Jehovah Rapha – The Lord Your Healer

Butt of Lewis Lighthouse, Lewis & Harris,
Photography courtesy of Hannah. https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attractions-g186485-Activities-c47-t22-oa30-Scotland.html

And He said, “If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am your healer.”

Exodus 15:26 (NASB)

As we continue with the many names of God we come to Jehovah Rapha; the LORD who heals. It is with this in mind I want to deal with our common misconception on what is a healer. We are raised on stories of tribal healers who performed all manner of rituals to heal the sick or the injured warrior. We watch countless dramas, or read books where medical professionals perform miracles that touch our hearts. Healing always seems to involve relief from some malady of the body, but the Divine healing the child of God experiences stretches further than physical relief from illness; it is part of a wider process that comes from obeying God.

Our text comes just after the Israelites rescue from Egypt, and crossing of the Red Sea. God calls on the people to follow Him, his Word, and to lead Holy lives in doing so. The reward of such faithfulness is that He will lead them, and heal them from any diseases. God is loyal to His Word, leading them to a beautiful oasis at Elim plentiful with food and water for all the people. He healed their bodily and spiritual needs.

But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you.’
Jeremiah 7:23

Thus, besides its basic meaning of “to heal,” the word, rapha, can mean, “to restore,” or “to mend.” So Jehovah Rapha can mean “the Lord who restores,” or “the Lord who fixes broken things.”

He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Psalm 23:3

Dear Reader, a Christian is not completely immune from ill-health, mild or serious. Look at the example of Job, who suffered much. God used Job’s trials to show how faithful Job was, and how faithful He was to His children. I have experienced my own health issues, but have been able to use them to share God’s love with others. Remember the many healings done by our Lord Jesus in the Gospel stories; each of them displaying the Grace of God to lost souls – healing the most deadly disease of sin. One of the key aspects of illness is that it leads us to seek God; to call on Him who loves us, and always hears our prayers. Have you need to call on Jehovah Rapha today, your healer?

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
Psalm 103:2-3

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