Why Does God Heal People? When did He provide it?

Clarifying Revelation-Holy Spirit filling in the gaps of our understanding

In the 1st chapter of Genesis we find that life was great, even perfect. People were well in the garden of Eden but then sin changed all that. No more pre-made dinners, no gold hunting in Havilah, and no more friendly beasts. Talk about a cataclysmic event! Two bouncer angels escorted them out of home sweet home, and into the land of do it yourself by the sweat of your brow. Not only that but Adam had to now rule over his wife. The ground was cursed, thorns, thistles, and then back to the dust of the earth. You have to watch who or what you talk too! What happened to God, and the nightly walks in the cool of the day? Suddenly there was no cool of the day. And what about perfectly healthy bodies?

There was a downward trend starting with the book of Job. It is there that we find out whom and what caused sickness and disease. Check out this narrative, "7 And the Lord said unto satan, Whence comest thou? Then satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. It (satan) graduated from slithering (in Genesis) to walking!

Job 1:8 And the Lord said unto satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God, and shunned evil? 9 Then satan answered the Lord, and said, Does Job fear God for nought? 10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face 12 And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. The first thing the devil did was to steal and kill his animals and kill his servants and children. Next after another consult with God 2:7 went satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. So now we know where calamity and sickness come from. Same devil, same results. Good thing was, at the end of the book, Job Chapter 42:12 the Lord restored him and blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. 13 He also had seven sons and three daughters.

One answer to "Why does God heal people" is because they are not well, but ultimately someone had faith in God and asked the Lord to heal the person or persons who were afflicted..

Genesis 20:17 So Abraham prayed to God; and God healed Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants. Then they bore children. Abimelech was the King of Gerar

Exodus 15:26 and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.” He is the only one who can

Other reasoning we might have as to why God heals might be, He heals because of His great mercy, His compassion, to bring Glory to God, to validate Jesus ministry, to lead people to repentance, to teach us about Himself (His great love), and to demonstrate the reality of His Kingdom. Of course all of these are valid bible "pieces of the puzzle" as to why. What becomes the most clear, definitive statement of "why does God heal" would have to be the witness of God healing throughout the whole bible! Starting with Job and Genesis, through Isaiah 53 and the Gospels to the book of Revelation, healing of our mortal bodies is shown to be part of God's perfect WILL for man through Jesus Christ! Luke 4:42,43 Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; 43 but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.” In other words, Jesus was doing God's will and everywhere He went healing was the result!

From the beginning of the Bible to the end, God healing people happened. Different circumstances, different people, but these folks would not have been well otherwise.

Let us look at the example of Jesus ministry. He did heal many individuals and the bible says He also healed multitudes! 19 different individual cases are written in the Gospels. Healing then, is God's will. So what was the common understanding of those who were healed by Jesus? Was it just that they were sick and needed health? Maybe. Careful reading of these stories reveals that each person exhibited a quality we know as faith in God. How did they come to faith in God? "By hearing" is the bible answer, but how did they hear? Others told them. Their society did not have mass communication except when Jesus taught them! Word that Jesus heals would have spread through society quickly as well. How many times did they hear before faith came? Each person probably received differently. Hearing once could have worked for a few while others heard 5 and some 10, 15 times maybe more. The one who heard once probably used meditation of that Word to go over it and over it in their mind until it drove them to Jesus feet!

Romans 10:17

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God

Another not so obvious thing which occurred before the given healing took place was that people experienced a soul transformation because of thoughts the sick continually had after hearing the good news at least once. Remember these people had no real doctors and could not just run to 13 choice healing arts practitioners. Their only hope was then to get to Jesus. One by crawling, some by yelling out, others by bowing at the Masters feet. It was the heart transformed by continually meditating on God's Word which motivated them to get to Jesus at all cost! Oh that we could be so likewise motivated! Will you? He will if you will!

Websters /transformation - a change of heart in man, by which his disposition and temper are conformed to the divine image; a change from enmity to holiness and love.

Romans 12:2

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Because I stated that healing is the "will of God", I think we need to understand what God meant when He said "I Will" These words are throughout the entire bible and in some cases were spoken from God directly to someone and others by means of prophecy. Webster states the phrase," I will go," is a present promise to go; and with an emphasis on will it expresses determination.

Examples: most of the "I will" statements by God seem directed by His judgment and or choice or discretion. If I will = determination and promise, then "I am going to…" is the closest English expression of that phrase. So if God said I am going to heal you… you would be smart to believe Him. His Word is His Integrity, and His bond and He cannot lie! Many Christians debate what the will of God is and somehow miss the choice, determination, and promise of God stated in scripture.

Let's do a little exercise in A=B and read the following scriptures replacing "I will" with "I am going to" Keep in mind I will go, is a present promise to go; and with an emphasis on will it expresses determination.

Genesis 12:3 I am going to bless those who bless you, And I am going to curse him who curses you; Take it personally!

Genesis 26:24 And the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I am going to bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham’s sake.

Joshua 1:5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I am going to be with you. I am not going to leave you nor forsake you

Isaiah 41:10

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I am going to strengthen you, Yes, I am going to help you, I am going to uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Isaiah 43:2

When you pass through the waters, I am going to be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.

Isaiah 44:3

For I am going to pour water on him who is thirsty, And floods on the dry ground; I am going to pour My Spirit on your descendants, And My blessing on your offspring.

My question to you is, "What is God going to do for you?" - We have a handout of 101 Healing Scriptures, many of which start with God saying "I will"

When Did God Provide Healing ?

Revelation 13:8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Jesus was there beside the Father from the beginning. (see Proverbs 8:22,23 John 1).

If these verses are true, then every healing in the bible is attributable to Jesus decision to be the Lamb of God slain for our sakes redeeming us from all sins and healing us from every disease. In our terms of understanding, Healing began before the beginning, (of the world).

So the Lord knew the end from the beginning. He knew what man would do if He allowed free will. Even though it seems like it, the end is not yet. We have the opportunity as never before, because of revelation from the Father, to defeat the works of darkness in our own lives and the lives of others. We were made to be more than conquerors through Christ Jesus. You actually have the ability of God within you if you belong to Christ . We are well able to take the land of Divine Health for ourselves. It does require faith and action on our part. Just like Joshua, the Lord promises to be with us and to never leave us forsaken. We have the sword of the Spirit of God, and the whole armor to take the land and to stand firm and resist all evil attempts at removing us from that land which God has given us! Joshua 1: 7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. Verse 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success! Amen, Go out and take what God has given you!