Jehovah Rapha’ — The Lord Who Heals
When God created Adam and Eve there was no curse, sickness, or death. They were living in the paradise that God had prepared with perfect health, strength and life. They could have lived on in that perfect place, but when they sinned it brought the curse, judgment and death. God had told them that if they sinned they would die. Their sin brought spiritual and physical weakness upon all of mankind. Within a few generations from Adam, the lifespan had diminished. David said, “The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow…” (Psalms 90:10). The history of mankind has proven that we face troubles on every side, conflicts all around, and fears within.
In 1552 B.C. the Egyptians wrote a famous medical book called, “Papyrus Ebers.”
It gave prescriptions and incantations for all manner of sicknesses and diseases. Their treatments were an attempt to counteract the varied problems that come upon us all. Their remedy for hair loss was to apply the fat of a horse, a hippopotamus, crocodile, cat, snake, and the ibex. When a child was sick they feed them a mouse. Drugs mentioned included lizard blood, swine teeth, putrid meat, stinking fat, and moisture from pig’s ears.
About the time this medical book was written, Moses was born in Egypt.
In the Book of Exodus, God revealed Himself to Moses and his people as the Lord Who heals. God was making a statute and ordinance with them and Jehovah Rapha made this declaration.
In Exodus 15:26 God said, “For I am the Lord who heals you.”
Jehovah Rapha is the solution for the many problems, sicknesses, and maladies we all face.
Isaiah 40 tells us we are weak and need strength, but God gives power and increases strength. Throughout all of our situations and distresses, God has proven to be a very present help. Jehovah Rapha’ has chosen to come to our aid through His Own personal and powerful intervention. Healing is an integral part of God’s blessing and covenant with those who do what is right in His sight and give ear to His word. Healing is connected with all of our need.
God said, “For I am the Lord who heals you.” Throughout the days of our lives we need Jehovah Rapha’ — The Lord Who Heals.
Jehovah Rapha’ — heals the brokenhearted.
Psalm 147:3 NKJV He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.
The word “brokenhearted” means overcome with grief or despair.
Have the circumstances and conditions of your life given you a broken heart?
When your heart is crushed by things you cannot solve, you need to hear this word.
Jehovah Rapha “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
You do not have to endure a broken heart, Jehovah Rapha heals the brokenhearted.
How does God heal the brokenhearted?
In Psalms 51, David was brokenhearted because he had sinned against God.
As he was praying and calling out to God for mercy he said, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” God knows how to heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds. The way God heals the brokenhearted is different from the way anyone else attempts to address this need. God is able to create a clean heart and renew your spirit in you. He comes in and gives joy instead of sorrow and sadness. Instead of confusion, God causes us to rejoice in our portion. He gives everlasting joy.
Isaiah 61:3 NKJV To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
When Jehovah Rapha heals the brokenhearted they are given new joy.
In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God promises to heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Forgiveness of sin and healing for our land covers our broader need. Jehovah Rapha alone is able to forgive sin and heal the land.
What does it mean to heal their land?
Throughout history entire civilizations and nations became sick and wicked. Many times when nations became so evil they were brought into destruction. Jehovah Rapha has a remedy for a sin sick land. He is able to heal the land.
What must we do?
The Bible says, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
If you notice that our land is sick from the wickedness of sin, you should humble yourself before God, pray and seek His face. Jehovah Rapha is the remedy for our nation and world.
Jehovah Rapha’ heals all of your diseases.
Psalm 103:3-5 NKJV Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
You need to know that forgiveness for all your iniquities and healing for all your diseases comes from Jehovah Rapha’.
God provided this healing before Isaiah prophesied that the Lord Jesus Christ would be wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities and by His stripes we would be healed.
The Lord your God is Jehovah Rapha.
Exodus 23:25 NKJV I will take sickness away from the midst of you.
He heals all of your diseases and takes sickness away from the midst of you. Whatever you are facing, Jehovah Rapha is your Healer.
The book of Job is one of the oldest books in the Bible.
Job became dreadfully sick and could not be healed. His body was attacked with sores and he was so tormented that he wanted to die. The Bible says he received a complete deliverance and healing. Job lived in good health for 140 years.
Job’s testimony is one of healing.
Although he had a fatal disease, Job was healed by Jehovah Rapha. If Satan would have completed his work, Job would have died. But, Job was healed by a miracle from God.
It is historically evident that it is God’s will to heal the sick.
Isaiah ties the healing message to ministry of Christ our Lord and Savior.
Isaiah 53:4-5 NKJV Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
This Messianic prophetic message covers all of our vast needs.
- It promises salvation and healing as remedies for our sin and sickness.
- It promises relief for sin and its many consequences.
- It promises healing for all our diseases.
- It provides joy, comfort, peace and hope.
Throughout the Old Testament, we are given the promise and hope of a Redeemer who will save, heal and deliver.
When Jesus Christ arrived on the scene He began to declare the purpose for His coming. In His sermons, lessons, and actions Christ proved that Jehovah Rapha had come to bring relief. He took up the book of Isaiah and read these words.
Isaiah 61:1-3 NKJV “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 proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…
The prophecy set the scene for the advent of the Messiah, and for the end of time when everything will be made whole.
- In Hebrew, Rapha` is the word for healing. (Isaiah 53:5)
It is translated: physician, cure, and repair. It refers to a healer who restores and makes healthy; to being restored to favor for nations and individuals; to healing water, vessels and persons; to make whole; to remove defects or hurts.
- Three Greek words are translated healing.
They mean to make whole, to free from errors and sin, to save, to cure and heal, to cause to recover, to make safe and sound, to save from perishing, to heal and restore to health.
The limitless riches of Christ’s healing covers the multitude of our needs.
Whatever it is that has made you weak, sick, heartbroken, down or out, Jehovah Rapha is your Healer.
The writer of Acts looked back at Christ’s ministry and life.
Acts 10:38 NKJV God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
Simon Peter affirmed this message.
1 Peter 2:24 NKJV Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
The limitless riches of Christ are demonstrated to provide every detail of the promise of Jehovah Rapha — The God Who Heals.
Follow Christ through the Gospels and you will see the extensive work of Jehovah Rapha.
Matthew 8:17 tells us: “He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses.”
Jehovah Rapha has enough power to heal everyone.
Jesus healed all manner of disease and physical and spiritual problem.
- Blind and Mute — Matthew 12:22; Matthew 15:30; Matthew 21:14; Mark 9:17-27
- Crippled — Matthew 15:30-31
- Deaf — Mark 9:25-27, Matthew 11:5
- Demon Possession — Matthew 4:24; 8:16; Matthew 8:28-34, Mark 1:32-34, 39, Mark 7:26-30; Mark 16:9
- Disabled — Matthew 15:30
- Restored an ear — Luke 22:51
- Epileptics – Matthew 4:24
- Fever — Matthew 8:14-15
- Incurable Hemorrhage — Mark 5:25,29; Luke 8:43-48
- Lame — Matthew 15:30; Matthew 21:14
- Leprosy — Matthew 8:23; Luke 5:12-13; Luke 17:12-14
- Paralyzed — Matthew 4:24; Matthew 8:5-13; Matthew 9:27
- Spirit of Infirmity — Luke 13:11-13
- Terminal Illness — Luke 7:2-10
- Unclean Spirit — Mark 1:23-26; Mark 5:2-15; Mark 7:25-30; Luke 4:33-36
- Withered Arm — Matthew 12:10-13
- Woman who was tormented by a spirit of infirmity and was bent over and could not stand straight — Luke 13:11-13
- He healed diverse diseases — Matthew 4:24; Mark 1:34; Luke 4:40
- Three times He raised the dead
- Jarius Daughter — Mark 5:22-43
- Widow of Nain’s Son — Luke 7:11-15
- Lazarus — John 11:1-44
- Often everyone who was sick and demon-possessed were brought to Him, and He healed them all, (Matthew 8:16-17; Mark 1:32-34; Luke 4:40-41; Luke 5:17; Luke 6:17-19).
- He healed to show compassion — Matthew 14:14; Matthew 20:24; Mark 1:40-41.
- He healed to fulfill prophecy — Matthew 8:17.
- He healed to prove that He was sent by the Father, Acts 2:22; John 5:36.
- He healed the devil possessed and showed that His power was greater than Satan’s, Mark 5:18.
- He healed to give abundant life, John 10:10; 14:6; John 1:4; John 3:16; John 15:4; 1 John 5:11-12.
- He healed to manifest the work of God, John 9:3; Matthew 9:8; Matthew 15:31; Mark 2:12; Luke 5:26; Luke 7:16; Luke 13:13; Luke 17:15.
Nothing is impossible for Jehovah Rapha — the Lord Who Heals.
