Healing from the Inside Out: The Power of Faith and Action
"And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered." - 2 Kings 20:7
In the book of 2 Kings, we find a remarkable account of healing intertwined with a profound message about faith, obedience, and the tangible expressions of God's mercy. The verse in focus, 2 Kings 20:7, states: "And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered." This brief yet powerful verse encapsulates not just the miraculous healing that took place for King Hezekiah but also the principle that touches our lives today.
King Hezekiah was at a crossroads in his life when he received a grim prophecy from the prophet Isaiah. He was seriously ill, even to the point of death, and the message from God was clear: prepare your house, for you shall die. Instead of yielding to despair, however, Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed earnestly to the Lord, reminding God of his faithfulness and commitment to His ways.
God, in His infinite mercy, responded to Hezekiah's genuine plea for healing and ultimately extended his life by an additional fifteen years. What is striking about this narrative is the method by which God chose to enact that healing. Through Isaiah, God instructed the king’s attendants to prepare a remedy, a lump of figs, and apply it to the boil, leading to Hezekiah's recovery. At first glance, it seems unusual that God would use something so ordinary to effect such a significant miracle.
This brings us to a vital lesson on the relationship between faith and action. Hezekiah's healing process involved what could be considered a routine medical treatment. The use of figs—an ancient remedy known for their medicinal properties—reminds us that God often works through the natural means available to us. God is not bound by our understanding of nature nor by our limitations, yet He prefers to engage us away from passivity. He invites us to be co-laborers in our healing, both physical and spiritual.
The figs remind us of our need for physical well-being but also of the importance of holistic health—mind, body, and spirit. Just like its healing properties, the act of trusting God while attending to our health by using practical wisdom mirrors our journey in faith. This teaches us that while we seek divine intervention, we should not neglect the things God provides for our well-being. The application of figs signifies our collaborative effort with God.
Moreover, the significance of this healing act emphasizes another spiritual principle: overcoming despair. Hezekiah did not succumb to darkness even when faced with a life-threatening diagnosis. He turned his heart toward God in prayer. In the moment of his despair, he had faith that God could change his circumstances. This reflects the truth that while we may come against seemingly insurmountable odds, God's power can reach beyond human limitations.
As we reflect on this account, let us internalize its lessons. Faith is not merely a passive belief but an active choice to trust God while using the means He has provided. When we are faced with our own struggles, we must remember to pray earnestly, to seek the counsel and wisdom available to us, and to be receptive to the ways in which God may work through both miraculous and ordinary means.
May we find strength in our own circumstances, knowing that God cares for our well-being, that He responds to our prayers, and that recovery might come through a mixture of faith alongside the nourishment and provision He has created in nature. Just as Hezekiah received healing and restoration while engaging with God's directives, we too can experience His transformative power at work in our lives, leading us from sickness to health, from despair to hope, and from death into life.
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2 Kings 20:7 - "And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered."
"And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered." - 2 Kings 20:7
2 Kings 7:20 - "And so it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died."
2 Kings 7:2
2 Kings 20:20 - "¶ And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"
"And so it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died." - 2 Kings 7:20
2 Kings 20:2 - "Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying,"
2 Kings 2:20 - "And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him."
2 Kings 20:16 - "And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD."
2 Kings 10:20 - "And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it."
2 Kings 25:20 - "And Nebuzar-adan captain of the guard took these, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah:"
2 Kings 7:11 - "And he called the porters; and they told it to the king's house within."
2 Kings 7:7 - "Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life."
2 Kings 14:20 - "And they brought him on horses: and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David."
2 Kings 20:21 - "And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead."
2 Kings 21:20 - "And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh did."
2 Kings 13:20 - "¶ And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year."
2 Kings 11:20 - "And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet: and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king's house."
2 Kings 8:20 - "¶ In his days Edom revolted from under the hand of Judah, and made a king over themselves."
2 Kings 2:7 - "And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan."
1 Kings 20:2 - "And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel into the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Ben-hadad,"
2 Kings 20:4 - "And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,"
1 Kings 20:7 - "Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, Mark, I pray you, and see how this man seeketh mischief: for he sent unto me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I denied him not."
2 Kings 12:20 - "And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash in the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla."
2 Kings 22:7 - "Howbeit there was no reckoning made with them of the money that was delivered into their hand, because they dealt faithfully."
2 Kings 20:10 - "And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees."
2 Kings 3:20 - "And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat offering was offered, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water."
2 Kings 16:20 - "And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead."
"Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying," - 2 Kings 20:2
1 Kings 7:20 - "And the chapiters upon the two pillars had pomegranates also above, over against the belly which was by the network: and the pomegranates were two hundred in rows round about upon the other chapiter."