Many of us need healing in one way or another. Whether we face a physical, emotional, or spiritually “illness,” we long for God to intervene, to show His power, to fix things. And usually we often wonder why He allowed this trial into our lives in the first place.
Recently, God taught me something new through a passage I’ve read many times (See Exodus 15:22-27). Don’t you just love it when He does that?!
Jehovah Rapha
The Israelites were fresh out of Egypt. Seaweed still clung to their sandals from the floor of the Red Sea. They had witnessed the miraculous power of God as their Deliver from a front row seat.
After three days of traveling through the Desert of Shur, the people got really thirsty. But when they arrived at Marah, they discovered the bitter water was undrinkable. Of course grumbling and complaining commenced.
The people needed for the water to be “healed.” Moses cried out to the LORD. The LORD instructed Moses to toss a piece of wood into the water and it became sweet. The people drank.
Physical need. God’s divine intervention. Healing.
Our need is an opportunity to experience God in a new way
God revealed Himself as “Jehovah Rapha” – God Heals – through the Israelites’ circumstances. If they had not needed healing then they would not have experienced God as their healer. If there had been no need, their understanding and experience of God would not have been expanded.
God often works through the circumstances of our lives to reveal His nature to us. In the midst of difficulties, we experience God in new and deeper ways. For instance, in illness, we experience the healing power of Jehovah Rapha. In trouble and loneliness, we discover that El Roi sees us, knows our trouble, and cares. (Genesis 16:13). And our needs are provided by Jehovah Jireh (Genesis 22:14).
Unshakeable Faith in THE Rock
These are just a sampling of the descriptive names for God in Scripture. Psalm 18:2, which is one of my favorites, is filled with beautiful words that help us understand God’s nature and ways toward us.
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield, and horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I love, love that God is my Rock. Time and again He has proven Himself to be a Rock. He is my Selah, my firm foundation, my unshakeable place, my safe fortress.
In what ways has God made Himself known to you? What descriptive names of God have you personally experienced? I would love for to share experiences and/or Scriptures with us!
About three years ago, a wonderful counselor/pastor asked me to picture myself sitting in God’s lap, much like a child would sit in her daddy’s lap, because I never had that type of connection with my earthly father. Through this imagery, God has made Himself known to me as “Abba Father.” Scripture connection: Romans 8:15 – “You did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father’.” Galatians 4:6 – “Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father’.” Thinking of God this makes up for the longing I had for a doting father. He continually returns me to this too when that longing comes out again.
Kari, thank you sharing this testimony with us. This is a beautiful example of how God reveals Himself to us in specific ways in our areas of need.