Why Would God NOT Want to Heal You? The Witness, Part 4

by | Apr 15, 2020 | Gifts of the Spirit, Healing, Holy Spirit, The Witness

In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit was actively involved in healing. Not as much as in the New Testament, perhaps, but active nonetheless!

Remember King Hezekiah? He was a godly king who prayed to do God’s will. One day he became deathly sick (See 2 Kings 20: 1-11). The prophet Isaiah confirmed that his days were at their end. After all, all of us will one day meet our Maker face to face. May this fill us with adrenaline!

King Hezekiah prayed and wept bitterly, and as Isaiah was leaving, God’s Spirit, “The Word of God”, told him to go back to the king and give him this message: “I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD.I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.” (2Kgs 20:5b-6, NIV2)

Here comes an interesting twist: Isaiah, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, prepared a plaster of figs to be put on the boil.

The king had a valid question: “How do I know whether this is of GOD and not just the fig plaster? What confirming sign is there that GOD is healing me and that in three days I’ll walk into The Temple of GOD on my own legs?” (2Kgs 20:8, MSG)

The prophet Isaiah gives him a choice: “Do you want the shadow to advance ten degrees on the sundial or go back ten degrees? You choose.” (2Kgs 20:9a, MSG)

This sign would take away any doubt. As it was easier to have the sun’s shadow advance, Hezekiah decided: “Make it go back ten degrees.” (2Kgs 20:10b, MSG).

It did, confirming that it was God who healed him.

It’s true that afterwards he made some bad choices (See 2 Kings 20:12-19). Still God honored Hezekiah’s request for healing. God cared for his people in the Old Testament and He cared for them in the New Testament. Why would it be different in our day and age? He either cares or He either doesn’t, for “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Heb 13:8, NIV2)

It was mid-December 2015. My nose started to run. There was no doubt: I had a cold. I was heading for bed, and I eventually fell asleep despite my nose. I woke up at 3 a.m., however, and I couldn’t breathe. I got up, and eventually I was able to breathe and sleep again. Nonetheless, I tossed and turned the rest of the night.

The next night was about the same. My wife woke up about the same time I did, and realizing what I was facing, she prayed that my cold would be instantly healed. My nose stopped running right after her prayer. I was healed! Generally, a cold for me lasts at least one to three weeks, but this time it lasted only one day. I couldn’t help but praise God. He cares even for the smallest things.

Interestingly enough, the cold came back with vengeance exactly a week later. We realized, however, where this came from: the evil one loves to torment us. My wife prayed again in the name of Jesus, ordering the evil one not to show up again with his shenanigans. The cold was immediately healed, and this time, it didn’t come back.

If our loving Heavenly Father healed in the Old Testament, and He healed in the New Testament. And if he healed me from just a simple cold, why would He not want to heal you? After all, He cares: “For whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye” (Zech 2:8c, NIV2).

Do you feel a tickle in your nose? Are you unable to breathe? Has the cold dragon invaded your sinuses? Pray, and then anticipate with eagerness what will happen next!

P. S. This is good for any illness! (See James 5:15)

Rob Chaffart

(To access the entire “The Witness” devotional series, please click here.)

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Why Would God NOT Want to Heal You? The Witness, Part 4

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