Ani Hashem Rofecha

Key Scripture:

Exodus 15:26 (KJV)   And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee. 

SUMMARY

Our God is the Lord who heals us. This sermon is a guide to understand and experience the principles of divine healing. From the healing of the waters of Marah, we study the decrees God gave to His people to experience healing in their lives. Let us allow the word of God bring the same health in our homes as well.

SERMON POINTS

The Lord who heals!

‘Ani Hashem Rofeocha’ that means the Lord our healer. This is the promise God gives His children. When we heed to the voice of the Lord and His commandments, the Lord will not cause even one of the diseases that came upon Egypt to touch us because He is the Lord our Healer. The underlying condition to experience God’s healing is by heeding to His word and following His instructions. That’s all what the Lord requires from us.

This was the word of the Lord to the Israelites when they came from the Desert of Shur to Marah. After 3 days of travel they had no water all their resources were dry.

As they came upon the waters of Marah the water was  unfit to drink and that was all it took to get the whole community grumbling against the Lord.

It is important to note here that only a few days ago they witnessed the greatest spectacle of God’s glory and deliverance when they crossed the Red Sea as on dry ground.

After that glorious deliverance they were back at square one with their unbelief. In fact they wanted to go back to their slavery in Egypt.

Water symbolizes the word of God. Inconsistencies in the study and meditation of God’s word causes sickness and lack. It is the same with bitterness as well. Harboring bitterness in your heart can bring about bitterness in life itself.

The Lord graciously shows Moses the piece of wood that brings healing to the bitter waters of Marah. It is here the Lord God lay down certain decrees that need to be followed for His people to experience Him as God their Healer. We need to fight for our healing and these instructions that God gave His people at Marah holds true for us today too. Let us ask the Lord to help understand and keep His commands so that sickness will not overtake us.

 Decrees to receive healing from the Lord.

1. Instruction of the Sabbath

 Deuteronomy 5:12 (KJV) Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee.

 The first instruction is that of keeping the Sabbath holy. Many debate on the day of the week this refers to. But one day a week has to be given to the Lord. When we observe the Lord’s Day of rest we declare that it is not by our works we live but by the gracious provision of God. We show our trust in the fact that our Lord God sustains us.

It’s not just about rest but honoring the Sabbath by considering it a joy, not doing as we are pleased or speaking idle words (Isaiah 58:13,14).  Today let’s get back to observing the Lord’s Day with utmost reverence and joy. Let us take a pledge  to never break it.  That is what helps us to receive the healing of the Lord as our inheritance.

The Sabbath is also set as a sign between us and the Lord (Ezekiel 20:12). The Israelites became recipients of God’s wrath when they desecrated the Lord’s Sabbath. They rejected it for the idols setup in their heart. It’s time to check our hearts as well. Anything can be an idol in our lives especially the one that takes a prominent place in our hearts it can be work, money, family or even things that bring us pleasure.

Sabbath is not just a commandment for the Old Testament. We find the disciples and the early church gathering  on the first day of the week to break bread (Acts 1:48). Jesus Christ healed the sick on the Sabbath (Luke 6:9). By not violating the decree of the Sabbath we find the principle of divine healing operating in every level of our lives.

Jesus Christ himself observed the Sabbath but did good on that day. He chose to set the captives free on Sabbath as He involved in doing the Father’s will. He is the Lord of the Sabbath and that shows us how much more we need to honor the day of the Lord (Luke 6:5).

2. Instruction to honor your parents

 Deuteronomy 5:16 (KJV ) Honour thy father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

 The next decree the Israelites believe that God gave at the waters of Marah, is the commandment to honor one’s parents.

Apostle Paul points out that this is the first commandment with a promise that all will go well with us and be blessed with long life (Ephesians 6:2).

This spiritual principle is so true. Except for matters of faith, as written we must obey our parents in the Lord for it is right. Honor them, love them and care for them. Never disrespect them or be the cause for their worry. This is what keeps us in health.

This is also the same respect God commands of His children as well (Malachi 1:6,7). He has to be the highest priority of our lives. We need to be the best and give Him the best. Our attitude towards the things of the Lord must be with willingness rather than contempt.

Faithfulness and consistency is what it means to honor the Lord as our father.

We need to be faithful in our worship (Malachi 2:7), faithful in living and our fellowship with one another (Malachi 2:10) and faithful in giving (Malachi 3).

It is in these matters that we dishonor the fathership of God and we need to be careful in how we follow the instructions God has given to us through His word. No amount of prayers or tears can bring a change if our attitude is lackadaisical when it comes to our tithes and offerings. The Lord wants us to be faithful in our relationship with one another. Let every unfaithfulness between one another and marital unfaithfulness (Malachi 2:13,14) leave our communities. It is only then we can experience the healing of the Lord or else we become partakers of the curse of dishonoring the Lord (Malachi 2:2).

 

3. Instruction of the Red Heifer

 Numbers 19:2,3 (KJV) This is the ordinance of the law which the Lord hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke:  And ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest, that he may bring her forth without the camp, and one shall slay her before his face:

The Lord commanded Moses to have waters of cleansing for the purification of those who become unclean for various reasons.

This is when the priest of the Lord took a red Heifer, a one that has never been burdened or yoked. This rare species is highly precious for this work of the Lord. It is to be taken outside the camp and killed. It must be burnt completely along with cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet wool. The ashes are then collected and kept in a ceremonially clean place in the camp.

Every time a member of the community becomes unclean due to a death or sickness. This ash is mixed with water and sprinkled on them and they are made clean.

Jesus Christ stands as an image of Red Heifer. This is the precious Son of God who was crucified outside the city of Jerusalem on the hill of Golgatha. There is healing in Him alone. Those unclean came to Him and were cleansed at His touch. Corpses came to life at the touch of the Master, lepers cleansed.  Like the cedar wood used in the burning of the heifer, Jesus was crucified on the cross, the scarlet wool symbolizing the scarlet robe they clothed Him with (Matthew 27:28) and the hyssop the bitter vinegar that was lifted up to Jesus as He hung dying on the cross.

The red Heifer is the image of Jesus Christ. He is our red heifer, our healing. He died carrying our burdens, curses and infirmities. And by His stripes we are healed.

 

CONCLUSION.

When man disobeyed God, he chose death and sickness. Every time we fail to follow the instructions of the Lord we put ourselves in the way of curse, sickness and death. These are the ordinances that God gave at Marah for healing of His people. When we uphold these decrees we too can experience the healing of the Lord for He is the Lord our healer- Ani Hashem Ropheoka.