“Jehovah-Rapha” is a term derived from Exodus 15:26 in the Bible. It refers to God as the healer.
“And the people complained against Moses, saying, ‘What shall we drink?’ So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them, and said, ‘If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.’” Exod 15:24-26
The Israelites had just witnessed the ten plagues that God released over all of Egypt prior to their release from slavery. They had been exempt from these plagues. In the wilderness, God kept them and promised healing. Here they faced something similar—something that looked like a consequence of sin but not their own. The Lord reassured them that they would not suffer or be exposed to the diseases the Egyptians suffered. God called Himself Rapha!
God is interested in our well-being and will not afflict His children with sickness or disease.
Sin is the root cause of sickness, disease, and death. Before the fall in the Garden of Eden, there was no sickness or disease. Man began to experience various emotional and physical ailments after disobeying—after leaving the presence of God. The angel’s proclamation warns of the woes and doom brought upon the fallen world as the devil was cast into it (Rev 12:12, Luke 10:18). Many people believe God uses sickness to train or test His children, but in this passage, God made it clear that He will not bring upon His own people the diseases that came upon Egypt. Sin brought sickness into the world, and sin still propagates sickness. But Christ came as a solution to sin, sickness, and death.
“Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.'” John 9:1-3
Many quote this Bible passage to justify why they are sick. This passage does not explicitly state that God inflicts sickness to seek glory in a person’s life. Instead, Jesus’ response suggests that the man’s blindness was not a direct consequence of his own sin or his parents’, but rather presented an opportunity for God’s work to be displayed through his healing. Jesus did not state that the man’s blindness was not due to sin in general. He specifically addressed the disciples’ question about whether the man’s own sin or his parents’ sin caused his blindness, affirming that neither was the case.
One thing was made obvious though: the disciples had been taught that sin caused sickness, and that is why they asked the question. Jesus never denied that sin causes sickness. There are many instances where Christ implied that sin causes and propagates sickness; I will refer to two instances in the Gospel of John. In John 8:11, Jesus said to a woman whom He had healed, “Go and sin no more.” Christ actually revealed more on the matter; in John 5:14, Jesus tells a man whom He had healed, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning, or something worse may happen to you.” Sin led to separation from God, a spiritual death that brings all sorts of tendencies towards death. Sin propagates broken relationships, guilt, shame, and harmful consequences for oneself and others.
Sin causes sickness. However, it does not have to be your personal sin. Hebrews 11:4 tells us that Abel was a righteous man, but we know he died because of his brother’s sin. According to the Word of God, the sins of the fathers (ancestors) are passed down to the third and fourth generations (Exod 34:7). Some illnesses are not directly related to your personal sin or your parents’ sin. It could stem from a nation’s sin. There are instances in the Bible where the actions of individuals or nations have consequences that affect others. In the case of Egypt, for example, Pharaoh’s refusal to release the Israelites from slavery led to a series of plagues that affected the entire nation. Within the Israelite camp, there are instances where the disobedience or sin of individuals brought consequences upon the community as a whole. For instance, in the story of Achan in the book of Joshua, the sin of one individual led to defeat in battle for the Israelites until the matter was addressed. In our text, the consequence of sin stirred them. They needed water, but it was bitter.
What is my point? Christ’s redemption paid for our sin and sickness. Isaiah 53:5 reads, “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds, we are healed.” Whatever the direct causes of sickness, the origin of it has been dealt with.
The Bible didn’t say if you are righteous, you wouldn’t have trouble. Psa 34:19: “The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all.“ God assures deliverance! The children of Israel were thirsty and needed water. The only water they had was bitter. God changed it for their benefit. No matter what pandemic sin has brought into the world, God has exempted you and me. However, living in sin opens gate to the devil to propagate the effect of sin. The bible says,
“Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh And strength to your bones.” Prov 3:7-8
Follow good diet and His righteous living guide to maintain your healt. And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.” Ezek 47:12
Living right and listening to God enables our victory. Moreover, understanding God’s desire makes it easy to get out of trouble and tribulation faster. The righteous will be bold as a lion. But the wicked run when no one is chasing them. Job could have challenged God with ignorance and remained in his predicament. The Bible says Job did not use foolishness to challenge God as unjust (Job 2:10, James 5:1, Ezek 14:14).
It is impossible to receive anything from God without faith. Understanding God’s love and compassion builds our trust and faith in His care for us. This trust brings comfort during difficult times, knowing that God is present and wants us to be well. Believing in God’s desire for our health gives us hope for both physical and spiritual healing. It also encourages us to take care of our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit, leading to healthier choices. This belief motivates us to pray for healing and protection, trusting in God’s power to help us. Additionally, it helps us reject harmful beliefs that wrongly attribute sickness to God’s punishment, leading to a clearer understanding of His character and intentions.
The devil always tries to deceive people into believing that God is against them or that their sickness is a punishment from God. This tactic aims to undermine trust in God’s love and goodness, leading to feelings of despair, hopelessness, and distance from God. In reality, God’s character is one of love, compassion, and mercy. He desires the well-being of His children and offers comfort, healing, and restoration. Understanding this truth helps combat the lies and deception of the enemy, empowering individuals to cling to God’s promises and seek His help and healing during times of sickness or distress.
In Matthew 15:21–28, Jesus refers to healing as “children’s bread,” indicating that it is something meant for God’s children, metaphorically likening it to sustenance or nourishment.” But he answered and said, ‘It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.'” The Canaanite woman’s faith is demonstrated by her willingness to accept even the “crumbs” of healing from Jesus, and because of her great faith, her daughter is healed.
Whosoever’s sin it is that brought sickness or is still propagating sickness, you are exempted from them as children of God. I heard God speaking to you this morning. I wish you well, not evil; I will help you; I am the one who heals you. Moses could have explained to the Israelites, “We are now in a fallen world where water can be bitter and sickness is common; just live with it!” He didn’t; he asked for a solution. Don’t settle for the world’s view of God. He loves you in spite of the world. You can escape corruption in the world because Christ died.
Author
kay.alli@legalview.co.uk