The terms of the covenant were set, and then YHWH offered yet another glimpse of YHWH’s identity: YHWH Rapha – our healing God. In a world of pandemics, contagion, and long-term diseases, this is one aspect of our God to which we ought to relate. Consider Today’s Holy Nougat.
Exodus 15:26 AFV
[26] And he 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 laws, I will put none of these diseases upon you, which I have brought upon the Egyptians; for I am the Lord Who heals you.”
YHWH Rapha
I almost didn’t come back to the final clause. I didn’t want to. For it’s not one for which I have clear answers. Because, like many of us, my family and I have had to cope with a time, that one instant, when YHWH’s choice for healing was death. All the various aspects of our knowledge of God, and our faith in Y’shua were under severe scrutiny.
For me, the questions came rushing in:
Was God less God, less powerful, less loving, less capable of healing because our loved one died?
What of our prayers, the prayers of others – were we not persistent, effectual, or righteous enough for the promise of James 5:16-17?
We were elders, had we neglected to forgive others, had we committed sins so egregious that YHWH couldn’t allow our loved one to live?
When called on to pray, could we truly expect that YHWH would hear and respond in the affirmative? And should we then begin with a qualifier that God might not answer as we desire?
How would we pray for others – for ourselves even – when YHWH and Y’shua didn’t choose to heal our beloved?
Self-Check
Have you been down those paths due to God’s ‘No’? How does one cling to God in such moments?
Deeper Dive
Siblings, honestly, I can’t say I have answers to most of those questions. I suspect we’re still working through all those pieces time and time again.
But
I have seen God heal miraculously since that disappointing ‘No’. I have seen YHWH’s power and might in so many lives and places. I have been present when Y’shua transformed others through the power of prayer.
Perhaps it wasn’t my/our loved one who needed healing. It was my faith in YHWH and in Y’shua that needed to move beyond mere unprocessed, untried pronouncements to one that remained resolute after the fires of adversity. Maybe I needed healing from the simplistic approach to YHWH’s nature and identity, to understand YHWH differently. And, having been through all – would my faith stand?
Well, my faith insists that our loved one sits at the throne of God at the appointed time, along with all other loved ones. Moreover, I also believe that there’s space at the throne for myself and my family, if we choose to accept YHWH’s offer. I dare say, there’s space for each of us at God’s Throne for each of us – when we choose to believe.
Can God heal – YES
Will God always heal if we ask – NO
Does that mean God is less God – NO
Should we still pray for healing – YES
Should we still trust YHWH – oh YES
Moreover, God doesn’t need us to make apologies for God’s decisions. God can handle our insecurities and fears. Siblings, Luke quotes Y’shua advising that several people didn’t receive healing back in the Ancient Near Eastern Jewish context. It didn’t negate God’s God-ness. God remains YHWH Rapha, our God who heals.
If there’s a need to seek the Healer today, don’t wait – invite God’s grace into the situation now.
Prayer Point
Lord, we believe. Help thou our unbelief! Heal us despite, in Y’shua’s name amen.
May all we seek be found in Christ
