Yahweh-Rophe, Yahweh-Rophe, The LThe LORDORD Who Who

HealsHealsExodus 15:22-27Exodus 15:22-27

2 Corinthians 4:7-182 Corinthians 4:7-18

Exodus 15:22-26Exodus 15:22-26

Then Moses made Israel set out from the Red Then Moses made Israel set out from the Red Sea, and they went into the wilderness of Sea, and they went into the wilderness of Shur. They went three days in the Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water. wilderness and found no water. 23 23 When When they came to Marah, they could not drink they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah. therefore it was named Marah. 24 24 And the And the people grumbled against Moses, saying, people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” “What shall we drink?” 25 25 And he cried to And he cried to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a log, the LORD, and the LORD showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet.water became sweet.

Exodus 15:22-26, contExodus 15:22-26, cont

There the LORDThere the LORD made for them a statute made for them a statute and a rule, and there he tested them, and a rule, and there he tested them, 26 26 saying, “If you will diligently listen to saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the LORD your God, and do the voice of the LORD your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, your Egyptians, for I am the LORD, your healer.”healer.”

The meaning of the name:The meaning of the name:Yahweh-Rophe depicts Yahweh-Rophe depicts God as the Lord who God as the Lord who redeems us from the redeems us from the

effects of sin and brings effects of sin and brings life, wholeness, and life, wholeness, and

salvation to us salvation to us

The Biblical View of The Biblical View of HealingHealing

Wholistic world view – not Wholistic world view – not compartmentalizedcompartmentalized

Pre-scientific – but not ignorant. They Pre-scientific – but not ignorant. They had no class of physicians but were had no class of physicians but were proactive in treating sicknesses.proactive in treating sicknesses.

Rural – farm animals – common Rural – farm animals – common sicknesses were skin infectionssicknesses were skin infections

Sickness meant an absence of wholenessSickness meant an absence of wholeness Healing meant wholeness – Rapa and Healing meant wholeness – Rapa and

Rophe in HebrewRophe in Hebrew

Healing in the Old TestamentHealing in the Old Testament Diseases – Psalm 103:3, “Who forgives all your Diseases – Psalm 103:3, “Who forgives all your

sins and heals all your diseases.”sins and heals all your diseases.” The earth, farm land – 2 Chron. 7:14, “And heal The earth, farm land – 2 Chron. 7:14, “And heal

their land.” their land.” AretzAretz refers to the land, Aretz refers to the land, Aretz Israel. Israel.

The Salt Sea (Dead Sea) – Ezek. 47:8, “The The Salt Sea (Dead Sea) – Ezek. 47:8, “The waters there become fresh.” waters there become fresh.” Rapha Rapha is used. is used.

The broken-hearted – Psalm 147:3, “He heals The broken-hearted – Psalm 147:3, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

Preventive Healing – Exodus 15:25-26, “If you Preventive Healing – Exodus 15:25-26, “If you pay attention to his commands and keep all his pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD who heals you.” the LORD who heals you.”

Healing in the Old Healing in the Old TestamentTestament Spiritual Healing – Psa. 41:4, “Heal me, for Spiritual Healing – Psa. 41:4, “Heal me, for

I have sinned against you”; I have sinned against you”; Isaiah 6:10: “Otherwise they might see Isaiah 6:10: “Otherwise they might see

with their eyes, hear with their ears, with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”be healed.”

Jeremiah 3:22: “Return, faithless people; I Jeremiah 3:22: “Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding.”will cure you of backsliding.”

Also Isaiah1:5-6; 6:10; 30:26; 53:4-5; Also Isaiah1:5-6; 6:10; 30:26; 53:4-5; Jeremiah 3:22; 8:22; 30:12-17; Jeremiah 3:22; 8:22; 30:12-17;

Hosea 6:1; 14:4, “I will heal their Hosea 6:1; 14:4, “I will heal their waywardness and love them freely.”waywardness and love them freely.”

Heavenly Healing – Ezekiel 47:11-12:Heavenly Healing – Ezekiel 47:11-12:

Healing in the New Healing in the New TestamentTestament

Broad meaning – wholeness: Matthew 4:24, Broad meaning – wholeness: Matthew 4:24, “People brought to him all who were ill with “People brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon possessed, those having seizures, the demon possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them.”and the paralyzed, and he healed them.”

Spiritual problems – Mark 2:17, “It is not the Spiritual problems – Mark 2:17, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Gifts of healing – 1 Corinthians 12:9Gifts of healing – 1 Corinthians 12:9 Heavenly healing – Revelation 22:2, “And the Heavenly healing – Revelation 22:2, “And the

leaves of the tree are for the healing of the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse…”nations. No longer will there be any curse…”

In the wilderness…In the wilderness…

Disappointment at Marah: after Disappointment at Marah: after deliverance from Egypt they experienced deliverance from Egypt they experienced disappointment in the Wildernessdisappointment in the Wilderness

Deliverance – healing: despite the Deliverance – healing: despite the bitterness of the water, God made it bitterness of the water, God made it sweet and drinkablesweet and drinkable

Identity – a new name of God was given: Identity – a new name of God was given: Yahweh-Rophe or the LORD who heals. Yahweh-Rophe or the LORD who heals.

1. The Disappointments 1. The Disappointments of Lifeof Life

Deliverance Deliverance from Egypt did from Egypt did not prevent not prevent bitter bitter experiences in experiences in the wilderness. the wilderness.

After salvation, After salvation, how do we get how do we get rid of the rid of the bitterness of our bitterness of our soul?soul?

What do we do with our What do we do with our disappointments? disappointments?

The Blame Game – you, him, them?The Blame Game – you, him, them? The Spiritual Shopping Trip – trying The Spiritual Shopping Trip – trying

to find a better offerto find a better offer Go back to Egypt? Forsaking Christ? Go back to Egypt? Forsaking Christ?

Can we return to our lost condition? Can we return to our lost condition? The Internalization of Bitterness – stiff The Internalization of Bitterness – stiff

upper lip and a hard bitter heartupper lip and a hard bitter heart Is someone supposed to make us Is someone supposed to make us

happy? happy?

2. The Healing of the 2. The Healing of the WatersWaters

Moses cried Moses cried out to the out to the LORD, in faithLORD, in faith

A piece of A piece of wood, an image wood, an image of the crossof the cross

When Christ is When Christ is brought into brought into the picture, the picture, God can bring God can bring healinghealing

Israel’s Deliverance and Israel’s Deliverance and HealingHealing

IsraelIsrael Deliverance from Deliverance from

enslavement in Egyptenslavement in Egypt Healing and Healing and

provision in the provision in the wilderness wilderness wanderingswanderings

Final victory as they Final victory as they entered the Promised entered the Promised LandLand

Us todayUs today Delivered from Sin Delivered from Sin

at Salvationat Salvation Wilderness Wilderness

Wanderings depict Wanderings depict the carnal Christian the carnal Christian lifelife

Final Victory is the Final Victory is the life of surrenderlife of surrender

Heb 4:3,9-11Heb 4:3,9-11

3. A New Name was given3. A New Name was given

Moses and the nation of Israel had a Moses and the nation of Israel had a new understanding of God. He not new understanding of God. He not only delivers but He heals. only delivers but He heals.

God is always relevant for our livesGod is always relevant for our lives The question is whether our lives are The question is whether our lives are

relevant to the plans and purposes of relevant to the plans and purposes of GodGod

How to receive God’s How to receive God’s inner healinginner healing

All God’s healing is mediated by Christ All God’s healing is mediated by Christ and achieved by the cross. Sufficient and achieved by the cross. Sufficient grace is available to cover the sins of grace is available to cover the sins of the whole world.the whole world.

Faith is required on our part.Faith is required on our part. Inner healing is the victory of God over Inner healing is the victory of God over

our hurts, our wounds, our fears, our our hurts, our wounds, our fears, our worries.worries.

Some healing experiences take time to Some healing experiences take time to be completely received and experienced.be completely received and experienced.

Healing through resting Healing through resting in Himin Him

Healing of resting in Him: Matthew Healing of resting in Him: Matthew 11:28, “and you will find rest for your 11:28, “and you will find rest for your souls.” Rest was one of the main ways souls.” Rest was one of the main ways people were treated for illnesses.people were treated for illnesses.

We can find soul rest and soul health We can find soul rest and soul health through ceasing to struggle to through ceasing to struggle to impress God or to earn His love, and impress God or to earn His love, and trust in His love for us and in His trust in His love for us and in His salvation offered for us through grace.salvation offered for us through grace.

Healing through holiness Healing through holiness in our livesin our lives

By pursuing holiness our lives are By pursuing holiness our lives are healthier.healthier.

“…“…and give ear to his commandments and and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you…”diseases on you…”

1 Peter 3:10-11: “Whoever would love life 1 Peter 3:10-11: “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.”good; they must seek peace and pursue it.”

Healing through Healing through forgiving othersforgiving others

James 5:16: “Therefore confess your sins James 5:16: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” righteous man is powerful and effective.”

Forgive others, and ask for their Forgive others, and ask for their forgiveness. Confess your faults to others. forgiveness. Confess your faults to others. Stubbornness in our hearts causes soul Stubbornness in our hearts causes soul sickness and often physical sickness. sickness and often physical sickness.

And Pray – the exercise of prayer is one of And Pray – the exercise of prayer is one of the most helpful things we can do for our the most helpful things we can do for our spiritual health.spiritual health.

Healing through givingHealing through giving

Luke 6:38: “Give and it shall be given Luke 6:38: “Give and it shall be given unto you.”unto you.”

2 Corinthians 8:7: “Just as you excel in 2 Corinthians 8:7: “Just as you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us – see that you also in your love for us – see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”excel in this grace of giving.”

2 Cor. 9:11: “You will be made rich in 2 Cor. 9:11: “You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous every way so that you can be generous on every occasion.”on every occasion.”

A lesson from John D…A lesson from John D… John D. RockefellerJohn D. Rockefeller World’s first Billionaire at World’s first Billionaire at

43 years of age!43 years of age! At 53 years of age his At 53 years of age his

health was so bad he lived health was so bad he lived on crackers and milk. He on crackers and milk. He enjoyed nothing.enjoyed nothing.

Ida Tarbell wrote, “He was Ida Tarbell wrote, “He was the oldest man I have ever the oldest man I have ever seen.”seen.”

He changed his purpose in He changed his purpose in life from getting to giving.life from getting to giving.

A lesson from John DA lesson from John D

““Turn your thoughts upon the higher Turn your thoughts upon the higher things of life. Be of service to humanity. things of life. Be of service to humanity. Turn your thoughts into channels of Turn your thoughts into channels of usefulness; look forward to a usefulness; look forward to a determination that something useful determination that something useful shall come out of your success…Do shall come out of your success…Do everything you can for the betterment of everything you can for the betterment of your fellow-men and in doing this you your fellow-men and in doing this you will enjoy life the better.”will enjoy life the better.”

He lived to be 97 years old.He lived to be 97 years old.