FCA Teacher Week 2025

God gives us a Name

Jehovah-Rapha – "The Lord Who Heals"

Hebrew: יְהוָה רֹפְאֶךָ (YHWH Ropheka)

Exodus 15:23–27 NKJV

23 Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. 24 And the people complained against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” 25 So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them, 26 and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.” 27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters.

The first mention of bitter water in the Bible is Exodus 15:23. As the Israelites traveled in the wilderness, they came to a spring of water. But when they tried to drink it, they found that the water was bitter. The word translated “bitter” is marah in Hebrew, and that became the name of the place. The water may have had a salty, metallic taste and was undrinkable in the way that ocean water is undrinkable. There still exist springs in that region with bitter-tasting water. God miraculously transformed the water of Marah from bitter to sweet (verse 25). - What is the meaning of bitter water in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

The Bible speaks of Bitterness

Ephesians 4:31 NKJV

31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.

1. Bitterness Comes From Within

The waters of Marah came from a Spring.

Hebrews 12:15 NKJV

15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

Hebrews refers to bitterness as something that has taken root and although the top has been cut off, the root remains and occasionally sprouts back up.

The Progression of Bitterness:

Hurt becomes Anger.

Anger becomes Resentment.

Resentment becomes Unforgiveness.

Unforgiveness becomes Bitterness.

Bitterness spreads to every area of life and takes root.

The banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis) is a majestic tree known for its expansive canopy, aerial roots, and cultural significance, often symbolizing endurance and healing.

Characteristics of the Banyan Tree

Size and Structure: The banyan tree can grow up to 30 meters tall with a wide-spreading crown. Its most distinctive feature is the aerial roots that descend from its branches, which can take root in the ground and form new trunks, allowing the tree to expand its coverage significantly over time. 2

2. Bitterness turns Mirth into Misery

The children of Israel were singing the songs of victory but the song eventually died down.

The celebration of victory gave way to the drudgery of daily existence in the desert.

They were weary and tired, hot and dry and needed a water source.

They found it. But the waters were not drinkable in their present state and their Mirth turned into Misery.

Their celebration turned into complaining.

It only took 3 days for them to forget the miracle God had done with water, to forget that God could handle a water problem.

3. The Solution for Bitterness is Found in a Tree

Isaiah 53:1–6 NKJV

1 Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. 3 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

The source of bitterness was carried by Christ to the Cross.

Isaiah 53:3–4 AMP

3 He was despised and rejected and forsaken by men, a Man of sorrows and pains, and acquainted with grief and sickness; and like One from Whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we did not appreciate His worth or have any esteem for Him. 4 Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains [of punishment], yet we [ignorantly] considered Him stricken, smitten, and afflicted by God [as if with leprosy].

The remedy for bitterness was displayed by Christ on the Cross.

Luke 23:33–34 NKJV

33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. 34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.

Forgiveness is the remedy for bitterness.

Myths about forgiveness:

Forgiveness is about the other person.

Forgiveness is saying that what happened was OK.

Forgiveness is letting the other person off the hook.

Forgiveness is forgetting.

Truths about forgiveness:

Forgiveness is for you.

Forgiveness recognizes the wrong.

Forgiveness is putting the other person in God’s hands.

Forgiveness is refusing to be bound today by what you remember from yesterday.

In order to start the process of inner healing, you must be honest:

with yourself.

with God.

You may need to add one more to the list: someone else who can be trusted and can come into agreement with you for your healing.

God gives them a new name: Jehovah-Rapha

Exodus 15:26 NKJV

26 and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.”

You don’t have to walk around with yesterday’s rock in your shoe.

Matthew 10:13–14 NKJV

13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.

While Walter Brennan was preparing for his role in “To Have and Have Not”, his friend, sound effects technician Jack Foley suggested to him that he put a rock in his shoe to create a limp. Brennan did so and that is how he learned his rather genuine-looking fake limp.

Jehovah-Rapha is YOUR healer.

Isaiah 53:5 NKJV

5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

Jeremiah 30:17 NKJV

17 For I will restore health to you And heal you of your wounds,’ says the Lord, ‘Because they called you an outcast saying: “This is Zion; No one seeks her.” ’

Jeremiah 33:6 NKJV

6 Behold, I will bring it health and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth.

You can sew seeds into your own healing.

Isaiah 58:6–9 NKJV

6 “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ “If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,