Installment seven in a series on what the scripture has to say about healing.
I am grateful, Father, that we know exactly who You are by what is revealed in the words and in the person of Jesus!
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
Hebrews 1:1-3
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heir
This description of the deity of Jesus, as the express image of the Father, clearly stretches Meriam Webster’s second definition of heir to the n’th degree.
Remember the basic definition of the nucleus of an atom, made up of like charged particles? Do you remember that like charges repel one another? If you keep up with modern science, you may even have read about the so-called strong force that keeps the sub-atomic particles together that make up protons and neutrons, and the residual from this strong force that overcomes the natural repulsion of like-charged particles. (Fortunate for us!) I have not read anyone working in nuclear physics ask why these complicated things should be in the first place. Why should massless gluons act between quarks to make hadrons (protons and neutrons). Why should a residual force of these interactions be balanced to overcome the electrostatic repulsion of protons? Why do not oppositely charged electrons rush headlong into a collision with the nucleus? In Hebrews 1, we learn these things, and all else, are upheld by the word of his power.
One might think Jesus therefore had His hands full with the many subatomic particles in the universe. But, no, He has time and inclination to speak to us. Do we have time to listen?
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Acts 10:38
Did you get that? Healing all. A-L-L. Did you recognize that what needed healing did not come from above?
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
1 John 3:8
Jesus came to destroy that oppression (look back at Hebrews 1:3 for Jesus’ dealing with sin). Are we in Him? Are we walking according to His calling? Or are we habitually giving the enemy access to ourselves by going “our” own way?
For there is no respect of persons with God.
Romans 2:11
None of us is an exception in His sight. Salvation from sin and from sickness was purchased for all. The only caveat is God will not override our will. The choice remains with us. Do we continue with the deception proffered to Eve in the garden of Eden – has God really said? (Refer to Genesis 3.)
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Isaiah 53:4-5
P.S. Lest I set off a firestorm of objections that personal sin is not the cause of all sickness, let me say that I recognize that is a true statement. Sickness was released into the “very good” creation by original sin, and some of it now propagates by what some would term “natural” means. Nonetheless, deception is the sole weapon of the enemy. If we listen to him, we cooperate with our own destruction (John 10:10). This is a sad state of affairs for the believer who could be set free by knowing and following the truth (John 8:32). No one besides us has control. Our “decider” is ours alone. It is my prayer that my readers will persist in the revealed word, discover their identity in Christ, and find power to put the enemy and his works to flight.
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7
Missionary Sojourn 
Hi, Jon.
I appreciate your encouragement to trust Father for what in our earthly view we see as “impossible.” However, be careful in making too much of individual words in our technological modern sense and applying this to the infallible words of the Bible. For example, “all” in our detail-oriented tech society allows for no exception.
However, in Anita’s and my daily reading in Exodus right now, Exodus 9:6 says, “all the livestock of the Egyptians died.” Yet, in verse 10 we are told that when Moses threw dust into the air, “it became boils breaking out in sores on man and beast.” Then in verse 19, the Egyptians are warned to “get your livestock and all that you have in the field into safe shelter.” Again, in chapter 12, we are told “all the firstborn of the livestock” are killed by the Angel of Yahweh.
There must be a different understanding of the word “all” in these passages, else the boils would not have been seen on “the beasts,” there would have been no livestock to save from the hail, and there would have been no firstborn of the livestock to die in the final plague.
In Jesus healing of “all who were oppressed…” we must keep in mind He did not heal everyone at the Pool of Bethesda, but only one man. If He had healed every single person in Galilee in Matthew 12, who are the others in Galilee that He later heals in Matthew 14:34-36?
This is not to disparage faith in Yahweh-Rapha, The LORD our Healer. I have seen a baby healed instantly of encephalitis, a friend healed of a brain tumor and others healed that doctors dismissed as possibly psychosomatics, but we who knew them also knew God had healed them.
But faith in Him must be based on His will, not our wishes.
Check out a copy of “Miracles Today” by Craig Keener; https://www.christianbook.com/miracles-today-supernatural-modern-world-ebook/craig-keener/9781493431380/pd/114118EB
Also, CT did an interview with Dr. Keener here: https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2022/january-web-only/craig-keener-miracles-today-supernatural-god.html
Keep teaching the Scripture and encouraging faith to trust Father for the humanly impossible. HE DOES answer prayer, but sometimes He does not answer in the way or time that we hope.
“God must often seem to us to be playing fast and loose with us. The adult must seem to mislead the child, and the Master the dog. They misread the signs. Their ignorance and wishes twist everything.” (C.S. Lewis)
❤️&🙏, c.a.
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Thanks for your thoughtful comment, C.A. There is always the possibility to think we understand the Scripture more than we actually do. I am obviously no exception, though I pursue accuracy diligently. I always wrestle with my blog posts. Did I cover enough bases this time, or can I get to those other issues next time? Is this perspective too narrow? You probably know exactly what I mean from your own writing.
My own physical state is not (yet) perfect. I am only 68. Hopefully, I will have time to get it all straightened out. (I have an aunt who is 104. But she is in the family by marriage, the chance that we are genetically similar is very slim. ;^)) Still, last year I prayed for a friend who had been badly injured in an accident. The Sheriff said he didn’t really expect him to survive the helicopter ride to the hospital. His pelvis was broken in several places and his state was not good enough for them to work on it for a long time. Eventually, the time had passed where working on it made sense, as they would have to re-break it and try to reconstruct. He had one leg shorter than the other and one turned way inside. I prayed for him a week before a trip to see the orthopedic surgeon to assess whether he could begin to put weight on his feet in therapy. He got X-rays and the doctor came out asking, “Why are you here?” Holding up the pictures, he said, “This is a perfect pelvis.” I am grateful to have seen that miracle. It was a real encouragement.
Many pray that God will move on their behalf (healing for instance). I believe that salvation and healing were purchased by Jesus at the cross. I do not think we have to wait for God to move, because He has already moved. In the spiritual realm, we are healed. I have to walk in faith as regarding salvation, and not everyone even accepts it. I have to walk in faith regarding healing, or in relation to any of God’s promises, for that matter. I struggle like everyone else to recognize that much of what I have been taught that seems to contradict the Word, wars against my faith and instills doubt. Therefore, I keep after the truth of scripture in the quest to renew my mind. It is a cinch that if I am walking in doubt instead of faith, my chances of seeing God’s promises at work in my experience are greatly diminished.
Again, C.A. thanks for all the effort you have put into your comments. I find them to have great value.
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Just today, Manu David posted a blog in a study of Numbers and stated: “How important it is for us to ensure that we do not allow our challenges to chip away at our trust but instead to let our trust in God weaken the frustration and fear that our trials cause.” 🤠
❤️&🙏, c.a.
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Thank you, Jon and C.A. for your measured responses relying on scriptural foundations. This discussion has made my heart rejoice in the wisdom of God who asks us in all things to seek first His kingdom! What I read in your post, Jon, and in both yours and C.A.’s comments, is the fruit of the Spirit, faith and humility before God, borne of that seeking after Him as a deer pants for streams of water! Praise God! 🙏♥️
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Thank you, Dora, for your kind consideration of our “iron sharpens iron” back and forth. Some of the worst mistakes I have made have come out of discounting advice from other believers, who turned out to be giving voice to God’s message for me.
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Your example to me on this is so much appreciated as it is a blessing to me. The truth is, I see the value in both approaches to God’s promises regarding healing. It is a paradox but our Lord doesn’t expect us to understand every paradox or mystery presented to us in the Bible. He does promise to give us wisdom when we ask for it. Which, praise God, I will continue to do. Thank you, Jon.
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Powerful words! Thank you Jon
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Thank you for checking in. May we never lose sight of the fact that the voice of God created all, and is sustaining in this very moment. Hope you find your day full of joy.
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Amen!
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