“He [The Lord] said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the LORD who heals you.”” (Exodus 15:26, NLT)
Did you know that in God’s eyes, there is a direct correlation between being faithful and being healthy?
That is not to say that if you are sick, you are not faithful. Jesus proved that thinking wrong in John 9:1-3. Rather, the scripture for today reveals that the Lord caused diseases to infest the Egyptians when Israel suffered in Egypt. These diseases were the direct result of the sinfulness and evil set against Israel by the Egyptians. In the same manner, today’s scripture also reveals that IF the Israelites “listen carefully to the voice of the Lord”, “do what is right in God’s sight”, and “obey God’s commands”, no diseases would be sent from God to these faithful ones (Exodus 15:26). Taken in context, this scripture displays a direct connection between the diseases of the sinful Egyptians in the days of Moses and the healing of the Israelites who obeyed the will of the Lord in that same era.
Delving more deeply into this scripture, you can see that there are times when the Lord will send diseases upon a land or people depending on their faithfulness. Those living in that land who practice evil will be inflicted with disease sent from God. Those living in that land who obey the commandments and the will of God will receive healing. Why? The scripture above ends with the answer: “I am the Lord who heals you.” (Exodus 15:26)
This scripture does not say that every illness or sickness or disease in the world is caused by God. It does not support any theories that every child who has cancer or mother who suffers from COVID-19 is a sinful person. This scripture does not even suggest that all sickness is sent by God and all healing is only a result of faithfulness. If that were true, faithful people could not die while living faithfully. NO! But this scripture does make clear two things of great importance. First, sinning against God leads to sickness and disease. A life that is worldly, a person who lives in sin, a nation that promotes evil are all liable to feel the wrath of God. Diseases sent from God will break out among the sinful. Second, “the Lord is the one who heals you”. The adage is true that physicians treat illness, but the Lord heals it.
Based on this scripture there are two courses of action required of you. First, you need to obey the will of God by keeping faithful to God’s commandment. This involves “listening carefully to the voice of the Lord you God” (Exodus 15:26a). It also involves “doing what is right in God’s sight” (Exodus 15:26b). Obeying the Lord while listening to HIS voice will keep you on the right track to a healthy lifestyle. Sinning against God will lead you toward disease. Just think of all the consequences of a sinful lifestyle. Adultery can bring AIDS, sexual diseases, and heartbreak. Stealing and fraud can cause all manner of anxiety and stress. Many sins bring depression. To have the best chance of healthiness in this life, be faithful! Second, one other course of action is needed. You need to lean on God for your healing. This scripture makes crystal clear that God is your healer. Many people today rely on medicine and doctors for healing, while excluding God’s healing. As if the pharmaceutical industry does not profit from treating illness? Pills may treat illness. God heals it. If you rely more on physicians and pills to keep your body healthy, while not listening to the voice of God, it is only a matter of time before disease takes you over and you die long before your time.
The famous Christian author Stormie Omartian wrote this about her childhood home: “I was raised by a mentally ill mother who was very abusive and kept me locked in a closet for much of my early childhood. My dad was gone a lot working long hard hours just to eke out a living. When he was home, he was exhausted and passive and, although he was a kind person, I didn’t feel he was there for me as a protector from my mother. As a result, I grew up with a lot of depression, fear, anxiety, anger, feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, futility, and rejection. By the time I was in my twenties, I was still locked in a closet emotionally.” Despite the odds, Stormie’s beauty and personality brought her great success in music and television. However, with that success came even more suffering. Stormie drank to excess, used illicit drugs, delved into Eastern religions, and found herself in unhealthy relationships. Nothing seemed to bring Stormie lasting joy or meaning or peace. Then, Stormie found Jesus.
As her life was falling apart, Stormie met with a friend and her pastor. There, she accepted Jesus as her Savior. She began to study deeply the truths of the Bible. She prayed fervently. She worshipped regularly. After a complete change in her lifestyle and healing took hold, Stormie wrote a series of books on prayer. She has spoken to thousands about her faith, her healing, and her love for the Lord.
What would have happened to Stormie if she had not listened to God’s voice? She would probably say she was doomed to a life of shallow joys and shattered dreams and illness and an early death. But through salvation in Christ, Stormie has found health and wholeness and healing and grace and so much more!
Based on the scripture for today, I urge you to obey the voice of the Lord. Follow God’s commandments faithfully. Look for God’s healing through grace. Keep your life free from sin and evil. Surround yourself with godly people. Live a healthy lifestyle filled with God-given foods and drinks. Lean on God in prayer. Let God heal you until the day HE takes you home to Heaven. There is a direct correlation between being faithful and being healthy. Let God teach you the way to healing.
That is not to say that if you are sick, you are not faithful. Jesus proved that thinking wrong in John 9:1-3. Rather, the scripture for today reveals that the Lord caused diseases to infest the Egyptians when Israel suffered in Egypt. These diseases were the direct result of the sinfulness and evil set against Israel by the Egyptians. In the same manner, today’s scripture also reveals that IF the Israelites “listen carefully to the voice of the Lord”, “do what is right in God’s sight”, and “obey God’s commands”, no diseases would be sent from God to these faithful ones (Exodus 15:26). Taken in context, this scripture displays a direct connection between the diseases of the sinful Egyptians in the days of Moses and the healing of the Israelites who obeyed the will of the Lord in that same era.
Delving more deeply into this scripture, you can see that there are times when the Lord will send diseases upon a land or people depending on their faithfulness. Those living in that land who practice evil will be inflicted with disease sent from God. Those living in that land who obey the commandments and the will of God will receive healing. Why? The scripture above ends with the answer: “I am the Lord who heals you.” (Exodus 15:26)
This scripture does not say that every illness or sickness or disease in the world is caused by God. It does not support any theories that every child who has cancer or mother who suffers from COVID-19 is a sinful person. This scripture does not even suggest that all sickness is sent by God and all healing is only a result of faithfulness. If that were true, faithful people could not die while living faithfully. NO! But this scripture does make clear two things of great importance. First, sinning against God leads to sickness and disease. A life that is worldly, a person who lives in sin, a nation that promotes evil are all liable to feel the wrath of God. Diseases sent from God will break out among the sinful. Second, “the Lord is the one who heals you”. The adage is true that physicians treat illness, but the Lord heals it.
Based on this scripture there are two courses of action required of you. First, you need to obey the will of God by keeping faithful to God’s commandment. This involves “listening carefully to the voice of the Lord you God” (Exodus 15:26a). It also involves “doing what is right in God’s sight” (Exodus 15:26b). Obeying the Lord while listening to HIS voice will keep you on the right track to a healthy lifestyle. Sinning against God will lead you toward disease. Just think of all the consequences of a sinful lifestyle. Adultery can bring AIDS, sexual diseases, and heartbreak. Stealing and fraud can cause all manner of anxiety and stress. Many sins bring depression. To have the best chance of healthiness in this life, be faithful! Second, one other course of action is needed. You need to lean on God for your healing. This scripture makes crystal clear that God is your healer. Many people today rely on medicine and doctors for healing, while excluding God’s healing. As if the pharmaceutical industry does not profit from treating illness? Pills may treat illness. God heals it. If you rely more on physicians and pills to keep your body healthy, while not listening to the voice of God, it is only a matter of time before disease takes you over and you die long before your time.
The famous Christian author Stormie Omartian wrote this about her childhood home: “I was raised by a mentally ill mother who was very abusive and kept me locked in a closet for much of my early childhood. My dad was gone a lot working long hard hours just to eke out a living. When he was home, he was exhausted and passive and, although he was a kind person, I didn’t feel he was there for me as a protector from my mother. As a result, I grew up with a lot of depression, fear, anxiety, anger, feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, futility, and rejection. By the time I was in my twenties, I was still locked in a closet emotionally.” Despite the odds, Stormie’s beauty and personality brought her great success in music and television. However, with that success came even more suffering. Stormie drank to excess, used illicit drugs, delved into Eastern religions, and found herself in unhealthy relationships. Nothing seemed to bring Stormie lasting joy or meaning or peace. Then, Stormie found Jesus.
As her life was falling apart, Stormie met with a friend and her pastor. There, she accepted Jesus as her Savior. She began to study deeply the truths of the Bible. She prayed fervently. She worshipped regularly. After a complete change in her lifestyle and healing took hold, Stormie wrote a series of books on prayer. She has spoken to thousands about her faith, her healing, and her love for the Lord.
What would have happened to Stormie if she had not listened to God’s voice? She would probably say she was doomed to a life of shallow joys and shattered dreams and illness and an early death. But through salvation in Christ, Stormie has found health and wholeness and healing and grace and so much more!
Based on the scripture for today, I urge you to obey the voice of the Lord. Follow God’s commandments faithfully. Look for God’s healing through grace. Keep your life free from sin and evil. Surround yourself with godly people. Live a healthy lifestyle filled with God-given foods and drinks. Lean on God in prayer. Let God heal you until the day HE takes you home to Heaven. There is a direct correlation between being faithful and being healthy. Let God teach you the way to healing.