NCCG.ORG Foundational Studies of the Bible - 8. YAHWEH'S PROVISION FOR HEALING: The Great Physician

8.4. In Isaiah 53, we find a prophecy about the Messiah. What did Isaiah (Yeshayahu) prophesy that Yah'shua (Jesus) would do through His atoning death in regard to physical healing? (Isa.53:4-5)

8.5. What does the apostle Peter (Kefa) say about this provision for healing? (1 Peter 2:24)

8.6. For what purpose was Yah'shua (Jesus) manifested? (1 John 3:8)

8.7. What does Yahweh promise to do for those who serve Him? (Ex.23:25)

8.8. What did David say that Yahweh did for him? (Psalm 103:3)

8.9. How many of Yahweh's promises may we claim through faith in Yah'shua (Jesus)? (2 Cor.1:19-20)

8.10. For whom is sickness? (Deut.7:15)

8.11. Upon whom else will sickness come, and why? (Deut.28:58-59; Job 2:1-7; John 9:1-3)

Christians should therefore be very careful in pronouncing judgment on the sick. Whilst Satan is responsible for all sickness, and whilst it is true that Yahweh permits Satan to afflict the wicked and disobedient by removing His protection from them, we must not forget that Yahweh also permits sickness to afflict man (a) to test his obedience and refine his character, and (b) to bring glory to the Name of Yahweh -- many souls, like the blind man, are afflicted with sickness to that others can be brought to salvation when they see the healing of Christ.

Remember also that sickness may also be the result of a combination of two or three of these reasons. Christians should therefore not be quick to judge but discern by the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit) what the cause and purpose of sickness is and it should not always be assumed that sickness is the result of sin.

Christians should love and administer to the sick irrespective of the causes, allowing Yahweh to pass judgment. The sick themselves may not always know why they are sick. All human beings are victims of the Fall (see Bible Study No.1) also.

Sickness has the tendency to humble most men and women and should be used as an opportunity to confront them with the weightier matters of life. Do you find it easier to approach Yahweh when you are ill? Is sickness a spiritual blessing to you? Do you respond to sickness positively by drawing near to the El Elyon (the Most High)?

Paul (Sha'ul) is perhaps one of the best examples of a man of Yahweh whom Yahweh allowed to be afflicted with an unknown sickness.

8.12. (a) Whom did Yahweh allow to afflict Paul? (b) Why did He allow it? (c) Was it because Paul had done something especially wicked? (2 Cor.12:7-10)

Yahweh's purposes are of an altogether larger perspective than ours. Christians should never be so narrow-minded and dogmatic as to assume they have all the answers. Though we desire to have the reasons for sickness and other difficulties, Yahweh does not always grant us that knowledge, and this for a special purpose. We are to walk in faith.

8.13. What has Yahweh said concerning human and divine perspective? (Isa.55:8-9)

We are to walk in humility and acceptance of Yahweh's greater wisdom and to give thanks in all circumstances, whether in sickness or in health (1 Thess.5:18), working out our salvation in fear and trembling (Phil.2:12).

8.14. What kind of sickness will come upon those who disobey Yahweh's Word and refuse to fear Him? (Deut.28:58-61)

Those who turn from following Yahweh put themselves under the dominion of Satan. Therefore, they are at the mercy of the enemy of their souls and out from under Yahweh's protective covering. The AIDS epidemic caused by promiscuous sexual activity in both the homosexual and heterosexual community is an extremely good modern example of how Yahweh's protective cover is removed when men and women flout His laws of morality. Can you think of any other examples?

8.15. What does Yahweh desire for us? (Deut.30:19)

8.16. What are the conditions for receiving the blessing rather than the curse? (Deut.30:20)

8.17. What promises do those who trust in Yahweh and make Him their refuge have? (Psalm 91:9-10)

8.18. What does Yahweh promise for those who return to Him from a life of sin and disobedience? (Jer.33:6)

Consequently, we see that as men and women turn from sin to serve the living Elohim, Yahweh desires not only to save man from sin but also from sickness. Yah'shua (Jesus) came to redeem man completely from the hand of the enemy.

8.19. For what purpose was Yah'shua (Jesus) anointed with the Ruach haQodesh (Holy Spirit)? (Acts 10:38)

8.20. How many did Yah'shua (Jesus) heal of those who came to Him? (Matt.8:16; 12:15; 14:35-36)

8.21. How many kinds of sickness did Yah'shua (Jesus) heal? (Matt.4:23-24; 9:35)

8.22. When Yah'shua (Jesus) did not heal many people, what was the reason? (Matt.13:58; Mark 6:5-6)

8.23. In two accounts of healing given in Matthew, what did both the leper and the centurion recognise about Yah'shua (Jesus); and what did they both have? (Matt.8:2,8)

8.24. What does Yahweh send to heal us? (Psalm 107:20)

8.25. The centurian demonstrated this principle. What did he say to Yah'shua (Jesus)? (Matt.8:8-9)

8.26. What did Yah'shua (Jesus) say about the centurion, and what did this man receive? (Matt.8:10,13)

8.27. What did Yah'shua (Jesus) look for in those who came to Him for healing? (Matt.9:28-29; Mark 2:5; 9:23)

It is this simple child-like faith of accepting Yahweh's Word as truth that moves the heart of Yahweh.

8.28. How did Peter (Kefa) explain the healing of the lame man? (Acts 3:16)

8.29. This action on Peter's (Kefa's) part was in accordance with what commandment of Yah'shua (Jesus)? (Matt.10:8)

8.30. What did Yah'shua (Jesus) say a person who believed in Him would be able to do? (John 14:12)

8.31. In what name are the sick healed and what is one method of healing? (Mark 16:18)

8.32. Will these people be healed? (Mark 16:18)

8.33. What are the elders of the local church/assembly to do for a sick Christian? (James 5:14)

8.34. What will Yahweh do? (James 5:15)

The forgiveness of sin is always conditional upon faith and repentance (Acts 5:31). It is when the one who is sick believes in the El (God) of healing that he receives a forgiveness of sin (Acts 10:43) in addition to physical healing; a man is not forgiven of sin simply because he is physically healed. In what way may the forgiveness of sin be seen as "spiritual healing"?

Is this a forgiveness for the sin that caused the disease or sickness, or for all sin generally? If a man is healed by a doctor/physician using medication, is the patient forgiven of sin? Is there a parallel between the Divine Physician and the sinner, and the worldly doctor and the patient? Try to understand the spiritual and physical processes at work in both situations.

8.35. What kind of prayer will heal the sick? (James 5:15)

8.36. What could be one reason that this Christian was sick? (James 5:15)

8.37. What did David say happened to him when he hid his iniquity and did not confess his sin? (2 Kings 20:5-6)

8.38. What promises of health does Yahweh give those who rest their hope in Him? (Isa.40:28-31)

8.39. What type of man was King Hezekiah (Hizqiyahu)? (2 Kings 20:1-3)

8.40. When Hezekiah (Hizqiyahu) prayed to Yahweh for healing, what happened? (2 Kings 20:5-6)

8.41. What type of man was King Asa? (2 Chron.15:16-17; 16:7-10)

8.42. Because Asa had not trusted in Yahweh and had imprisoned Yahweh's prophet, what happened? (2 Chron.16:12)

8.43. What does Yahweh warn the saints not to do to His anointed servants? (1 Chron.16:22; Psalm 105:15)

8.44. What happened to Miriam (Miryam) when she criticised Yahweh's anointed? (Num.12:10)

8.44. What two things had she criticised Moses (Moshe) for? (Num.12:1-2)

Jewish tradition teaches that Moses' first wife came from Meroë in Ethiopia (Cush) whom he presumably brought with him during the exodus from Egypt. He took a second wife, Zipporah (Tsipporah), the daughter of Jethro (Re'uw'el), when he dwelt Midian (Ex.2:15-21).

8.45. What was Yahweh's attitude to His anointed servant? (Num.12:6)

8.46. Who took the initiative in seeking Miriam's (Miryam's) healing? What does this reveal about the spiritual nature of Yahweh's true servants? (Num.12:3,13)

Many sicknesses have psychological and spiritual/demonic roots (see Bible Study No.9). Once these are removed physical healing normally follows. The negative, sinful attitudes of others can put good people under tremendous psychological pressure which can lead to physical imbalance and illnesss. Can you think of any examples where such happens?

In the case of Moses (Moshe) it was the one wronged who took the initiative in seeking for the healing of the one who had wronged him. It was because he had this love that his request for healing took place.

8.47. How does Moses (Moshe) compare with the qualities required of a disciple of the Messiah (Christ)? (Matt.5:7; Rom.12:14,17)

Moses (Moshe) walked blameless before Yahweh in all but one incident. His attitude towards sick people, and people in general, should be our attitude also.

8.48. What condition did Yahweh put on Miriam (Miryam) before she could be healed? (Num.12:14-15)

Since the fall of Adam the world has groaned in sin (Rom.8:22), and sickness has been upon the face of the earth to plague both men, animals and plants. Thus the world is defiled.

8.49. What is the principle cause of the world being defiled? What three things have they done in the past and continue to do today? (Isa.24:5)

8.50. What is the best security New Covenant Christians have against sickness? (Num.30:2; Eccl.5:4; Matt.5:33-37)

8.51. What did Asa fail to do, and as a result what happened? (2 Chron.16:12-13)

8.52. Why are some Christians not healed? (James 4:2b)

8.53. What was one thing that all those who desired healing from Yah'shua (Jesus) did? (Mark 10:46-50; Matt.9:27)

8.54. Therefore, what does Yah'shua (Jesus) exhort us to do? (John 16:24; Matt.21:22)

8.55. The fourth chapter of Malachi (Mal'aki) speaks of the last days. What will be prevalent among those who fear Yahweh's Name? (Mal.4:2)

Write and memorise the following scriptures: Isa.53:5; Matt.8:17

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