Here's What We Know.......

We know that "The name of the LORD is a strong tower" (Proverbs 18:10).
We know that the name of the Lord is Elohim - Creator.
We know that the name of the Lord is El Elyon - the Most High God, sovereign over all.
We know that the name of the Lord is Adonai - Master.
We know that the name of the Lord is El Roi - the God who sees.
We know that the name of the Lord is El Shaddai - God Almighty, all-sufficient.
We know that the name of the Lord is Jehovah - the Self-Existent One, the Great I AM.
We know that the name of the Lord is Jehovah-Jireh - the LORD will provide.
We know that the name of the Lord is Jehovah-Rapha - the LORD who heals.

Let's think back over what we have learned about the name Jehovah-Rapha in the last few days.  What kind of disease does Jehovah-Rapha heal?  Let's answer that question by looking at a (very) brief overview of the more than 60 uses of the Hebrew word "rapha" (and its Greek equivalent in the New Testament).

The first use of the word "rapha" refers to physical healing (see Genesis 20:17).  The next use is translated "physicians" (see Genesis 50:2). Marah's bitter waters were healed in Exodus 15.  Elijah "repaired" (rapha) the altar in 1 Kings 18:30.  Elisha purified (rapha) water in 2 Kings 2:21.  So, it seems clear that "rapha" conveys the idea of restoring something to its normal or useful state.

Look at 2 Chronicles 7:14, the well-known promise to heal the land from sin and idolatry.  Look also at
2 Chronicles 30:20.....Hezekiah prayed, Jehovah heard and healed the people.  In these contexts, the reference is clearly to spiritual healing.  Look also at Psalm 41:4, another reference to spiritual healing.

Psalm 147 shows the compassion of Jehovah-Rapha who "heals the brokenhearted", which can be seen as a reference to emotional healing.

So, to summarize, the healing of Jehovah-Rapha can be physical, spiritual or emotional.

Here are some truths to remember:

• Sripture shows a correlation between sin and sickness.
• Although in a sense all illness is the consequence of sin entering the world, not all disease is directly related to personal sin.
• The Cross is the source of healing for sin.  (See Isaiah 53:5 and 1 Peter 2:24).
• Jehovah-Rapha is the Great Physician.

To dig deeper into this topic, review the Scriptures we have looked at this week as well as using your word study tools to find other references.  We have just scratched the surface!!  But here's the bottom line......knowing all this, what are you going to do with it?  Where will you turn when you are in need of healing?

"Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress; He sent out His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction."  (Psalm 107:19-20 ESV)