healing.

i've been reading through the book of Isaiah lately. i am always blown away with how Isaiah just declares what the Lord tells him to...and with such authority. what if we said the things God told us to with authority? how would life be different? oh man...so many thought provoking questions...but that's neither here nor there.

i'm in chapter 19...an oracle concerning Egypt.

as i read this chapter i was like "umm...woah." Egypt was a pretty harsh place to live anyways, with all its idols and cruel pharaohs. God lays out a plan of how Egypt will become barren...dried up...nothing. they would turn to their idols...which would, of course, do nothing for them. then verse 19-20 happens.

In that day there will be an alter to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord at its border. It will be a sign and a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry to the Lord because of oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and deliver them.

all the drying and nothingness that had become of Egypt, was to turn them to the Lord. not only to turn them to the Lord, but to deliver and save them. God wanted to make himself known to the Egyptians, and this was the way to do it.

And the Lord will make himself known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day and worship with sacrifice and offering, and they will make vows to the Lord and perform them. And the Lord will strike Egypt, striking and healing, and they will return to the Lord, and he will listen to their pleas for mercy and heal them. (v.21-22)

i like the emphasis of striking and healing in those verses. its a continual process. being stricken, then healed. God always heals you when you turn to Him for healing. and i think that is what i love so much about this passage. 

the Lord wants to heal us. He sent Jesus to die for us...clearly He wants us healed. but we don't turn to Him for it. we may say we do, but we really don't. we cling to the hope that WE might be able to change OUR circumstance. it is absolutely nothing we do. it is all God. 

healing doesn't come from books, or movies, or eating ice cream (my personal favorite). healing comes from the Lord God Almighty. Jehovah Rapha. and only Him. if you are looking for it elsewhere, stop. your looking will be in vain.

God doesn't say "maybe will heal them", He says "and heal them." its a promise. a guaranteed fact. no matter what the hurt is, he will heal you. not partially, fully. you will be fully healed. now what about that isn't awesome? what about that makes you want to find it elsewhere? even though i forget (a lot) that healing is from the Lord, every time i turn to Him and plea for his mercy, He heals me.

every. single. time.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to HIM be GLORY in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21