“You have cancer,” announced Dr. Du. Immediately, my senses went numb and the room began to spin. As the harsh reality set in, my mind reeled, Cancer, me? How could that be, there’s no cancer in my family. I looked across the doctor’s office at my husband, Paul. I said, “This is really bad.” I remembered Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Jehovah Rapha is the name of God that means, “I Am the Lord Who Heals.” Trusting in Jehovah Rapha brings healing to our lives whether we are suffering physical or emotional ailments. Jehovah Rapha forgives and heals all of our sins. “He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3 NASB).
God revealed Himself as Jehovah Rapha to Moses during a time of bitterness. The people of Israel had traveled from the Red Sea three days into the wilderness of Shur. There was no water. The people complained. Moses prayed, and the Lord made the bitter waters of Mara sweet. The people drank the water, and their thirst was quenched. Afterwards, the Lord said, “I the Lord, am your healer” (Exodus 15:26NASB). When we face the bitter trials of life, we have a choice: to complain or to praise God. The only one who can help us in the most intense times of trial and testing, is the Lord Who Heals.
The Hebrew phrase, translated, “the Lord Who heals” is Jehovah Rapha and reveals God ability to restore, to heal, and to cure. This healing not only comes in the physical sense, but also in the moral and spiritual sense. The Hebrew root verb raphe (to heal) occurs approximately 70 times in the Old Testament. To trust God for healing means to totally rely on Him. Trust means Total Reliance Under Stress and Trial. Can God heal? Yes. Will He heal? Yes. He is the Lord, the Great Physician. When we encounter disappointments, difficulties, or devastating disease, we can view then as opportunities to see how He heals.
In June of 2004, I was given a diagnosis of stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. This blood cancer showed up in five places in my body. The the lymph node of my lower left eye-lid and the bone marrow of my right arm, shoulder, elbow and the femur of my left leg. We prayed to God for my healing, if it was God’s will. During this season of cancer, I studied the healing of the ten lepers in Luke 17. There were ten lepers who asked for healing, all ten were healed, but only one went back and thanked Jesus for that healing. After six months of chemotherapy and lots of prayer, my oncologist, Dr. Risbud called, “Sheryl, I can’t believe it, there’s no more cancer!” Praise to Jehovah Rapha—my Healer. I was delivered from stage-4 cancer!
I want to be like that one leper who went back to Jesus to thank him. I borrowed this prayer of Moses from Psalm 90:12, “Teach me to number my days, that I might present to you a heart of wisdom.” I thank God for delivering me from cancer. For giving my life back to me. Actually, it is His life to use for whatever purpose He wills it. Through his son, Jesus, God has provided the final cure for spiritual, physical, and emotional sickness. Jehovah Rapha makes us well. “O Lord my God, I cried out to You for help, and You restored my health” (Psalm 30:2 NLT). Cry out to Jehovah Rapha to forgive and heal your sins. God gave us His son, Jesus, to us, as the most wonderful gift of courageous healing love we could receive. The encouraging words of John 3:16tell us, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, Jesus, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” God gave His son, Jesus, to the world as the only way we can have fellowship with God. Through relationship with Jesus Christ, we are healed and whole emotionally, physically, and spiritually. If you don’t know Jehovah Rapha, he’s waiting to meet you. Won’t you pray this prayer today?
Let’s pray.
Dear Lord Jesus, you are Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals. I need Your healing in my life. I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I now invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as Lord and Savior. In Jesus name, amen
Experiencing God Through His Names pages 50-51
This excerpt is used by permission of Bold Vision Publishers.
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And also appeared in the blog at Lead Like Jesus on April 16, 2020
