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Many verses talk about healing in bible. And on several occasions, people like to quote the bible by saying God promises to heal. God even declares that “I AM THE LORD WHO HEALS YOU”, they say.
It sounds like He is healing His beloveds unconditionally. The direct quotation is from Exodus 15:26. Well, let’s examine the context:-
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The context is telling us that when Moses’ led Israelites to the wilderness of Shur, for 3 days they went without water. At the place of Marah, they found out the water was bitter. Can’t drink. Hence, those Israelites complained to Moses.
In light of this, Moses cried out in prayer to the Lord. Of course, God heard Moses’ prayer. He turned the water to become sweet, by telling Moses to throw a piece of wood into the bitter water. The scripture continues on vs. 25-26. These 2 verses are the key to the entire message. Especially on vs. 25 that read:-
“There [the Lord] made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there He proved them,…”
As a matter of fact, before God, promises and reveals to those Israelites as “FOR I AM THE LORD WHO HEALS YOU”, He sets a condition (or statute and an ordinance) on vs. 25.
What is that statute or ordinance about?
The next verse tells us “
# saying,…
# If you diligently hearken to His voice,
# do what is right in His sight
# listen and obey His commandments, and keep all His statutes
# He will not put those diseases to the Israelites as He had brought to Egyptians.
# then God of the Almighty declares that He is the Lord who heals them
Bear in mind that the phrase: “FOR I AM THE LORD WHO HEALS YOU” is written in the present tense. This means He is not referring to the past event of turning the bitter water into sweet.
Also, He is not referring to past events in Egypt either. Should He be referring to the former events, it would have been written “FOR I AM THE LORD WHO HEAL(ed) YOU”, in the past tense.
CONCLUSION
In summary, God is saying that should you obey Him by keeping all His commandments, and statutes, He will heal you from worldly diseases (verse 26). Yes, the world’s people might be getting those diseases, but as an obedient child of the most high God, He will heal or spare you.
Surely, God can heal believers. I do need healing from the Mighty God in certain areas of my life. But He does not promise automatic or unconditional healing in Exodus’s account.
Moreover, it is not an issue of faith. Yes, some other scriptures are talking about “Faith and healing ‘’. But it is not in the account of Exodus 15.
Others are saying that because of worrying in life chokes up His provision of healing for His people. However, the context is very clear. It is about “Obedience”.
Without a doubt, Exodus 15 is saying be an obedient child of God, in obedience to all His commandments.
And, please don’t paraphrase by saying believers are living not on their own obedience. It is on Christ’s obedience. No, it is not what Exodus is highlighting.
Furthermore, those who believe God will never impute diseases, and sickness on people, cannot claim“for the Lord who heals you”. Because it is written clearly that God will not put those diseases on His people if they obey them. That means He would if they disobeyed.
READ:-
AT THE CROSS, HE IS BELIEVERS’ ATONEMENT
THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE – PART 1
NO CONDEMNATION
LAW (3) – JESUS UPHOLDS THE LAW (1)
