After three days of wandering in the Desert of Shur with no water, the Israelites discovered a river with waters so bitter that, even as thirsty as they were, they could not drink. Moses cried out to God and God made the water sweet.
As they drank, God gave the Israelites a new name for Himself: Jehovah Rapha (the God who heals).
Still today, we know Jesus as the Great Physician (Mark 2:15). Our God is the One who heals, but as we visit our friends in hospitals and mourn our loved ones in funerals, what kind of healing can we really expect from God?
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐆𝐨𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲?
#1 Physically
I trust that the God who made our bodies can surely fix them when they are broken. Jesus powerfully demonstrated that there was nothing that He could not heal us from, even death. Today even when healing seems impossible, we can pray to the Father and expect that prayer to be heard and change things. I believe that.
I also understand that nowhere in the Bible does God promise to always heal our bodies. If He did, how would we get to heaven? In fact, in 2 Corinthians 12 Paul asked God three times to remove a physical problem from him and God refused to do it. Instead, God gave him grace to endure. Great physical healing is possible, but it is not always promised.
Instead, we have a greater guarantee: One day every Christian will have a glorified body that is free from all sickness. Romans 8:23-25 says, “We also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.”
Things are not the way they should be. God did not create us for sickness and pain, and so we eagerly for the day when Jehovah Rapha heals completely.
#2 Emotionally
Isaiah 61:1-2 says “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, … To comfort all who mourn.” Psalm 147:3 promises, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
If you have been wounded emotionally then Jesus can heal you. Matthew 11:28–30 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
#3 Spiritually
Jesus came not just to heal the sick and raise the dead, but to prepare all who were willing for the spiritual healing that through Him Jehovah Rapha was offering to the world. What good would it be for me to gain physical health, emotional health, or even the whole world, if my soul is still sick.
When we recognize that our sin is a sickness, Jesus stands prepared as the Great Physician to heal. The Israelites cried out to God and He answered, “I am the God who heals.” God is still healing His people and today we cry out to Him.