The Lord, Your Physician

Exodus 15:26 - And said, If you will diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD your God, and will do that which is right in his sight, and will give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon you, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that heals you. 

This verse is one of the first in the Bible that deals directly with the matter of God’s will concerning health, and it has been regarded by many as a key part of the foundation underpinning the truth of what has been called divine healing. The subject of divine healing is controversial, and many people have a distorted view of what is meant by it, which is why it is vital to seek out balanced and well-adjusted teaching on the subject. Those who preach divine healing may also be judged guilty by association with some, who by their message and methods, have not represented the heart of God well, in this regard. When we use the term divine healing, we are simply saying that it is the nature of God to heal, and He has many avenues and means for bringing it about. We should also note that every field of study, this one included, has its unique laws and processes which govern its outcomes; many issues come to bear; truly, one size does not fit all. When we delve into this topic, we must do so carefully, for we are dealing with the lives of God’s precious people, and we all have limited knowledge. Indeed, there are a variety of factors that need to be considered when it comes to the healing of the body.  

In every Bible promise, there is a God-side and a man-side, and both are necessary. God is saying to us in this verse, that if we do our part, then He will do His part. We cannot fulfil His part, and He cannot fulfil our part. In seeking God for healing, this is the place where many of us have trouble; we tend to focus solely on ourselves. We begin to think of our shortcomings and of all that we may have failed to do and how much we need to change, and then we fall prey to the nagging voice of condemnation, thus ensuring our continued defeat. There is a part for us to play, and there are responsibilities laid on us to meet certain conditions. All the promises of God are conditional, and we only qualify when we fulfil those conditions. However, the good news is that God gives us the power to fulfil those conditions. Our Father God is so good. He gives us His Name, His Word, His Spirit, His Grace, His Strength, and His Joy through which He enables us to do what He asks and then He rewards us for doing what we could never have done without Him, to begin with. 

When the Israelites left their prolonged slavery in Egypt and journeyed through the wilderness, God began to give them a combination of laws, principles, and guidelines to build an orderly, civil, and productive society. Some of those laws had to do with maintaining their relationship with God and man, and others had to do with hygiene and health. If they were to follow those laws, which was the man-side of the promise, God would ensure their health and longevity, which was the God-side of the promise. There are natural laws which govern the health of the body, and long before modern science discovered these laws, God gave Moses a glimpse into them. Someone has once said that we need to put the emphasis on God’s side of the promise first and man’s side later, because doing so makes man’s side easier. In other words, we are not to focus on ourselves but on God and what He has promised and what He is capable of; we must emphasize His love and power first.  

God says to His people that none of the diseases that the Egyptians experienced will come upon them. A surface reading of this verse gives the impression that God is the one who brings disease on people. There is much that we need to say about the language of the Old Testament and the ancient Hebrew way of making God the cause of everything, both good and bad. However, to keep it short and simple here, we should point out that there is no personal pronoun for God in the original writings. It simply says that none of the diseases that came upon Egypt will come upon them. The Clear Word Bible says, ‘I will not let any of you come down with the diseases of the Egyptians.’ 

This phrase, ‘the Lord that heals’, in the original writings, gives us one of several redemptive names of God; Jehovah-Rapha. In the Biblical view, a name is not simply a title or a way to address someone. A name represents the nature of the person; it embodies who they are at the core and essence of their being. How gripping this is when we consider this name of God; Jehovah-Rapha. Jehovah is the name of God that reveals His self-existent, covenantal nature; He is uncreated and is incapable of need; hence, All-Powerful. Rapha is the Hebrew word that encompasses all aspects of healing and health, including one’s ongoing relationship with the physician. So, we could say that He is the Great Physician; He is all-powerful and is inherently committed to bringing the solution to us for any affliction or disease. The will of God flows out of the nature of God and everything in His nature is healing and health; it is life, not death; it is strength, not weakness. 

Be encouraged, friends, Jehovah-Rapha is not a distant, malicious God, hurling affliction upon you; No!, that would be a dreadful distortion of His very name and nature. He is your very own Father, and like a good father, He is present with you, watching over His promise to bring it to pass in your life. Thank you, Abba, Father, the Lord, my Healer!  

 Poverty and Shame

Proverbs 13:18 - Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuses instruction: but he that regards reproof shall be honoured.

   This brief statement informs us in a very straight-forward and frank way, that when you refuse instruction, you set yourself up for, and make yourself vulnerable to, a life of poverty and shame, and you would not be justified in blaming anyone else but yourself. A person certainly does not wish for either poverty or shame, but to have both of these embedded in one’s life would be a terrible, double-curse.

    Material poverty is a condition where one never has enough to meet the bare necessities of life, and there persists a constant struggle to pay bills and put food on the table. Spiritual poverty is when one may indeed have plenty of resources but the fear of never having enough or losing it all, grips the life. Neither of these are the intention of God for anyone. God desires to bless His children and supply what they need. He wants them to live in a state of peace and security; that is His heart. However, there are laws of life that constantly work and they will not be set aside, for if they were arbitrarily set aside, we would have disorder and chaos. While it is true that God cares deeply for all people, the laws themselves do not care for people, and they do not regard, or make distinctions between people. Those law-principles operate continually, unmoved by the pain and suffering that certain choices may bring.

    Possibly even more damaging than carrying the constant weight of poverty, is residing under a dark and heavy cloud of shame. Psychologists and therapists, and all those who work in the counselling field, tell us that shame is a central issue that fuels compulsive and self-destructive behaviour, and it is at the root of all addictions. There is no doubt that a relentless, nagging sense of shame captivates people and holds them in the vicious cycle of defeat. It is a sad fact that many people have been raised in a culture of shame. Many homes perpetuated shame without realizing it. Many churches, tragically, have done the same. Shame is both invisible and invasive; it is hard to detect and even harder to destroy. It does not promote positive change, instead it reinforces the inner voices of self-disdain and strengthens the lies that have held people down. Thank God, we can break free from all of that by understanding and applying the principles of God.

    Instruction is that which is given for the benefit of the student. It contains correction, warnings, and much-needed discipline. All of these elements are required in every person’s life, and there are no exceptions. If we want effectiveness and satisfied fulfillment in our lives, then we must never refuse instruction. The sad reality is, however, that most of us do refuse instruction and correction. When someone corrects us, quite often our first tendency is to defend ourselves and justify our actions, and by so doing, we are refusing the correction. There are many people who have refused correction and instead hid their shortcomings, or their sin, or their crimes, and when the truth came out, it brought with it both poverty and shame. Accepting correction and changing one’s life could have saved the person from all of the humiliation, loss and heart ache.

    In contrast to the one who refuses to accept correction, is the one who regards reproof, and, Oh, what a contrast it is. He that values reproof, or correction will eventually be honoured. Those who despise correction live under a heavy cloud of shame, but those who are humble enough to receive the correction, and know that they need it, will be those who live under the heavy blessing of God, enjoying peace and satisfaction. I use the word, heavy, because that is what it means to be honoured. It is a word that is connected to the glory of God. Scholars tell us that the Hebrew word for honour, or glory describes all that God is; He is heavy-laden with blessing, goodness, wisdom, power and wealth. That is what God wants to do for the one who values and submits to correction and discipline. By going through this process of submission to correction, we become people of character whom God and this world can entrust with great honour. Poverty and shame, or great honour? Which will you and I choose?

 

You've Got Mail

 

You've Got Mail

Psalm 107:20 - He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

In today’s world there are millions of transactions done every day. Packages are sent from one side of the continent to another via courier. Money is sent from one bank account to another via the internet. Letters are sent from one person to another via the mail system. Our Heavenly Father is also in the sending business and before He sends anything else, He sends His Word. If something is sent that implies that it came from a specific location, it contains a precise purpose, and it also has a definite destination.

God carries mankind in His heart; He is intensely concerned about every detail of our lives. Like a good father, He longs to bless and help and so, He fills His word with power and sends it to accomplish His will. The Word of God is sent from His heart to your heart with a purpose; indeed, God’s Word is a missionary Word. It is sent on a mission, it has an assignment from the sender, and it is designed to reach the addressee.

Most times, when we are in trouble or needing answers from God, we get our eyes on what it is that we need. If we are in trouble financially, we tend to simply ask God to send money. If we are at a crossroads, not knowing which way to turn, we might ask God to send guidance. If we are sick, naturally, we ask God to send healing. However, instead of looking for the answer itself, it may be more important to get our eyes on God and, more specifically, on His Word.

As we look closer at our verse, we notice that God did not send healing, He sent His Word. He wants us to be healed but there is something more important than the answer alone, and that is the Word of God which brings change to us as we seek Him for the answer. The Word of God is the only thing that brings lasting change to our outlook and lifestyle. As parents, we know that we do not simply want to give our children what they desire, we want them to mature and develop into responsible, contributing people. Educators do not want the student to merely get a passing grade, they want them to learn because learning a lesson brings lifelong change.

God sends His Word. This is the pattern established and recorded in the Scriptures. In the beginning, God wanted light to shine so He sent His Word of light and that light is still fulfilling its intended assignment. God sends His Word. He might send it through an angel. He might send it through a dream. He might send it through a person. He might send it through various literature. One thing for sure that we know, He has already sent His Word in the form of the Bible. We have sixty-six books which contain God’s Word. As we read, ponder, and apply that Word, we become strengthened in faith, we become matured in character, we become prepared in attitude, and we become ready to receive.

Please, friends, don’t wait for the spectacular and instant answers. No! Open the Book of God. Read it daily. Read it slowly. Take time with His Word and think deeply. Allow His words to adjust your outlook and dictate to you the next steps to take. Commune heart-to-heart with your Father through His Words. If we do, a shift will happen; we will change, we will grow, and we will receive our answers from Him. Truly, it is written and it is dependable; He sent His Word and it healed them.

 

Perfect Peace

Isaiah 26:3 – You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Fear. Disarray. Confusion. Division. Once again, our world seems to be in suspense, not knowing what the next days may bring. The hatred among political parties. The threat of higher tariffs. Economic instability. Will jobs be lost? Will our retirement be postponed? Many plans have been put on hold and barriers between people have been erected. Indeed, the future continues to feel uncertain. Into this dark and depressing environment, the light of God’s Word comes shining in. Can we experience peace during a time of chaos? Yes, we can. Is it possible to enjoy peace when all hell is breaking loose? Yes, it is.

Every good father wants his family to be kept safe. He wants his children to know the security of protection and provision. He wants them to enjoy their childhood without a care in the world. There is no greater protector and provider than our Father God, and He desires all these things for His children. He will preserve us, He will protect us, and He will provide for us. Truly, He is our trustworthy Keeper, who watches over our safety.

Underneath our English word peace, is a Hebrew word which contains multiple levels of meaning and application. Shalom is an ancient and sacred word which defies simple definition and may take volumes to describe its truth. Emphasizing its importance, Hebrew scholars have told us that Shalom is at the center of all words and all ideas. It surrounds us in our coming and in our going. It is the ultimate blessing, the container in which all other blessings are held. Nothing is whole, nothing is perfect unless it is accompanied by peace. Indeed, peace is one of God’s big words, and just as an apple seed contains within itself countless future orchards, so Shalom carries within itself the truth of the whole Bible, it encapsulates God’s heart and intention for mankind. Shalom includes the ideas of safety, security, well-being, prosperity, and rest. One of the best definitions of shalom, comes from Jewish scholar David Baron; nothing missing, nothing broken. Just imagine, friends, if nothing good ever went missing from your life, and nothing valuable was ever broken, how happy, satisfied, and fulfilled would you be?

An art teacher once asked his students to create a picture depicting peace. Some students painted a child sleeping soundly, and some, a small cabin by a babbling brook. Still others, portrayed serene landscapes with rolling hills and crystal-clear lakes, but one student’s picture showed a tree on the edge of a cliff just above the ocean. The sky looked dark and menacing, the wind was raging furiously, and the waves were splashing high against the rocks. The teacher was confused and asked the student to explain how her artwork had portrayed a picture of peace. The student replied that to discover peace in this setting, one must abandon preconceived ideas and look a little closer. Indeed, a closer look revealed that there was hidden deep within the branches of the tree, a tiny bird tucked under its’ mother’s wing, singing away, warm and dry in the nest. That is true peace; it is not the absence of trouble, or danger, or threat, it is living in a state of well-being and contentment, safe and secure in the very middle of the storm.

While it is God’s will for us to live in perfect peace, we have a vital role to play; our mind must be stayed on the Lord. Our thought-life is a key factor and will determine whether we are filled with anxiety or not. We may not have control over the situations we are in, but we do have control over our thoughts, indeed, we are the only ones that do. God, Himself, does not control our thinking for us because that is our domain and responsibility. This is where the struggle is won or lost, in the battlefield of the mind. To gain the upper hand over our attitude and emotions we must regularly read and constantly feed on the Scriptures. We must learn to trust in the One who never changes. We must learn the art and discipline of becoming a non-anxious person. As we practice this, we will begin to recognize which thoughts to keep and which thoughts to reject. Let’s encourage each other, friends, to focus on the promises of our Faithful God and keep our minds stayed on Him, and He will do exactly as He says here: He will keep us in perfect peace!

 

 

Don’t Let the Fear In

John 14:27b – Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Anxiety. Confusion. Apprehension. Suspense. The disciples were shocked at the news of what Jesus was saying. Was it true that Jesus was going to be killed? Wasn’t He the long-awaited Saviour? How could this be? Wasn’t He the one who was going to change everything for Israel? They couldn’t wrap their minds around that fact. It seemed that everything they had based their faith on was being taken away, indeed, the rug was being pulled out from beneath them. The magnitude of what the Lord was saying was too much for them to understand. Knowing that His friends were being overwhelmed, Jesus gave them instructions that would enable them to navigate peacefully through the hardships they were about to face.

When the Bible speaks of the heart, it most often refers to our inner person, the core and nucleus of our life. Those who study cellular biology tell us that the nucleus of a cell is considered the command center, issuing orders for growth, maturity, division, or even, death. Our heart is similar in that, it too, is a command center; it gives directions that we subconsciously follow. Our day to day lives will always conform to the dictates and commands issued from our hearts. What fills our heart will eventually fill our life. What we believe in the heart, either positive or negative, affects our lives accordingly.

Jesus is informing the disciples, and all of us today, that we are not to allow our hearts to entertain any anxious or fearful thoughts. The thoughts are real, and the pressures are real, but we do not have to succumb to our emotions and feelings. Have you noticed how quickly our minds can go from a place of peace to one of turmoil and panic? Do not let this happen. We are not powerless victims who must yield to every negative thought, but we are powerful victors who can calmly regulate our minds and emotions. As one survivor of a Nazi concentration camp has said, ‘Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms – to choose ones’ attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose ones’ own way.’

In a time of crisis, the last thing we need is widespread panic. What we need is calm, thoughtful, guidance. All of us are called to some form of leadership, even if it is only our own selves that we lead. We must lead our emotions, not be led by them. We must lead our fears, not be controlled by them. We must lead our thought-life, not be governed by it. We must become that rare person who is called a non-anxious presence. The ones who remain calm are the ones who also remain sane; they see more clearly and make better decisions. Jesus said it to His disciples then, and He is saying it to us as well; do not allow your hearts to be troubled or upset, and do not allow fear to control you. Someone has once written that those who take responsibility during a crisis are those to whom power flows. They are the ones to whom answers come. A friend of mine told me that in one ancient Eastern language there was only one symbol for crisis, and it meant both danger and opportunity. To those who are overwhelmed by anxiety and fear, the crisis is dangerous, but to those who are calmly and deliberately governing their emotions, it is an opportunity. That is the good news, this crisis can be an opportunity to re-examine our priorities and our lifestyles. It can be an opportunity to draw closer to our Father God and closer to each other. It can be an occasion for positive change. Do not be overanxious or discouraged, friends, you are not alone in this fight. No matter how you may feel, reach out and take comfort and take courage. Do not let your hearts be troubled!