Praying his names

When I grew up, kids were named for movie stars: "Shirley," "Donna," "Peggy," "Barbara." The names of God are the reflections of his character: "El HaKadosh" ("the holy God"), "Jehovah Jireh" ("the God who sees"), "El HaNe'eman" ("the faithful God").

I have discovered a new compound name: "Jehovah Rappha" ("the God who heals"): If God's people would keep his decrees, he said, "I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord who heals you" (Exodus 15:25).

It is very good news to me that it is part of God's nature to heal, and not just an incidental hobby. I followed this thread through Scripture and was amazed at how much God longs to heal, and how closely he links it to our keeping covenant: "Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from you …" (Exodus 23:25).

I had been told we should expect less of this divine activity in the New Testament age (though the Resurrection would have made me think we should expect more). But Matthew forges an in-your-face link between Jesus' healings and the whole redemptive package. He quotes Isaiah, urging that the healing of the sick was what the prophet had in mind when describing our atonement benefits: "He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases." The healings were no random acts of kindness.

When you think of it, so much of Jesus' ministry was "undoing the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8) in a most physical way (Matthew 4:23). And it becomes less and less persuasive that he healed only to authenticate his mission; he would heal people because "he had compassion on them" (Matthew 14:14).

I embrace your name, Jehovah Rappha.