“If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and laws, then I will not make you suffer the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the LORD who heals you.” - Exodus 15:26
If the name Jehovah-Jireh revealed God’s concern for people’s spiritual health, the name Jehovah-Rapha revealed his gracious concern about Israel’s physical health. Moses led the children of Israel to a place where they saw God heal bitter waters, making them fit to drink (see Exodus 15:23-25). God then used this as a little object lesson, saying: “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and laws, then I will not make you suffer the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the LORD who heals you.” (Exodus 15:26).
It was at Marah, which means “bitter,” that God showed the children of Israel that he was the source of all health.
Does God really care if I am sick? Does he notice when my child’s life is threatened by some dreaded disease?
Nowhere does Scripture tell us he will heal all people of all diseases; but he will heal many people of many diseases. There is no health without the healthy God. In his wholeness, we find a measure of health on earth and a full measure of health in heaven. Revelation 21:4 tells us no one is ever sick in heaven.
God heals, of that there is no doubt. Sometimes he allows the body to heal itself, and at other times, he miraculously quickens the process. Either way, he is Jehovah-Rapha, the healing God! This should be enough to turn our bitter waters to sweet.
For Further Study: Exodus 15:22-27
Excerpted from The One Year Devotions for Women, Copyright ©2000 by Jill Briscoe. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
For more from Jill Briscoe, please visit TellingtheTruth.org.
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