I Am The LORD, Who Heals You

Out side, a Doctors office there is this sign "Doctors treat God heals." That sign always causes me to pause and think.

One reason is that it runs counter to the way we normally think. Today we tend to think this way, "I am sick, the Doctor will know what is wrong with me, give me a shot or a pill, the medicine will heal me all, end of the matter." There are a few problems with that line of reasoning. First, many Doctors are very skilled and wise, however they are not all knowing. Sometimes they do not know what is causing the symptom. Second, they do have an ever-growing arsenal of drugs, surgical techniques, and therapies to use. Personally, I am grateful for all these treatments. However, there are not treatments for every problem and as many have found out the treatments usually have side effects that sometimes cause real harm. Third, there are many problems that cannot be cured; attempts at control are all that can be done. These and more reasons are why medical people talk about treatments not healings.

The Christian has much more hope because God does not just "treat" he heals! In fact in Exodus 15:26 he says, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you."

The Old Testament has many examples of God validating that promise and Divine name. One dramatic healing is that of the Assyrian General Naaman in 2 Kings 5:14-15 once he obeyed God. "So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, 'Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel.'"

The New Testament is full of examples of God healing. In fact, healing is one of the hallmarks of Jesus Christ's ministry. After Jesus ascended, healing continued. For example in Acts 3, a lame man is healed. Notice Peter's words to him, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." {Acts 3:6} God healed not Peter.

God still heals! He heals spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically. He gave potent resources like wisdom, prayer and anointing.

One of our problems is that we do not involve God enough in our need for healing. Too often, we go the Doctor, take the pills and stop there. If it is bad enough to see the Doctor, it is bad enough to pray about. It might be worth asking for prayer and anointing as well.

I am reminded of the time an older man told me to "religiously add oil to an engine." I asked him if he meant to do it often. He replied, "No, I mean pray a lot every time, this old engine needs lots of prayer to run!" Maybe we should treat our health needs the same way, praying every time we take a pill.

Remember to turn to God for your health needs, he is "the LORD, who heals you."

Written by Rev. Daniel B. Baker November 2004



Articles by Rev. Daniel B. Baker :: Webmaster: Joseph I. Baker