Who is God? Jehovah Rophe, Lord Our Healer (Part 3)

Healing of a Broken Womb

Psalm 115:9 O house of Israel, trust in the Lord – he is their help and shield. (NIV)

               The Bible tells the story of a man named Elkanah who had two wives – Peninnah and Hannah. Peninnah had been blessed with children, but Hannah was barren. Every year, Elkanah went to the temple to offer sacrifices and Hannah would pray, but no children had come. Peninnah found it pleasurable to tease Hannah because of her barren state which irritated Hannah all the more and made her feel miserable. For a woman to be barren during Biblical days oftentimes meant ridicule and shame from others because barrenness was seen as a curse from God. Psalm 127:3 Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him. (NIV) Nevertheless, Hannah’s prayer was not denied but delayed until God’s perfect timing.

               One day, during Elkanah’s annual trip, Hannah went to the temple and prayed to God for a son. She vowed to give him back to the Lord if He would grant her request, and that no razor would ever touch his head. Eli, the high priest, noticed her lips moving, while there was no sound coming from them. He thought that she was drunk and proceeded to rebuke her, but he was mistaken. It would seem that the priest would have spiritually discerned that Hannah was under great emotional distress, but that was not the case. Hannah, however, explained to Eli that she was making a request to God. 1 Samuel 1:17-18 Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him. She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes Then she went her way and ate something and her face was no longer downcast. (NIV) Jehovah Rophe answered her prayer in the course of time, and she had a son and named him Samuel. Not only did she have Samuel, whom she dedicated to the Lord as promised, but she had an additional three sons and two daughters. Jehovah Rophe healed her barren state and made her disgrace turn to exaltation by giving her more than what she had asked for.

               Abraham and Sarah had dealt with being barren as well centuries before Hannah had. For many years, they did not have any children. Due to their old age, they had given up on the idea of ever having children of their own. Nevertheless, Jehovah Rophe had other plans for them and did not allow their circumstances to dictate His plans for their lives. Through their barren state, Jehovah Rophe was going to show Himself strong and make Abraham a father of many nations. Genesis 12:2-3 “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (NIV) God was going to establish an entire nation through Abraham consisting of a people who would serve Him. There were, nonetheless, times of doubt in their minds that this promise would surely come to pass. Sarah got a little impatient after waiting for years and persuaded Abraham to sleep with her handmaiden Hagar to produce a child. Despite their impatience, God remained true to His word regardless of the time it took. Habakkuk 2:3 For the revelation awaits and appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. (NIV)

               Sarah was later blessed to have a son of her own named Isaac just as Jehovah Rophe had promised. He healed her barren womb and she became the mother of many nations. Genesis 21:2 Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. (NIV) Sarah may have wondered over the years why Jehovah Rophe wouldn’t heal her barren state. She may have prayed year after year for God to open her womb, but then gave up the idea and thought that Jehovah Rophe had not been listening. God was always listening, however, but His timing is not our timing. Yet, those who wait on the Lord, He will renew their strength. Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (NIV)

               Jehovah Rophe is our Healer and there is nothing that He can’t do. There is no situation that Jehovah Raphe cannot heal. Just as Hannah had enough faith to pray and petition Jehovah Rophe to heal her barren state, and Sarah was blessed with a child in her old age centuries prior, we too can ask Him to heal our barren situations in life as well. There are many people who need a Healer in their lives to heal them of brokenness, grief, pain, loneliness and depression – just to name a few. Regardless of whatever situation you may find yourself in, Jehovah Rophe is the answer and is the fixer to all that is broken. Remember, Jehovah Rophe is our Lord and Healer, for there is nothing that He cannot do but fail. Jeremiah 32:27 “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” (NIV)