My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.  Job 42:5

The Egyptians wrote a medical book in 1552 B.C. called “Papyrus Ebers.”  Inside were prescriptions and incantations for all kinds of illnesses. Their remedy for hair loss was to apply the fat of a horse, a hippopotamus, a crocodile, a cat, a snake, and an ibex.  The drugs they mentioned might turn your stomach: lizard blood, swine teeth, putrid meat, and moisture from pig’s ears.  Aren’t you glad you live in this century?

Moses was alive in Egypt when this book was written. He probably saw some of these applications in the palace. Years later, he would live to experience God revealing Himself as Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who heals. God needed only His own power to bring about healing.

The Book of Job is 400 years older than Genesis, so I’m sure many of these primitive methods existed during Job’s suffering. We don’t know if Job’s wife encouraged him to try any of them.  

Job had always been a righteous man. He would arise early in the morning to offer sacrifices to God for himself and each of his children.  They were offered to prevent harm, not because harm existed.  It was Job’s way of ensuring his children’s well-being.  Job did all the right things, yet God permitted Satan to afflict him.  This, alone, proves that suffering isn’t always due to sin. 

Job also suffered from the spiritual interpretations of his three closest friends. Though they claimed to speak for God, they did not, eventually driving Job to take his case directly to God. At this point, his relationship with God became personal and intimate. Before this, sacrificing animals to interact with the Almighty had been largely impersonal by comparison.  We know that because of the testimony reflected in today’s scripture.  My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you.  Job 42:5

To experience God as Jehovah-Rapha, the Healer, we often pay the price of discipleship to know Him more intimately. We are tested with bitter waters for a season, and though grievous, it is beneficial (in retrospect) because it drives us to the heart of God. This is the place where scriptures became personal.  This is the time when we feel we are connected to God in a life-saving way.  This is the season we won’t trade for anything – even though we’ll never want to repeat it.  Knowing God is our highest privilege and the deepest longing of our hearts.  

This scripture is also my testimony.  Only because of affliction did the props and idols fall away.  Only because of affliction did the eyes of my heart open to see what had been hidden.  

Sometimes, I saw You heal me when I was sick.  But mostly, You have healed my orphaned soul.  You are my Jehovah Rapha.  Praise Your name!  Amen