Jehovah Rapha
“I am the Lord that healeth thee” (Exodus: 15 : 26 KJV)
Today I think I will explain the name Jehovah Raphah which means so much to me. I am preparing myself to think about this scripture deeply. This scripture is confessed by people who believe in miracles and is refuted by people who don’t believe in miracles. Let us not base our faith on what people think or what they have experienced. Let us put our faith only on what God’s Word says. I would like to share my thoughts with my readers with a heart that is throbbing but determined and full of gratitude to the Lord.
1. Is Healing God’s Will?
“God gave this to me”, I have heard many people say when they become ill. Let us listen to what the Word of God has to say.
John. 10:10 says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it to the full”(NIV). The thief or the devil comes to steal our health, joy, peace, relationships and everything else. But Lord Jesus has come so that we can have life and that too in full. God has a plan for each person. We see that in Psalms 128. God desires that we fear the Lord, walk in His ways and become blessed. Such a blessed man has the Lord’s blessing that his wife will be like a fruitful wine, and his children will be like olive shoots. God also desires that we should enjoy the fruit of our labour. That means that the Lord’s will about us is that we should be healthy, should labour and care for our family and enjoy the blessings of the God.
Let us listen to what Apostle John says in 3. John verse 2. “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well” (NIV). It is not God who steals what we have, it is Satan. God is the one who restores to us what Satan has stolen.
Psalms. 23: 2 says, “He restores my soul” (NIV).The Lord restores all the blessing, peace and joy which we have lost. He restores the consolation which we have lost. He restores the lost fellowship and joy. Along with all He gives us healing and restores our health. Look at Jeremiah 33: 6. “Neverthless I will bring health and healing to it. I will heal my people and let them enjoy abundant peace and security” (NIV). Along with abundant peace and security, God gives us health and healing.
Our God has only peace and blessing in His hand. Curse and trouble are Satan’s tools. God has only deliverance, no bondage. He has only light, no darkness. He has got only joy and happiness. He does not have sadness and sighing.
Then a question may arise. “What about Job?” Satan asked God’s permission twice, and tested Job only to the extent which God permitted. Satan took away wealth and riches and along with it destroyed his children. God did not do any of this though it is true that God allowed it to happen. The second time Satan destroyed his health. . Job did not understand that it was Satan who had stolen all that he had. His intellect could not grasp it. He kept his heart in God’s presence with complete integrity and joy. He said, “God gave and God took back”. Like many of us today though he lifted his heart to God’s presence, his intellect had not received that knowledge that Satan was behind all this. Also remember that God restored everything Job lost, in double.
(To be continued)
Spiritual He
