God Can Reverse It! | Jentezen Franklin
Unlocking the Power of Divine Reversal: How God Can Turn It All Around
Every believer comes to moments in life that feel final. The doctor’s report seems grim. The financial crisis appears permanent. Broken relationships look unfixable. Yet, Scripture boldly proclaims a God who is never boxed in by impossibility. As we dive into the extraordinary story of King Hezekiah, let us build fresh faith that no matter your past, your pain, or the prognosis—God can reverse it!
Hezekiah’s Death Sentence and the Power of Prayer
Hezekiah, the king of Judah, found himself at a dead end. The message from the prophet Isaiah was brutal: “Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.” With his life hanging by a thread, Hezekiah didn’t waste time defending himself or bargaining from pride. Instead, he turned to God with a broken heart and a sincere plea: “Remember, Lord, how I have walked before You faithfully and with wholehearted devotion. I have done what is good in Your sight!”
This is a powerful reminder. In dark seasons, it’s not about claiming perfection—it’s about the intimate history we share with God. He sees the moments we’ve loved Him, served Him, and longed for His presence, even in our imperfections. Hezekiah’s honest humility touched God’s heart. Before Isaiah could even leave the palace courtyard, the word of the Lord came again: “Return and tell Hezekiah… I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. I will heal you.”
God Uses Means—Faith and Medicine Together
Healing arrives in many ways. In Hezekiah’s miracle, God instructed Isaiah to apply a poultice of figs to the infected boil. Physical medicine and divine intervention worked hand-in-hand. Sometimes, God heals in an instant; other times, He works through doctors and treatments. Don’t think for a second you “lack faith” because you use both prayer and medicine—God is at work in it all! Let your faith fuel every step, trusting that the Great Physician can use any method to bring your breakthrough.
A Timeless Miracle: God Reverses the Sundial
As if supernatural healing wasn’t enough, Hezekiah asked for a sign: “How will I know the Lord will heal me?” Isaiah replied, “Should the shadow on the sundial move forward ten degrees or backward ten degrees?” For the shadow to move backward, God would have to reverse the rotation of the Earth—a bona fide miracle! Hezekiah chose the harder sign, the backward movement. At the prophet’s prayer, the sundial reversed. Time itself turned back at God’s command, illustrating His ability to undo what seemed irreversible.
In the same way, God can turn back the clock in your life. No curse, mistake, or generational struggle is permanent in His hands. Are you facing a hopeless pattern or an impossible timeline? Know this: when God steps in, He can restore what was lost, heal what was broken, and rewrite what seemed set in stone.
From a Legacy of Failure to a Lineage of Faith
Hezekiah’s healing was not just a personal miracle—it was a triumph over generational failure. His father, King Ahaz, was among the most wicked rulers in Israel’s history. Ahaz defiled the temple, introduced idol worship, practiced occult rituals, and even sacrificed his own children. He tore out the ancient altar, lowered the holy basin for ritual washing, and stripped away the pavilion that represented Sabbath rest and God’s covering.
Yet, Hezekiah chose a different path. In spite of his family’s dark history, he pursued God passionately. He restored true worship, set up the altar of sacrifice, reestablished proper baptismal practices, and brought back the symbol of peace and rest. His story proves that you are not doomed to repeat the sins of your father or mother. With God, a new legacy begins in you! Your past may shout defeat, but God declares victory and renewal.
The Irreplaceable Power of the Altar
Hezekiah’s story reminds us not to replace the altar—the place of repentance, worship, and encounter with God—with anything newer or trendier. In today’s culture, many want church to be polished and comfortable, but nothing can substitute for the altar. It is where hearts break before God, pride is melted, and lives are changed forever.
Have you experienced the sweetness of repentance? There is nothing more cleansing than godly sorrow and tears before the Lord. At the altar, hurts are healed, addictions are broken, and relationships are restored. The Lord never turns away those who come with a contrite spirit. No matter what’s happened, run to the altar—Restoration is waiting!
Baptism: Obedience That Brings Restoration
Ahaz tried to minimize the ritual cleansing that God commanded, lowering the basin and treating it lightly. But baptism is more than a symbol—it’s an act of obedience following salvation. Jesus Himself was baptized, and He commands His followers to do the same. When you rise from those waters, it’s a proclamation to the world: your past is buried, and you are a new creation in Christ.
Baptism isn’t just a ritual, an add-on, or a family tradition. It honors the example set by Jesus and the apostles, and it links us to the power of the cross. So don’t let pride or indifference keep you from this beautiful step of faith. There is cleansing and joy in doing it God’s way!
The Covering of Peace: The Gift of the Holy Spirit
One more thing Ahaz removed was the special Sabbath covering—a symbol of rest and God’s presence. In the new covenant, this speaks to the gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised: “I will pray the Father and He will send you another Comforter, the Spirit of truth.” The Holy Spirit
