Have you ever been tempted by an advertisement for a product that claims to solve a problem in your life? The Exodus Effect claims to know the secret ingredient used in the anointing oil described in Exodus 30 and gives the recipe for creating your own anointing oil at home.
Does it work? Is it a miracle cure-all? Let’s take a closer look at the product’s claims and what the Bible says about using anointing oils.
According to their website, the Exodus Effect is a manual for making your own healing oil from natural ingredients. Created by “Pastor Andrew and Dr. Benet” (the website does not list their full names), the book teaches you how to create true anointed oil. While the promotional materials say it is for Christians and non-Christians, it also says that it is the true anointed oil God intended for its children.
Some of the supposed benefits of using the oil are as follows:
So, what makes the oil special?
The secret ingredient in the Exodus Effect is cannabis oil containing minimal THC, which they guarantee has no side effects. The Exodus Effect has other recipes that do not include cannabis for those who are opposed to its use.
There have been discussions that the recipe for anointing oil given in Exodus 30:23 replaced cannabis with calamus when the Bible was translated into English. One study in 2020 suggested that cannabis was used in some Old Testament temple rituals at a shrine in Tel Arad, near the Dead Sea. While there have been many studies done on the subject, the health benefits of either cannabis or calamus are still being argued and researched.
We also have to consider a related question: even if the Old Testament Temple in Jerusalem used cannabis centuries after Exodus 30, that doesn’t prove that the Israelites replaced calamus with cannabis.
The idea that Bible translators replaced “cannabis” with “calamus” is not likely. The context in scripture is that it is a fragrant plant and comes from the Hebrew word qanah, meaning from a reed. The same word is used in several other places where the idea is conveyed of a fragrant plant translated as either calamus or sweet cane:
Since the Exodus Effect claims to be an anointing oil, first, we need to define what it means to anoint. A Christianity.com article defines anointing as “the act of consecrating or dedicating someone or something by applying oil or another substance.” The article also gave three reasons for anointing with oil:
In the article “Why is Anointing Oil Important in the Bible?”, Hope Bolinger points out that using oils was common in the Greek Dark Ages (1200-800 BC). Oil was used for hospitality, refreshment, health, and fragrance. The Bible, however, adds oil for anointing as a means of consecration.
The Exodus Effect is focused on the healing properties, so we will focus on anointing the sick. The scripture basis for anointing with oil comes from James 5:14-15:
“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”
Dolores Smyth breaks down the ceremony used when anointing the sick in her article “What Is the Anointing of the Sick and Is It Biblical?” The emphasis is not on the oil but on the prayers of the elders and the sick in petitioning God for healing.
Heather Riggleman points out in her article “Is Anointing Oil Biblical and Should We Use It Today?” that anointing the sick was preserved for those who were significantly ill. It wasn’t really for coughs or colds. So, anointing oil was not meant for everyday use of common complaints.
Given all this information, how does it apply to the Exodus Effect and its claims? Let’s look at the passage of scripture that sparked the idea, Exodus 30:22-32. The recipe for the anointing oil is given in verses 22-25:
“Also take for yourself quality spices—five hundred shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much sweet-smelling cinnamon (two hundred and fifty shekels), two hundred and fifty shekels of sweet-smelling cane, five hundred shekels of cassia, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and a hint of olive oil. And you shall make from these a holy anointing oil, an ointment compounded according to the art of the perfumer. It shall be a holy anointing oil.”
The next section of verses (26-30) explains how the anointing oil should be used. While the Exodus Effect may be able to tell people how to make their oil, the recipe’s main use was not for healing. It was used to consecrate the temple and the priests:
“With it you shall anoint the tabernacle of meeting and the ark of the Testimony; the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense; the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the laver and its base. You shall consecrate them, that they may be most holy; whatever touches them must be holy. And you shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister to Me as priests.”
Finally, the scripture gives a warning in verses 31-32:
“This shall be a holy anointing oil to Me throughout your generations. It shall not be poured on man’s flesh; nor shall you make any other like it, according to its composition. It is holy, and it shall be holy to you.”
This oil was meant to be a consecrated and special oil used only for God’s purposes. While other oils were used on the body for health and beauty throughout the scriptures, this particular recipe was to be considered holy.
The Exodus Effect reminds us of the dangers of taking scripture out of context. When we read specific passages in the Bible, we should be careful to read them in relation to the rest of the scriptures. God does not lie, nor does His Word, so if someone uses a verse of scripture to support something that goes against God’s character or other scriptures, there is a problem.
Throughout the scriptures, God has always been the source of healing. Healing came in various ways, but the source was always God. In the modern world, God uses medicine and doctors’ knowledge to help heal people, but sometimes, they are healed so that doctors have no explanation other than a miracle.
Oils can have medicinal properties, and it isn’t wrong to use them. However, if there is any miraculous healing, the source is God. If you find relief through oils, then use them, but always remember who created the plants the oils came from, and the scientists God gave the knowledge to create them. There is no magical cure, but there is a God who has the power to heal, even if it is on the other side of Heaven.
Photo Credit:©GettyImages/Tinnakorn Jorruang
Linda Lyle is a writer, teacher, knitter, and unintentional collector of cats. She has written articles for the Alabama Baptist, Open Windows, Refresh, as well as multiple novels and novellas. Her newest book, 5-Minute Prayer Plan for When Life Is Overwhelming, is set to release in October. She spins yarns on her blog The End of My Yarn at lindalyle.com.
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