YAHWEH ROPHE, JEHOVAH RAPHA: THE ONLY ONE WHO HEALS

Let’s continue our series into the many names of God and His MULTIFACETED-NESS!

Today we examine Him as the “Healer”, Yahweh Rophe, or you may recognize His interchangeable name Jehovah Rapha!

In Exodus Chapter 15 verse 26 we see Moses, Aaron, and Miriam leading the children of Israel out of the possession of Egypt and its Pharaoh. After this great rescue mission the Lord sent forth they find themselves in a “bitter” place called Marah. Now— it’s easy for one to assume that they really should have been GRATEFUL to be free from the hand of their oppressors, right?

But let’s back up a bit… After their superlative recovery, what we see is they begin to complain. Although they were oppressed, they had “access” to what they thought were the “choicest of things” and to now arrive at this bitter place was unsightly!

Later we find out that, this was all a part of God’s divine plan! How? Well— oftentimes God will test us, I KNOW, I KNOW, that phrase is taboo like the plague, lol. But it’s true and how do we know? Scripture tells us those EXACT WORDS, see verse 25

Exodus‬ ‭15‬:‭25‬ ‭AMP‬‬

“Then he cried to the Lord [for help], and the Lord showed him a tree, [a branch of] which he threw into the waters, and the waters became sweet. There the Lord made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them,”

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Now this testing did exactly what our ALL WISE God knew that it would, which was to REVEAL what was in their hearts. Stay with me I’m about to wrap this up.

This testing revealed a “sickness” in their hearts. Unfortunately but FORTUNATELY, adversity is summoned to our lives by the Lord so that the contents of our hearts can be revealed.

Now verse 26 which is our focal verse says:

“saying, “If you will diligently listen and pay attention to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and listen to His commandments, and keep [foremost in your thoughts and actively obey] all His precepts and statutes, then I will not put on you any of the diseases which I have put on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you.”

Yahweh Rophe or Jehovah Rapha is NOT only concerned with our physical healing and well-being but He is a God of wholeness who also declares healing to our mind and soul which is what the Israelites needed in this instance.

Isn’t it wonderful to know that we serve a God who desires our mind, will and emotions to be HEALED??

From a worldly perspective, it is so common to see an imbalance in these areas where one could be physically well and mentally ill and vice versa but for the BELIEVER, Christ ransomed us from ALL INIQUITY, any and everything that would cause us to be unwell!

In closing let me ask you a few questions:

1.) What circumstances have caused your attitude towards God to fluctuate?

2.) In what areas in your life is bitterness still lingering in need of healing?

3.) What has God’s testing revealed in your heart?

4.) In what areas of your life has breaking God’s commands caused you suffering or sickness?

Spend some time with Yahweh Rophe and bring the responses to these questions before Him. Don’t close 2024 without putting pressure on your wholeness!

Until next read,

Waiting well

Apostle Natasha

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