Post 11 : Revisiting the Thankful for the Many Names of God series!

Exodus 15:23-26
When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah. And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?”  And he cried to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.

There the Lord made for them a statute and a rule, and there he tested them, saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.”
(bold and italics mine, added for emphasis)

Yahweh-Rapha [yah-way-raw-faw] is first found in Exodus 15:26 and follows one of the first miracles God performs in the wilderness. In Hebrew, rapha means to restore, heal, or make healthy¹. Yahweh-Rapha demonstrates God’s ability to heal our bodies, our individual distress, and our collective hurts as a people or nation².

Some highlights of its use include:

I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee. Psalm 41:4

From the physical healing of Hezekiah, to the healing of the nation of Israel, to the healing of David’s soul we see that Yahweh-Rapha, the Lord Who Heals, can heal every part of us, body, spirit (what many call the heart), and soul (what many call the mind). When we come to Him with our hurts – physical, emotional, mental, relational – God knows exactly what we need to be made healthy because He created us (Elohim). He truly is the Great Physician!

What’s more – though our physical bodies age, become diseased, or get injured leading one day to our physical death – our Great Physician has made a way for us to live eternally in Heaven with Him through His Son Jesus Christ. In Isaiah 57:18 the prophet wrote, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.“ When Christ went to the cross, died, and rose again three days later, He took with Him to the grave the sin that separates us from God. When He rose again, He made a way for us to defeat sin and death as well!

Sweet friend, one glorious day all who believe on Him will be healed of all that ails them – FOREVER!

Do you have a physical hurt or illness that needs healing?

• Call on God as Yahweh-Rapha, The Lord Who Heals!

Do you have emotional wounds that threaten to fester into bitterness or resentment?

• Call on God as Yahweh-Rapha, The Lord Who Heals!

Do you have mental trauma or harmful thoughts that keep you from living life to the fullest?

• Call on God as Yahweh-Rapha, The Lord Who Heals!

Heavenly Father, You are our Great Physician, our Creator. You alone know the full inner workings our bodies, our hearts, and minds. You alone have made a way through Your Son for us to be without sickness or pain one day. Thank You Father for medical professionals and mental health professionals who serve as Your hands and feet, helping and healing. Forgive us Father when we rely on our own wisdom or remedies and forget to seek You and the healing You provide. Your method of healing is perfect and complete Lord and we thank You for it. Amen.

References:

1. Blue Letter Bible. 2022. Names of God in the Old Testament. https://www.blueletterbible.org/study/misc/name_god.cfm
2. Blue Letter Bible. 2022. Strongs H7495. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h7495/kjv/wlc/0-1/
3. Got Questions. 2022. What are the names of God and what do they mean? https://www.gotquestions.org/names-of-God.html