JEHOVAH-ROPHE
Exodus 15:22-27
The name Jehovah-rophe (Jehovah-rapha) means Jehovah heals. The Israelites discovered in Marah that Yahweh (Jehovah) is also Jehovah-rophe, the God who heals. Leaving Marah they made their way to Elim, where they found twelve springs of fresh water and seventy date palms. God took them from Marah to Elim and gave them abundant supply of water. They discovered that the LORD can turn the bitter water into sweet. The word rophe occurs about seventy times in the Old Testament and always means “to restore, to heal, to cure”, or a “physician”. It is used with reference to physical, moral, and spiritual healing as well. Jehovah reveals Himself to be the only source of wholeness. He alone has the power to change the bitter experiences of life to sweet.
The first lesson we may draw from this passage and from this name, Jehovah-rophe, is man’s need for healing, of a physician. Throughout the Bible, we see God’s power healing the bodies of men. Nothing is more obvious, and tragic, and costly than the toll which sickness has exacted on human life and happiness. One of the works of the devil is to afflict human beings with sickness; and Jesus was annointed to destroy these works. Act. 10:38. Jesus was indeed the fulfilment of Jehovah-rophe. He turns bitter life into sweet.
This healing power of God is not limited to physical healing – it extends to spiritual, moral, mental, financial, marital healing, etc. Jesus is still alive and His healing power has not diminished! When you are experiencing difficult circumstances of life, when you come to a place where disillusionment and bitterness fill the wells of your life, remember that Jehovah-rophe can turn them to sweet.
The second lesson is that we must listen earnestly to the voice of God. When we get to Marah, the place of bitterness, we must tune our ears attentively to the voice of the LORD. Ask yourself “What is God saying to me”? What am I supposed to learn from this bitter experience?” The third lesson is that we must do right. Instead of responding by grumbling and complaining, focus on the reliability of the Great Physician. You can be rest assured that you shall be victorious over that circumstance.
CONFESSION: Heal me, O Lord and I shall be healed.
