In Christianity and scripture, redemption is the cornerstone of hope and assurance. We receive salvation from sin's grip through the sacrificial act of Jesus on the cross. His death, burial, and resurrection lead to us receiving life. In God's redemptive relationship with humanity, He, known as Jehovah, unveils compound names that define His nature and assure us of His provision for every aspect of our lives.
One such vital name is Jehovah Rapha, defined as "the Lord our healer." This post aims to look into the significance of this name among the redemptive names of God, emphasizing its importance in fostering faith in Jesus and His redemptive work for physical healing. Jesus Christ is your healer.
Jehovah Rapha Defined:
Unveiling the Healing Nature of God
Understanding Jehovah: The Self-Existent and Unchangeable One
The journey begins with the profound definition of Jehovah in Exodus 3:14, where God reveals Himself to Moses as "I AM WHO I AM." This name signifies God's self-existence, eternal nature, unchangeability, and unwavering faithfulness to His promises. The unshakable foundation of Jehovah's character is laid, as described in Psalm 9:10 - those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
Psalm 124:8 says, Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. This further amplifies the significance of Jehovah's revealed character, portraying Him as the source of our help. Recognizing who Jehovah is becomes the bedrock of our confidence, knowing that our strength and help come from the Creator of the heavens and the earth.
Redemptive Names Pointing to Calvary
Jehovah is the first of many names God imparts to us. Following this, seven compound names are bestowed upon us, each revealing part of His redemptive nature. These names, given in God's redemptive relation to humanity, point directly to Calvary, the source of our redemption.
Jehovah-Jireh - "the Lord will provide" (Genesis 22:13,14).
Jehovah-Nissi - "the Lord our banner" (Exodus 17:8-15).
Jehovah-Shalom - "the Lord our peace" or "the Lord send peace" (Judges 6:24).
Jehovah-Ra-ah - "the Lord my shepherd" (Psalm 23.).
Jehovah-Tsidkenu - "the Lord our righteousness" (Jeremiah 23:6).
Jehovah-Shammah - "the Lord is present" (Ezekiel 48:35).
Jehovah-Rapha: The Lord Our Healer Defined
Among these redemptive names, Jehovah Rapha holds a significant place. In Exodus 15:26, God declares, "I am the LORD who heals you." The context unequivocally points to physical healing. Like the other six names, Jehovah Rapha reveals a redemptive privilege—physical healing. This declaration's tense emphasizes an immediate "right-now" benefit for those in need and ongoing availability for future generations. This redemptive name finds historical confirmation in Israel's story. Whenever the nation turned to God in confession and repentance, sins were forgiven, and sicknesses were immediately healed. See the example below.
2 Chronicles 30:17-20 - For there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves. Therefore the Levites had to slaughter the Passover lamb for everyone who was not clean, to consecrate it to the Lord. For a majority of the people, many of them from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than as prescribed. For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, “May the good Lord pardon everyone who sets his heart to seek God, the Lord, the God of his fathers, even though not according to the sanctuary's rules of cleanness.” And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people.
Jehovah Rapha is not merely a promise but a living reality, a statute declared by God Himself.
A Call to Faith in Jesus, Our Redeemer
Jesus is the pinnacle of God's love and mercy in the amazing work of redemption. He is the ultimate expression of Jehovah Rapha in action. It says in Matthew 4:23 - And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. Every expression of the Heavenly Father's redemption plan for humanity is found in Christ. This includes the Lord our healer. The poetic verses of Psalm 103:1-5 and the prophetic insights of Isaiah 53:1-6 serve as guiding lights.
Psalm 103:1-5: The Anthem of Healing Redemption
The psalmist in Psalm 103 paints a vivid picture of God's redemptive work, celebrating the multifaceted benefits provided to His children, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name!" This is the anthem of a redeemed heart, recognizing the depths of God's forgiveness healing, and freedom. Psalm 103:2 calls us to "forget not all his benefits." Verses 3-5 beautifully outline these benefits, echoing the sentiment of Jehovah Rapha: "who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."
Here, the connection between forgiveness, healing, and redemption is seamlessly woven together. The healer of our diseases is the same Redeemer of our lives. We see this again in Isaiah.
Isaiah 53:1-6: The Prophetic Portrait of Our Suffering Savior
Isaiah, the prophet, offers a prophetic portrait of the suffering Savior in Isaiah 53. In these verses, we glimpse the profound exchange on Calvary's cross, where Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God, takes our sins and infirmities upon Himself.
Isaiah 53:4-5 declares: "Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds, we are healed."
These prophetic words echo the redemptive purpose of Christ, foreshadowing the extent of His sacrifice for our complete healing. His wounds become the source of our healing, an unparalleled act of love that addresses our spiritual brokenness and physical infirmities.
The cross, where Jesus bore our sins and carried our diseases, is the place of promise for divine healing. Embracing Jesus as Jehovah Rapha in the flesh, we find a profound call to faith.
Let this truth resonate within: the same Jesus who forgives our sins is the one who heals our diseases. The stripes He bore on His back promise our physical restoration. As recipients of His redemptive love, we are invited to confidently approach the throne of grace, trusting that the healing we seek is an integral part of His redemption as revealed in the names of God and the activities of Christ.
CONCLUSION
In Jesus, we find the ultimate expression of Jehovah Rapha, the Lord our Healer, and the assurance of complete and everlasting redemption. Look to Him in faith today!
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