When you work in the education field, you become familiar with the term extended time. Students with certain learning disabilities are eligible for extended time in taking tests. That includes regular classroom tests and college entrance exams like the SAT and the ACT. Students are usually given 1.5 to double the time it takes other students to complete their tests.
There was no such thing as extended time when I was in school. Everyone worked by the same rules. Of course, we didn’t know about ADD or ADHD either. Both of these learning problems now warrant extended time.
There is a man in the Bible that was given extended time—fifteen years to be exact. The man’s name was Hezekiah. The interesting thing about this is that he was granted this time because he prayed for it.
Hezekiah became sick and was close to death. As was often the duty of prophets, God sent Isaiah to deliver a message regarding Hezekiah’s condition. “Thus says the LORD: Set your house in order, for you shall die, you shall not recover” (Isaiah 38:1).
Hezekiah must have been devastated. Scripture says that he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord. In his prayer, Hezekiah asked God to remember that he had been faithful with his whole heart, and that he had done good. Then Hezekiah wept.
I have often wondered if Hezekiah expected the results he received. The Lord told Isaiah to go back to Hezekiah and say, “I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and will defend this city.” (Isaiah 38:5-6).
Hezekiah’s reaction was very different than that of King Ahab. Remember when Ahab wanted the vineyard that belonged to Naboth; his reaction to the refusal to trade or sell the vineyard brought about his taking to his bed like Hezekiah. However, Ahab turned his face to the wall and pouted. Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed.
Though the circumstances were very different, the attitude of these two men reveals much about their character. Ahab’s actions brought about less time for him on this earth. Hezekiah’s actions brought about extended time.
What would you do with extended time? How would you use it? Would you be a better mother, daughter, wife, Bible class teacher, church member? How would you use your time more effectively?
It wasn’t long after Hezekiah’s remarkable recovery that we see how he used his extended time. The king of Babylon heard about Hezekiah’s illness and sent letters and a present to him. He was opening diplomatic communication with Hezekiah. He was obviously looking for an alliance. Hezekiah must have been dazzled by the apparent fact that his fame had reached all the way to Babylon. So, when an envoy came to deliver the letters and gift, Hezekiah took them on a tour of his kingdom. He didn’t hold anything back. He revealed everything to the enemy.
When Isaiah came to visit Hezekiah again, he asked the king who these men were that had visited him, what they had said, and what had they seen. Hezekiah told Isaiah, “They have come from a far country, from Babylon” (Second Kings 20:14). He also said, They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing in my storehouses that I did not show them” (verse 14).
Isaiah’s message to Hezekiah was not a good one. He told him that the message was from God. He revealed that all that had been stored would be carried away to Babylon. Some of his own sons would be carried away, and they would become eunuchs in the palace in Babylon. Hezekiah took this message as a good thing, because this would not happen in his lifetime. He gave no thought to what was to come for his sons.
Extended time can be valuable. It is helpful to those taking tests, and it can be helpful to those who get a second chance. Hezekiah got a second chance, but he didn’t use it to the best advantage of God’s people. He revealed his wealth and thus brought about destruction for future generations.
What would you do with extended time? Would you leave things better, or would you be like Hezekiah and take no thought for the future?
Every day is extended time to us. As Christians, we need to take advantage of each day as a chance to serve and to influence. May we leave this earth not with being complacent with the way things are but making every effort to make things better.
Sandra Oliver