JEHOVAH-RAPHA – THE LORD THAT HEALS

This post will focus on the name Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord that heals.

Exodus 15:25-26 “LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.”

In context, the Lord is talking to His people during their time in the wilderness before entering the Promised Land.  He had just turned the bitter waters of Marah sweet by having Moses cast a tree into the waters.  The Hebrew for the word “healeth” includes the idea of making one whole, and at Marah God made the waters whole again (healthy, without defect) and sufficient for their physical need.  I don’t think the choice of the tree was coincidence; it was a picture of what Jesus would do for us by dying on the tree—the cross.  Jesus provided a way sufficient to make us spiritually whole again.

Jesus is not only sufficient to make us spiritually whole, but He is also sufficient to make us physically whole.  It is important to note that the Lord’s promise to provide healing for His people was declared to be dependent upon their obedience and faithfulness to Him.  This is an important principle for us to remember when we are praying for ourselves or others.  Too often I think we are ready to question God’s love and even get angry with Him when He does not answer our prayers as we would wish without taking that principle into consideration. 

In His response to the woman that was healed from a physical condition she had suffered for twelve years simply by reaching out to touch His robe, Jesus declared that our faith is often the determining factor in bringing about physical healing.

Luke 8:48 “And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.”

Jesus stated that principle once again when he healed the two blind men…

Matthew 9:28–29 “And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.”

…and again when He healed the centurion’s servant.

Matthew 8:13 “And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.”

Obviously, God very often deals with us in grace and mercy without regard to our relationship with Him at any given point.  Jesus demonstrated this truth countless times during His ministry while on earth.

Matthew 9:35 “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.”

Luke 4:40 “Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.”

The great truth is that God Almighty, the self-existent, eternal God, our Creator has complete authority and power throughout the universe.  In everything He does He is working to accomplish His will.  I believe that every act of God toward man has one of two main purposes:

·      To bring men to a point of repentance and salvation

·      To conform believers to the image of His Son Jesus through ongoing cleansing and purification.

1 Timothy 2:3–4 “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”

Romans 8:29 “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

2 Timothy 2:19&21 “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity….If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”

Every person that accepts God’s gift of salvation through faith in Jesus His Son can rest in His promise that He will allow nothing to touch him/her that He does not intend for good.

Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

(to be continued…)