“Jehovah Rapha”, is the name of God in Hebrew meaning the Lord my Healer. God is our healer, He designed our body to heal itself; does He want us to experience healing? We get sick from colds, viruses, injured in accidents, diseased from infections and have various physical disorders. Some ailments modern medicine cannot even diagnose, many of these are generally labeled autoimmune syndrome, which simply assumes the body appears to be attacking itself. Many cures have been discovered for various diseases and medications developed to facilitate healing or preventing infection, but almost all deal with arranging things so our immune system can bring healing. The best example are steroids that reduce inflammation, allowing the body to heal. Many surgeries are a process of eliminating things that have failed or were injured in a way that allows recovery such as broken bones, joints, organs, or injuries. Modern medicine is amazing and we give glory to God for all these discoveries, devices and procedures. A foundation of modern medical practice is to turn people away from the things and practices that are unhealthy, like smoking, consuming too much fat, sugar or alcohol while exercising and eating a wholesome diet. These recommendations  alone alleviate many dreadful consequences, such as heart, lung, liver disease and a host of lesser maladies.

Throughout scripture God promotes healing. When He came to earth in human form as Yeshua Messiah, (Jesus’ Hebrew name), He healed multitudes. Much of His ministry was healing and there was nothing He could not heal including death. (Luke 7:12-15; John 11:38-44) We all eventually die and it often comes through disease, but God heals in the interim. My father-in-law had heart surgery in his 80’s and lived to 97. Some may have said he was too old at the time or that it was useless, but they were wrong. God knows and determines the full length of our days on earth. (Ps. 139:16). Hezekiah sought healing and longer life from God and He granted it. (2 Kings 20:1-6) God demonstrates His mercy and love through healing.

Would the woman with the bleeding disorder have been healed if she did not have faith that touching Yeshua’s garment would bring healing? (Mark 5:25-34) Yeshua stopped, called her out and confirmed, “your faith healed you.” God is concerned with our health. It is not necessary to separate healing through medicine or medical intervention from God’s will and love toward us, as He made the substances of medicine and gave people healing ability. “When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” (Luke 9:1-2) We might argue over faith’s role in healing, but it would achieve nothing. The placebo effect illustrates the power of believing, as one forth of people who take a sugar pill instead of medicine will experience healing because they believe. In the end God will get all the glory He deserves, as He is The Lord our Healer.