Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

We are down to the final compound name of God’s name, Jehovah (YHWH).

It is YHWH (Jehovah) Rophi which means the LORD heals.

On your charts, you can fill it on that last box of the column beside the box named “YHWH, Jehovah, LORD.”

Our verse which gives us this name is found in Exodus.

In that verse, the word “healeth” is the Hebrew word “rapha.”

Rapha or Raphi is a Hebrew word indicating a physician who treats, prevents, and alleviates disease symptoms.

It is a term used 67 times in 62 verses of the Old Testament.

It is translated into English as the verb heal, repair, cure, or to make whole.

As a noun, it is translated physician.

Examples of its use are as follows:

Genesis 20:17–18 (KJV 1900)

17 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed [rapha] Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants; and they bare children.

18 For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham’s wife.

1 Kings 18:30 (KJV 1900)

30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me.

And all the people came near unto him.

And he repaired [rapha] the altar of the Lord that was broken down.

Job 5:18 (KJV 1900)

18 For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: He woundeth, and his hands make whole [rapha].

Jeremiah 33:6 (KJV 1900)

6 Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them [rapha], and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.

Genesis 50:2 (KJV 1900)

2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians [rapha] to embalm his father: and the physicians [rapha] embalmed Israel.

This study shows that the word “rapha” was used several times.

For example, it indicated mending a garment, repairing an altar, and healing or curing a person of disease or sickness.

Anyone who engaged in helping heal others of physical ailments was regarded as “rapha” or physician.

Note a few other things related to the word “rapha.”

It is used concerning God’s grace as He restores spiritual life.

“Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases;” (Psalm 103:3)

It is used concerning God healing the broken heart.

“He healeth the broken in heart, And bindeth up their wounds.”

(Psalm 147:3)

It is used concerning God recovering the blackslider.

“Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings.

Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the Lord our God.”

(Jeremiah 3:22)

It is used concerning God removing bodily infirmities.

“Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord.”

(2 Kings 20:5)

As with everything related to Jehovah, His response to us is based on our obedience to His Word.

For example, when we were learning about Jehovah-Jireh (The LORD Provides), God provided for Abraham in answer to his faith and obedience upon Mt.

Moriah (Isaac’s sacrifice).

The same holds true for healing.

We see this in God’s response to Israel.

Jehovah-Rophi Stands Ready to Heal All In Need of Healing

Evidenced by His dealing with Israel as...

He Promised Healing

As we know, it was Jehovah who delivered Israel from the bondage of Egypt.

Moses was simply the instrument that God used.

In the end, there was no doubt that it was Jehovah God, the God of Israel, who was superior in every way over the false gods of Egypt.

All of which was solidified by many miracles God performed through the plagues.

It was the last plague that did Egypt in.

Yet, in that same plague, God delivered Israel.

As they left Egypt rejoicing at their new found freedom and their emancipation from bondage, assuredly they felt that they were leaving all their problems behind.

As the redeemed of the Lord, they were free to go forward enjoying a life of liberty.

Yet, it did not take long for their songs of deliverance to turn into feelings of fear.

They soon faced many unknowns and difficulties.

The Red Sea was only the start.

After the Red Sea, we know that they soon ran out of water.

The Red Sea itself was too salty for them to drink.

Thus, they hastened to a place called Marah.

It was there they imagined they would find good drinking water.

Yet, when the arrived, the waters were bitter giving us the name “Marah” which means “bitter.”

By now, the thought of death was real.

There was no water and they were without water.

At this point, they are desperate and cry out to Moses saying, “What shall we drink?”

As we know, Moses did the only thing he knew to do.

He, in turn, cried out to God.

Remember that this is God who is known to His people as Jehovah.

Jehovah become Jehovah-Jireh in that moment.

What does Jehovah-Jireh mean?

The LORD Who Provides!

He provide for their needs.

Yet, He also is Jehovah-Rophi, the LORD Who Heals.

The Great Physician provide the remedy they needed.

He turned the bitter water into sweet water.

Note the following verse.

It is interesting that God reveals Himself to Israel as the “LORD that heals” at the springs of bitter water.

In doing so, He also gave them a promise.

His promise stated, “I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians.”

Yet, this promise was conditional.

What was the condition?

“If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD they God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight...”

Think about it.

God wanted their complete obedience.

Even if they came again to “a dry and thirsty land where no water is,” He would be there are their Jehovah-Rophi.

No matter the circumstances they could trust that He would sweeten any bitter waters they encountered.

He promised to be their Healer on the one condition that they obey His Word and His will.

Now, as we know, there was no magical or medicinal quality to the wood that was cast into the bitter water.

No, the miracle came from the God who had performed so many miracle in Egypt.

However, this miracle was special.

It illustrated to the entire nation that His intent for them was a healthy and wholesome life as they trusted and obeyed Him.

If they would live for Him, He would be their health.

He Demonstrated Healing

This event at Marah proved to be even great illustration of Christ’s coming.

Remember that God’s Word is the story of Jesus.

And, even in this one act, God gave a powerful illustration of Calvary.

An illustration that is easy for us to see as we hold the complete Word of God in our hands today.

When the came to Marah, they found bitter waters.