Yahweh Rapha meaning
Yahweh Rapha is the Hebrew name for God meaning the Lord who heals.
God is our Healer, in both body and soul! This name of God is proclaimed to the children of Israel by God through Moses at Marah.
Yahweh Rapha, this Hebrew name of God assures each of us that our Heavenly Father wants to restore us to wholeness. We will be discussing how God - our Yahweh Rapha wants not only to heal us of our physical illnesses but also of our emotional pain, relational pain, and mental pain.
Yahweh Rapha-The Lord Who Heals
He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all His decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you.” Exodus 15:26.
Pronouncing The Hebrew Name Of God Yahweh Rapha: yah-WEH roh-FEH
This is Day 8 of a 30 Day study on The Names Of God. If you haven't read the introduction yet, please start HERE
Yahweh Rapha meaning - The God Who Heals:
God first revealed Himself as Yahweh-Rapha to the Israelites after their exodus out of Egypt. Moses had led the Israelites out of captivity. They had suffered greatly under the reign of Pharoah.
They had seen many miracles, including God parting the Red Sea so that they could cross and escape from the Egyptian army. That was quite a miracle and you would expect that the Israelites would be full of faith and expectation of what God can do in their lives, no matter what problems arise.
But........they soon find themselves without water and they begin by complaining. Have they forgotten what God has already done for them? Join me as we read Exodus 15:22-26.
Then Moses led the people of Israel away from the Red Sea, and they moved out into the desert of Shur. They traveled in this desert for three days without finding any water. 23 When they came to the oasis of Marah, the water was too bitter to drink. So they called the place Marah (which means “bitter”).
24 Then the people complained and turned against Moses. “What are we going to drink?” they demanded. 25 So Moses cried out to the Lord for help, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. Moses threw it into the water, and this made the water good to drink.
It was there at Marah that the Lord set before them the following decree as a standard to test their faithfulness to him. 26 He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all His decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you.” Exodus 15:22-26.
Yahweh Rapha reveals His name in scripture
The Israelites were not sick. They were just very thirsty. So why did God reveal Himself to them as Yahweh Rapha-the God who heals?
The Israelites had suffered terribly while in Egypt and they would have been delighted to have their freedom but life for them was still tough. They had to rely on God for everything, and when their circumstances became difficult, their hearts were filled with resentment.
God knew their greatest need was not water. What they really needed was healing from bitterness and pain. But the Israelites continued to complain about their circumstances and they wanted to return to Egypt.
God intervened, working through Moses and a piece of wood to provide sweet, refreshing water for the people. Then God reminds them about the diseases and plagues that He had brought upon the Egyptians because of their affliction of the Hebrews. God makes it very clear to the Israelites that they must obey Him so that they will not suffer from similar afflictions.
We read a few days ago about Adoni- Lord and Master. God is Master of everything. He is a good steward of what He owns, making things work out for good. It goes well with us when we take heed of God's directions to us.
Yahweh Rapha needs us to be obedient to what He says so that we can be blessed. There is no room in our lives for God to bless us if that space is taken over with sin.
I think that I can relate a bit too much with the Israelites! Sometimes I forget that my God is a BIG God, that He has good plans for me, and that He has a plan for my difficult situations. I need to remember not to complain!
Am I the only one that has this issue? Can you relate?
Yahweh Rapha our healer
When God doesn’t work in your life in the way you think He should, do you grow bitter?
When God’s timing doesn't match yours do you complain?
Yahweh Rapha-The Lord Who Heals longs to heal us from resentfulness, bitterness, and pride if we will just trust Him and walk before Him in obedience.
Yahweh Rapha in Hebrew:
Yahweh Rapha is also known as Jehovah-Rapha. The origin of Jehovah Rapha can be traced back to two Hebrew words, which in combination can mean “God who heals.” Jehovah,” which is derived from the Hebrew word Havah can be translated as “to be,” “to exist,” or “to become known.”
The Hebraic translation of Rapha (râpâ) means “to restore” or “to heal.” Though it often refers to physical healing, it usually has a larger meaning as well, involving the entire person. Yahweh Rapha heals the body, mind, and soul. God also heals sin. In fact, the Hebrew scriptures often link sickness and sin by presenting sin as the cause of illness. In the New Testament, the corresponding Greek word is iaomai, which refers to deliverance from death, demons, sickness, and sin.
Applying the name of God, Yahweh Rapha to your life:
We can call upon Jehovah-Rapha today to heal us of our physical illnesses and to provide redemption for our sins. Through the power of the blood of the Great Physician – Jesus, we can rise from our old sinful life as new creations in eternal fellowship with God. Just as the Israelites were cleansed of their bitter hearts and resentment at the river Mahra, so we can ask God to examine our hearts and cleanse them of bitterness and pride.
How does knowing God as Yahweh Rapha-The Lord Who Heals affect your life?
I have prepared a free printable for you to use as you explore the names of God. You will find it in our Resource Library Here.
This page has prompts for you to use as you prayerfully meditate on the names of God.
So who is Yahweh Rapha to you?
How does knowing God as Yahweh Rapha impact your life?
How can you grow in your Christian walk by understanding God as Yahweh Rapha?
Yahweh Rapha - Praying His Name:
When you pray the word of God, you are praying His words of truth into your situation. It is the same when you pray the names of God. When you understand the meaning of the specific name of God and pray it over your situation-it is declaring His power over it. It certainly will build your faith and expectation of God to move in it. When you pray God's name, you are declaring the truth of who God is and you are proclaiming His power at work in your life. And when you pray to Yahweh Rapha, ask Him to search your heart for anything that needs to be forgiven and cleansed.
Let's Pray:
Yahweh Rapha, thank you for loving me so much that you don't want me to carry any bitterness or to be sick in any way. Show me what I need to repent of and seek Your forgiveness. Help me to see Your hand at work in every area of my life and to trust that You are working behind the scenes of my life to bring me to that blessed position that I have in You. You are my God, my Yahweh Rapha. Amen.
Names Of God Bible Study - Free sample
I would love it if you could share with me your thoughts as you work your way through this Scripture plan. You can connect with me via emailkaren@scripturalgrace.comor on our FACEBOOKpage. Come back tomorrow as we unpack the name, Yahweh Nissi-The Lord Is My Banner.
It's all about His grace
xx Karen.