What does it mean that God is Jehovah-Rapha? | GotQuestions.org

Today's question is, what does it mean that God is Jehovah -Rapha?

In this video I'll answer that question from a biblical perspective.

Then afterwards, as always, I'll share some helpful resources, so stick around until the end.

Jehovah -Rapha, more properly Yahweh -Rapha, means the Lord who heals, in Hebrew.

Jehovah -Rapha is one of the many different names of God found in the Old Testament.

The name Jehovah -Rapha appears in Exodus chapter 15, verse 26.

God says to the people of Israel, If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in

His eyes, if you pay attention to His commands and keep all His decrees, I will not bring

on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord who heals you.

The context of God's revelation of His name Jehovah -Rapha is an incident that took place early

on in the wilderness wanderings of the Israelites.

They had just left Egypt and crossed the Red Sea.

Moses took them into the desert of Shur, where for three days they traveled in the desert without finding

water, Exodus chapter 15, verse 22.

The Lord was testing them and their faith.

The Israelites' test in the desert was soon amplified.

They came across a body of water, but to their great consternation, they could not drink.

From it.

They called the water Marah, which means bitter.

Their souls began to turn bitter as well, and they grumbled against Moses, saying, What are we to drink? Exodus

chapter 15, verse 24.

Moses did exactly what he should have done.

He prayed to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood, verse 25.

Following God's instructions, Moses threw the wood into the water, and the water miraculously became fit to

drink.

Immediately after the Lord healed the waters of Marah, He identified Himself to them as Jehovah

-Rapha, I am the Lord who heals you, Exodus chapter 15, verse 26.

He doesn't just heal water, He heals people.

The healing of the waters was a demonstration of God's power to overcome any impurity, contamination,

or corruption.

This power was going to work on behalf of the Israelites, God's chosen people, as the Lord brought them to the

promised land.

Along with giving His name Jehovah -Rapha, God gives the Israelites a promise, I will not

bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, Exodus chapter 15, verse 26.

This is a reference to the ten plagues that God had recently sent upon the Egyptians, plagues including

boils, the death of livestock, devastating hail, etc.

Like many Old Testament promises to Israel, this one was conditional.

God's people were required to diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, do that which is

right in His eyes, give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, verse

26.

Jehovah -Rapha has the power to heal physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

Neither impurity of body nor impurity of soul can withstand the purifying, healing power

of Jehovah -Rapha.

Jesus Christ showed that He was the great physician who heals the sick.

In Galilee, Jesus went from town to town, healing every disease and sickness among the people, Matthew

4, verse 23.

In Judea, large crowds followed Him, and He healed them there, Matthew 19, verse 2.

In fact, wherever He went—into villages, towns, or countryside—they placed the sick

in the marketplaces.

They begged Him to let them touch even the edge of His cloak, and all who touched it were healed, Mark

6, verse 56.

Not only did Jesus heal people physically, He also healed them spiritually by forgiving their

sins.

Every day, in every way, Jesus proved Himself to be Jehovah -Rapha in the flesh.

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