Examining the Names of God: Jehovah Rapha – The LORD Who Heals

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Jehovah Rapha. Have you ever considered the meaning of Jehovah Rapha?

The Bible declares that God is at work in the world and in the lives of those who believe in Him. His names illustrate that work in us.

You can find everything that you are looking for about The Names of God and Why We Should Study and Pray Them, as well as in-depth studies on each of the 9 names of God we cover (Adonai, Abba, Jehovah Jireh, and many more) It includes a video and additional downloads. * 73 pages

Today, we will examine Jehovah Rapha. This is one of my favorites of all of God’s names as it shows us how he loves us and heals us both physically and emotionally.

Jehovah Rapha – The LORD who heals.

יְהֹוָה רָפָא

Jehovah is translated as “The Existing One” or “Lord.” The chief meaning of Jehovah is derived from the Hebrew word Havah meaning “to be” or “to exist.” It also suggests “to become” or specifically “to become known” – this denotes a God who reveals Himself unceasingly. Rapha (râpâ’) means “to restore”, “to heal” or “to make healthful” in Hebrew. When the two words are combined – Jehovah Rapha – it can be translated as “Jehovah Who Heals.”

Jehovah is the Great Physician who heals the physical and emotional needs of His people.

This name for God appears for the first time in the Bible in Exodus 15:26. God told the Israelites:

“saying, “If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes, and give ear to his commandments and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer.” [Jehovah Rapha].”

Exodus 15:26 (ESV)

God had just delivered the Israelites out of Egypt and slavery, parting the Red Sea, and miraculously guiding them to dry land. After three days in the wilderness and unable to find water, they were desperate and complaining. Then they came to the “Bitter River.” That’s what they named it after they found the water there was not fit to drink.

They went to Moses and demanded water. Moses appealed to God who told him to throw the branch of a particular tree into the river. Moses did as God instructed, and the waters became fresh and sweet. That is when God said to the people: “Follow Me, and I will be the Lord who heals you” (Exodus 15:26).

The name of God, Jehovah Rapha, and references to the Lord Who Heals appears other places in scripture, as well.

For I will restore health to you,
    and your wounds I will heal,
declares the Lord,
because they have called you an outcast:
    ‘It is Zion, for whom no one cares!’

Jeremiah 3:17 (ESV)

“Return, O faithless sons;
    I will heal your faithlessness.”
“Behold, we come to you,
    for you are the Lord our God.

Jeremiah 3:22 (ESV)

He was despised and rejected by men,
    a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
    he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he has borne our griefs
    and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
    smitten by God, and afflicted.

Isaiah 53:3-4 (ESV)

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:6-7 (ESV)

“but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
    they shall walk and not faint.”

Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

Matthew 5:4 (ESV)

“For his anger is but for a moment,
    and his favor is for a lifetime.
Weeping may tarry for the night,
    but joy comes with the morning.”

Psalms 30:5

Here is a printable for you to always keep His promises nearby (click the photo for a downloadable version to save or print)

Across a lifetime there is only God’s love. The nights of crying your eyes out will give way to days of laughter. After God miraculously provided for the Israelites by parting the Red Sea, they continued on their journey. After three days without finding water, they came to Marah and were delighted to see water.

Their delight soon turned to grumbling, however, when they discovered that the water was bitter. As Moses prayed, God instructed him to cast a tree into the water, and the water became sweet. God then spoke the words in today’s scripture verse. He told them that he is Jehovah-rapha, the Lord who heals you.

The Old Testament recounts many instances of God providing healing and restoration. And, of course, the New Testament is filled with accounts of people being healed by Jesus, and later through the apostles. What Jehovah did at Marah, what Jesus did throughout the New Testament, he will do today for those who trust and obey him.

We all need healing at various times in our lives. Physical, emotional, moral or relationship healing. If you need healing in any area of your life today, listen carefully to God by reading the Bible, by communicating with him in prayer and by seeking godly counsel. Commit to pleasing the Lord, doing things his way. Trust Jesus. God is Jehovah-rapha, the Lord who heals you.

Inviting Jehovah Rapha to Heal Us Today

Let’s apply this lesson to our hearts today. I invite you to join me as we allow Jehovah Rapha to examine our hearts. Are you and I more like the Israelites than we care to admit? When God doesn’t work in our lives in the way that we think He should, do we grow bitter? Do we begin to plan ways that we can make things happen through our own efforts?

When God’s timing is different than we had hoped, do we harbor resentment against Him? How often do we look at people in our lives who do not seem to have the same struggles that we have and pose the question, “What did I do to make God mad at me? I am as good as they are.”

He is Jehovah Rapha-the Lord who heals you-and He longs to heal us of resentfulness, bitterness, and pride if we will but trust Him and walk before Him in obedience. Let’s allow Him to examine our hearts and heal us of the diseases that sin inflicts upon us. The picture here is glorious: Our shepherd offers to come to us in the midst of our pain and depressed condition, and to sit by our side. He promises to bind up our wounds and strengthen the parts of us that have become sick and diseased.

We can call on Jehovah Rapha today; He is still ready to fix whatever is broken in our lives. These verses from both the Old and New Testaments clearly show that God’s healing touch deals with much more than physical sickness, as it restores us spiritually or emotionally too!

We can call on Jehovah Rapha today; He is still ready to fix whatever is broken in our lives.

If there is something in your life that needs healing or restoring,  you can go to Him with the words of Jeremiah 17:14—“ Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed;
    save me, and I shall be saved,
    for you are my praise.”

I also have a printable version of the below questions for you below to study at your convenience.

Questions to Ponder and Discuss about Jehovah Rapha, The Lord Who Heals

• Jehovah Rapha: The Lord who heals
• What are some ways that God heals?
• Why do you think that God doesn’t always heal the way we think He should?
• In those circumstances, what is your reaction to God?
• Journal about a time that God has healed you (physical, spiritual, emotional, or anyway that applies)
• Read Exodus 15:22-23. What happened when the Israelites finally found water? What did they call that place?
• How did God provide? (v. 25) Why do you think He chose this method?
• Where did God lead them after He issued this decree? (Exodus 15:27)
• What did the people find there?
• Does bitterness fill your heart today? Do you need refreshing? Share what is on your heart below.
• Read 2 Kings 20:5-6. What specifically did Isaiah tell King Hezekiah about his healing in verse 6?
• How did God heal Hezekiah? (v. 7) Why do you think He used figs?
• What lesson do you glean from this?

I love studying the names of God and learning new facets of His wonders. What is your favorite of the names of God? Had you already known of Jehovah Rapha?

Did you enjoy this new feature at Woman of Noble Character? Do you like the format with the study questions and related Bible verses with printables? I’d love to hear your feedback!

For a great book on stories about our God who heals and prayers for Him, see this book Jehovah Rapha – The God Who Heals by Mary Nelson (no relation!). You can read an interview with the author about the book HERE.

If you want to dig deeper and examine some Bible symbolism, consider checking out these previous posts on Hands in the Bible and Closed Doors in the Bible.

Because He Lives,

Sue

ESV – “Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”