The Lord Who Heals

I have been writing about some of the Hebrew names for God. Each name reveals a facet of God’s character and of how God interacts with people. It’s not possible for mere people to understand the myriad nuances of God’s character! But we can understand aspects of His character because He’s shown certain details about Himself. He revealed to humans only what they could understand. As Israel escaped Egypt and traveled through the wilderness, they couldn’t find a source of drinking water. When they finally found a water source, the water was undrinkable because of its bitterness. God told Moses to throw a log in the water and God would cleanse the water. Moses obeyed, and the people had water to quench their thirst. It was at the water hole that God gave the people a rule for them to follow. God gave them the command to “test their faithfulness to Him.” “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the LORD who heals you.” Exodus 15:26 (NLT) God revealed Himself as “Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord who heals you.” In this context, God’s promise was to prevent the diseases the Egyptians had suffered if they (the Israelites) listened carefully to the voice of the Lord and obeyed. The Bible recounts various ways Jehovah-Rapha has healed people of sickness and disease (Psalm 41:3), mental affliction (Jonah 2:5-7), spiritual fatigue (Psalm 23:3), emotional suffering (Psalm 147:3) and anxiety or worry (John 14:27) A highlight of Jesus’ ministry was the healings and even bringing the dead back to life. The religious establishment was against Him because He was a “healer.” The mystery, of course, is why God heals who He heals and when He heals. I’d sure like to understand God’s thinking and actions. In the meantime, I will claim healing for myself, my loved ones, and the ones I lead. I will continue to “ask and keep on asking.” I will encourage anyone who is sick to have the church pray for them. Healing is in the hands of Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord who heals. Do you need healing? Turn to Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord who heals.

Jesus Is My Righteousness

The last few weeks, I’ve been writing about different names that describe various attributes of God’s character and work. Names are significant in the historical account of the Jews and the historic church. Names often have a “prophetic” reality to them. God changed people’s names to describe their future. The prophet Jeremiah, speaking and writing God’s words, said this: “’For the time is coming,’ says the LORD, ‘when I will raise up a righteous descendant … He will be a King who rules with wisdom. He will do what is just and right … And this will be his name: ‘The LORD Is Our Righteousness.’” Jeremiah 23:5-7 (NLT) The LORD is our Righteousness – Jehovah-TSIDKENU – (Sid – Ke – Nu) (I love saying this name of God – Jehovah-TSIDKENU. It rolls off the tongue, and it sounds strong.) Every person comes into this world with a “sin-nature.” We start out selfish. No one teaches an infant or toddler to say “No!”, “Mine!” Or “It wasn’t me!” No one need teach a child to be deceptive or manipulative. It comes with the sin nature. Sin-nature prohibits people from living “righteous” lives. It is not possible. Using a baseball analogy, no one has ever “batted 1000” or played the game of life “error free.” The best of the best of the best batting average is nowhere close to 1000. No one can live error free for even 24 hours. However, Jehovah-TSIDKENU! The LORD is our Righteousness! Jesus’s batting average is 1000, and he lived error free. Because of His death, His batting average and error free life becomes our Righteousness. Yeah, I’m a poor batter and I make too many errors, BUT Jesus’ death enables application of his batting average to my life and his error free life is applied to me. I’m far from perfect – But Jesus! I fail to do what I should – But Jesus! I do things I shouldn’t do – But Jesus! My batting average is something to be ashamed of, but His is worth boasting about! I rack up errors daily, but He is error free! I will brag about Jehovah-TSIDKENU, Jesus is my Righteousness! I’m sticking with Jehovah-TSIDKENU!

God Is Our Provider

If you’ve attended Sunday School, Young Life, a church or read through even a portion of the Bible, you’ve probably heard a few unusual Bible stories that made you scratch your head. One story that I have questions about happened to Abraham and his son Isaac. About 1,800 years before Jesus walked the earth, God gave Abraham and his wife Sarah a son. Abraham and Sarah could not conceive. In their old age “when they were nearly dead” Sarah conceived, and Isaac was born. Isaac was a miracle child. The story gets interesting and perplexing when Isaac was a young man. God instructs Abraham to take Isaac up on a nearby mountain and sacrifice him. Yep, you read that sentence correctly. Isaac carried the firewood up the mountain, while Abraham carried the fire. Isaac asked his dad where the animal for the sacrifice was and Abraham said Jehovah-Jirah, “The Lord will provide.” When they got far enough up the mountain, Abraham bound Isaac and prepared to kill him. At the last moment, God stopped him. In a nearby thicket there was a ram caught by his horns. I won’t try to explain what was going on. I can describe the event and details, but I struggle to make sense of what was going on. My list of questions would be substantial. I have way more questions than I have answers! But I do know one of the important lessons we can learn from this account. When Abraham found the ram in the thicket, he sacrificed it. Abraham named the place “Jehovah-Jirah” or “The Lord will provide.” Jehovah-Jirah is one of the important names of God. God was known as Jehovah-Jirah by the Israelites for 1,500 years and the name has been important to Jesus’ followers over the last 2,000 years. The Apostle Paul said: The “same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 (NLT) Jehovah-Jirah. Jesus said: “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:33 (NLT) Jehovah-Jirah. God has been faithfully meeting the NEEDS of His followers since He created Adam and Eve. What is your NEED? He will provide. You can trust Him to meet your needs. Provision doesn’t always come the way we anticipate, expect, or want…but He WILL provide!

My Glory And The One Who Lifts My Head High

I’ve been pondering and writing about the Hebrew names of God. The names of God reveal important character traits and ways that God works. After the Israelites escaped slavery in Egypt, they ended up wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. One day, as they were wandering through the desert, they were attacked by the Amalekites. The Israelite men took up arms to fight against their attackers. Moses understood the Israelites would only prevail fighting off the Amalekites if God came to their rescue. Moses climbed to the top of a nearby hill, raised his staff and called on God. As long as Moses could keep his hands raised and interceding, the Israelites had the upper hand. When Moses tired and struggled to intercede, the Amalekites gained the upper hand. Ultimately, the Israelites overcame. Moses led the people to erect an altar of worship and declared: “Jehovah-Nissi – Jehovah is our banner!” A “banner” of the King or the tribe was carried in front of troops as they marched into battle. The banner was also carried before victorious warriors as they paraded through the conquered land on their way home. Jehovah-Nissi is a statement of God’s victory, a declaration that God is the victor. Jehovah-Nissi – The “Lord is our banner” - is a reminder that GOD IS THE VICTOR and overcoming in life only happens when God intervenes. God is ready to be the victor for his children. He doesn’t want His children attacked, taken captive, imprisoned, and suffering. He desires his children to overcome temptation, lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. “Everyone born of God overcomes the world.” 1 John 5:4 – because God is our banner. “We are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Romans 8:37 – because God is our banner! “You, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory and the One who lifts my head high.” Psalms 3:3 – Because God is our banner! I encourage you, if you are in a battle or going through a struggle to turn to Jehovah-Nissi! He is your “Banner” and he will give you victory! AMEN?

Keep In Step With The Spirit

At various airports I’ve been to, there are conveyor belts in the long hallways between gates that do the walking for you, aka “moving walkways.” A person can just stand on the moving walkway, look at their phones, visit with a traveling companion and in a few minutes arrive at the other end of the hallway. The moving walkways are somewhat slow but can be a leg-saver for tired travelers. I’ve observed that most travelers avoid the moving walkways or walk on the walkway so they can get to where they are going quicker. Speed is the name of the game! Most of the world is a speedway. Terms like rat race, daily grind, hamster wheel, treadmill, and vicious circle are used to describe the speed of life. People who don’t keep up with others are referred to as “slow-pokes,” moving at a “snail’s pace,” and “slower than molasses.” Is speed really better? Is there an advantage to speed? Is it inferior to live life slowly? Living in the fast lane may appear to be the only option. To slow down is to get run over or, even worse, miss out! FOMO is a term you may not be aware of, but it is real. Fear Of Missing Out - FOMO is a common emotional reaction that people experience in the 21st century world of social media. If a person doesn’t live life at the speed that those in the lanes to the left are traveling, they’ll miss out. Jesus traveled at 3 miles an hour. 3 miles an hour is the speed the average person can walk, and Jesus walked most places. Sure, he took boats across the Sea of Galilee, but only from one side to the other. There are no navigable connecting waterways to the Sea of Galilee. There is a recorded “ride” he took on a donkey, but mostly, Jesus traveled at 3 miles an hour. The Apostle Paul instructed believers to “keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25 ESV) Have you ever thought about the speed the Holy Spirit walks? Is it possible to go through life faster than the Spirit? I know there have been times I’ve moved faster than the Spirit and times I’ve moved slower than the Spirit. Those instances always end in regret. “If only I had …” After over 40 years of seeking to “live by the Spirit,” (Galatians 5:25 ESV) I realize I’m prone to move faster than the Spirit wants, not slower. I want to “keep in step with the Spirit” but too often I run ahead. Holy Spirit, teach me to keep in step with you!

The God Who Sees Me

Studying the names of God is interesting and enlightening. You ought to think about studying God’s names in 2022. Names in the Western world, rarely describe the characteristics of a person’s nature. Ancient languages often used names to describe a person’s nature and character, whereas the English language uses adjectives to describe or elaborate on a person’s nature and character. El Roi is one of many names used for God in the Old Testament, the Hebrew Bible. El Roi is the idea “the God who sees me.” Haggar, the handmaid of Sarah and concubine of Abraham, called God El Roi. Sarah could not get pregnant, and as a solution to her barrenness, she suggested Abraham use Haggar as his concubine. (Think surrogate mother.) Having Haggar as a concubine and surrogate mother would enable Abraham to have a son. Haggar became pregnant, and Sarah became jealous. Sarah demanded that Abraham send the surrogate away. Abraham obeyed his wife. Haggar became an outcast. Her relationship with Abraham was severed, and she felt abandoned by God. God came to her and her son’s rescue. He saw her situation and provided for her. He also promised great blessing upon Haggar and her son Ishmael. God truly is “The God who sees you!” Jesus spoke about His Father as the God who sees. Jesus pointed to the flowers in the field and told them, “God sees,” so don’t worry. When Jesus taught the crowds about prayer, He told them, “The Father sees and knows what you need before you ask.” He taught His closest followers “not a single sparrow falls to the ground without the Father “seeing it,” the Father “sees” every hair on a person’s head. God sees! God sees your difficulties. God sees your needs and your wants. God sees your struggles and successes. He is not like the gods made of wood, stone, or metal that have fake eyes and mouths. Father, thank you for “seeing.” Thank you for being the God who sees every detail of my life. Knowing that you see, gives me peace and sets me free from worry. Thank you.

God Almighty

Studying the names of God is interesting and enlightening. You ought to think about studying God’s names in 2022. Names in the Western world rarely describe the characteristics of a person’s nature. The English language uses adjectives to describe or elaborate on a person’s nature and character. But ancient languages often used names to describe a person’s nature and character. God revealed Himself as El-Shaddai — GOD ALMIGHTY! God is above everything and everyone! There is nothing too difficult, nothing beyond His purview, nothing He cannot do. “Is anything too hard for the LORD? No!” Genesis 18:14 (NCV) “I am the LORD, the God of every person on the earth. Nothing is impossible for me.” Jeremiah 32:27 (NCV) “Jesus … said, ‘For people this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.’” Matthew 19:26 (NCV) “Jesus answered, ‘The things impossible for people are possible for God.’” Luke 18:27 (NCV) God Almighty knows about your stresses, struggles, broken relationships, needs, fears, anxieties, doubts and dreads. He is “ALL—MIGHTY.” He has ALL might. He has all MIGHT. His “almightiness” is what drives Him to work in every situation for those who trust in Him. The Apostle Paul wrote: “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” Romans 8:28 (NIV) God Almighty doesn’t make every situation happen, but God Almighty works “for the good” in every situation. God always has an eternal view. Trusting is not easy. Trust is where “the rubber meets the road.” Trust is relying on God to “work for the good” in every situation. A father once implored Jesus: “Lord, I believe, but help my unbelief.” Trust is hard, but you can trust in God Almighty. “God, I don’t know what you’re doing, I don’t like what’s happening, I want the story to be written differently, BUT I’m putting my full trust in YOU and trusting that YOU are working “for the good” in this situation. YOU ARE GOD ALMIGHTY. AMEN!”