Who is God? Jehovah Rophe...Lord Our Healer (Part 5)

Healing of the Sick

Jeremiah 33:6 “Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.” (NIV)

              

               There was a man named Naaman who was the captain of his Syrian guard. He was highly favored with the king because God had given him numerous victories. Despite his many successes, he had a terrible illness from which there was no cure. He suffered from leprosy, which as the disease progressed, could result in public stigma due to being contagious in nature and causing body deterioration. There were no doctors who could cure him nor any medication that could be prescribed. Those who were diagnosed with leprosy were oftentimes the outcast of the community, but the disease seemingly had not disabled Naaman in such a manner to prevent him from doing his military duties. Therefore, he continued to serve as the captain of the army, but this may have burdened his mind as to how long he would have before he would no longer be able to fulfill his military obligations and be an outcast in his community.

         The Israelites had to abide by strict rules when it came to diseases such as leprosy in accordance to the commands God had given to Moses, but Naaman was not an Israelite so his people handled things differently. Leviticus 13:45-46 The person with such an infectious disease must wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of his face and cry out. ‘Unclean! Unclean! As long as he has the infection, he remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp. (NIV) God required cleanliness and holiness from His people so no one was allowed to be in the camp as to contaminate others.

               Naaman’s wife had a young handmaiden who had been taken captive during a raid in Israel. The young girl believed in God even though she was not with her own people. She knew of her master’s condition and told her mistress about the Prophet Elijah who was able to heal him. Elijah did not have any power of his own, but it was the power that he received from Jehovah Rophe to be able to heal the sick and raise the dead. Once Naaman heard the young maiden’s news, he spoke with the king who held him in high regard and informed him about what the young maiden had said. The king gave his consent for Naaman to go to the prophet in Israel and sent a letter ahead of him addressed to the king of Israel to let him know that the captain of his guard was coming to get a cure for his leprosy. Unfortunately, the king of Israel was offended by the letter and took it to mean that he was personally being asked to heal Naaman from his disease, which he knew that he was incapable of doing. In his misunderstanding, he assumed that the Syrian king was trying to start a conflict with him. Nevertheless, he was wrong.  2 Kings 5:7 As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, “Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!” (NIV)

               The king should have known that it was not he with whom the letter was referring to, but the prophet Elijah. When Elijah received word of what had taken place, he sent a message to the king to have Naaman come to him. When Naaman arrived at Elijah’s house, Elijah had his messenger to tell Naaman to submerge himself in the Jordan river seven times and then he would be made well. Shocked by Elijah’s instructions and the lack of a personal greeting, Naaman took offense. He expected Jehovah Rophe to move in one way when the Lord was about to move in a totally different manner. 2 Kings 5:11 But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. (NIV) Naaman thought that surely there were cleaner rivers to wash in instead of going to the notoriously filthy Jordan. Nevertheless, his servants talked him into following the prophet’s instructions. Namaan reluctantly went to the Jordan, dipped seven times and was made whole.

               Jehovah Rophe is our Healer, but no one can put Him into a box. His mind extends beyond that of the average human brain. Naaman made the mistake of thinking that his miracle would come in a certain way, but Jehovah Rophe performed a miracle in a way that he least expected. 1 Corinthians 2:16 For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (NIV) Naaman was about to miss his healing due to his preconceived notions as to how it was to take place. However, through his obedience, he received the healing that he needed from Jehovah Rophe.

               There is nothing that Jehovah Rophe can’t heal in your life if you allow Him. He never forces anything on you, but it is important to allow Him to flow in the manner that He chooses and not try to confine Him due to your own human limitations. Many people have missed golden opportunities and miracles because it was not in the package that they thought it should have arrived in. The house was not in the right neighborhood; the job was not in the degree of study; the church did not have enough members; the potential spouse did not look like a runway model; the miracle did not follow protocol. This was the same mistake that the Jews made when the Lamb of God was sent to earth because they were expecting a deliverer from Rome when He had come to deliver their souls. Jehovah Rophe loves to display His supernatural power in our lives, but we must give Him complete control and allow Him to be the Driver. Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. (NIV)