Hezekiah almost dies from illness, but prays and is healed; he then shows Babylonian envoys around the palace and temple, but isn’t repentant when God (through Isaiah) says he shouldn’t have done that: 2 Kings 20:1–11; Isaiah 38:1–8; 2 Chronicles 32:24–31; Isaiah 38:9–22; 2 Kings 20:12–19; Isaiah 39:1–8

For some reason, some people think it’s impossible to change God’s mind.

This account of Hezekiah’s illness and recovery is an example that demonstrates God does indeed listen to our prayers.

It started with an illness, about which Isaiah said

^{2 Kings 20:1} This is what the Lord says: Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.

So Hezekiah, who was not ready in himself to die, prayed and cried, begging God to change His mind.

It was almost immediate. Isaiah hadn’t yet left the middle courtyard before God sent him back with this message:

^{2 Kings 20:4-6} This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you, and three days from now you will get out of bed and go to the Temple of the Lord. I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my own honor and for the sake of my servant David.

Whether that extra 15 years was a good thing in the end is up for debate.