Take a deep breath because we are going to dive into a deep aspect of the character of God today: healing. This devotional will focus on the Old Testament name of God: Jehovah Rapha (I wrote about some New Testament examples of healing back in April). The Hebrew Jehovah Rapha translates as the God who heals, binds up, or makes whole.
Let’s start with what the Bible has to say about Jehovah Rapha. The first mention of this name of God is in Exodus 15:26:
If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commands and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you. (New King James Version)
This passage is pretty interesting, so let’s get some context. This verse follows the Israelites being freed from 430 years of slavery in Egypt. They have seen/experienced many of the 10 plagues that God used to change Pharaoh's heart/mind, allowing the Israelites to leave the land. The Israelites have been on their journey towards the Promised Land for a little while thus far. They have experienced the parting of the Red Sea to allow them safe passage, and watched the sea close up over the Egyptians who were following them in order to bring them back to Egypt as slaves. Wow…talk about seeing God’s power!
There are several more passages in the Old Testament that use the title Jehovah Rapha.
Jeremiah 30:17 states, “for I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds, says the LORD”. Isaiah 30:26 shares, “…In the day that the LORD binds up the bruise of His people and heals the stroke of their wound”. Isaiah 61:1 “…because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound”. Psalm 103:2-3: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your inequities, who heals all your diseases.” These passages show the many facets of Jehovah Rapha, from healing wounds to freeing prisoners. The Isaiah 61:1 verse shows God using specific people, in this case Isaiah, to bring about healing or freedom.
My takeaway from these passages is that God has the power and choice to heal at any time, either directly or through individuals following His leading. I pray that God will heal me, and I pray that I am following as He leads to bring healing to others.
-Dr. Elissa Rogers (a contributing writer and member of the COBI community)
These passages and your commentary on them is healing to me right now. Right this minute.
He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound”. Psalm 103:2-3: “
I think about , when reading this, how we are all captives until we have our eyes opened and see all that the Lord has given to us and created for us. Your discussing all the miracles surrounding the Jewish people leaving Egypt where they were enslaved to getting to the Promised Land shows me that God is in every possible way trying to get us to open our eyes and see the mighty power th…