
we try to be good, but no matter how strong we are or how smart we are, we end
up sinning. We are sinful people, and we just dont have what it takes to live as perfectly as God wants us to live. God knows this, and He loves us anyway. He loves us
so much He sent His Son, Jesus, to be our Savior. Jesus was punished for us when
He suffered on the cross. He paid for all our sins so we can be forgiven. He helps us
love and trust in Him. We can be sure that He will take us to heaven to live with Him
someday.
Jesus did what seemed impossible. He made us perfect by forgiving our sins.
He has the combination to help us do things that we may think are impossible. Read
Philippians 4:13. He gives us the strength to be kind when we want to be mean. He
helps us to be patient when we want to scream and yell. He helps us to obey when
we want our own way. He helps us forgive people when we want to get even. He
helps us tell others about Him when we want to talk about other things. He helps us
trust in Him for forgiveness.
No matter how impossible it may seem for you to do what is right, Jesus is there
to help you. When we are too weak to do things by ourselves, He works in our lives.
He will never leave us.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus to be my Savior. Help me
to trust You when it seems impossible for me to do the right thing. Remind me that
even when I do the wrong thing You forgive me for Jesus sake. In Jesus name.
Amen.

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God Reverses the Suns Shadow

2 Kings 20:111; Isaiah 38:18

Call to Me and I will answer

you. Jeremiah 33:3

color
Story Page 8 Growing in Christ Early Childhood 2007 Concordia Publishing House. Scripture: ESV. Reproduced by permission.

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God Reverses the Suns Shadow

2 Kings 20:111; Isaiah 38:18

Call to Me and I will answer

you. Jeremiah 33:3

color
Story Page 8 Growing in Christ Early Childhood 2007 Concordia Publishing House. Scripture: ESV. Reproduced by permission.

101

God Reverses the Suns Shadow

2 Kings 20:111; Isaiah 38:18

Call to Me and I will answer

you. Jeremiah 33:3

color
Story Page 8 Growing in Christ Early Childhood 2007 Concordia Publishing House. Scripture: ESV. Reproduced by permission.

101

Craft Guide
Lesson 8: God Reverses the Suns Shadow
Paper-Plate Stage
Materials: For each project, you will need a copy of Activity Pages 8A and 8B from the Early
Childhood Teacher Guide, a 9-inch paper plate, construction paper, paper brads, markers or crayons, and scissors.
Instructions: Make copies of Activity Pages 8A and 8B. Have the children color both pages.
Cut each section of pictures out. Glue the Bible story scenes to one half of the plate and the
scenes that show prayer opportunities to the other half. Cut out the hand, or trace around the
childs hand onto construction paper and cut it out. Use a paper brad to attach the hand through
the middle to the center of the plate. Move the hand backwards to retell the story. Move the hand
forward on the bottom half to talk about how God wants us to pray to Him at all times. Let the
children make the Hezekiah figure into a storytelling figure by attaching it to a straw or cup.
Option: You will need a place to store this project so it can dry and be sent home next week.
Have children make clay plaques of their handprint. Ahead of time, make the clay by mixing
1cup salt, 12 cup flour, and 1 cup water in a saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly
until thick and rubbery. Cool and store in an airtight container.
In class, roll a ball of clay for each child into a circle and flatten so that it is about 34 -inch
thick. Have each child make a hand imprint in the clay, keeping fingers together so that it looks
like a praying hand. Poke a hole at the top for hanging. Let the clay dry. In two days, turn it over
to dry on the other side. Help the children string yarn through it the next week. If desired, they
can paint or decorate it with art supplies. Send it home the next week along with the Bible Words.
As you are working on the project, talk about how God promises to hear and answer our prayers.

Prayer Book
To Prepare: For each book, you will need several pieces
of craft paper, paper punches, yarn, scissors, and markers.
First, fold in half two or more pieces of craft paper.
Then trace and cut out several praying hand pages with
the edge of the hand on the fold. Open the pages and
punch two holes along the edge of the fold. Cut a
piece of yarn, and tie the pages together on the outside of the book. Inside write the names of people
for whom you would like to pray, draw their pictures, or add photos or special prayers.

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