When God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, He planned for them to be in good health and stay in good health. When they walked out of Egypt their bodies were healthy and they were not sick for the 40 years wandering in the wilderness.
God said “Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear (respect & reverence) me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever” (Duet. 5:29).
“So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess” (Duet. 5:32-33).
“Worship the Lord your God, and His blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from you and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span” (Exodus 23:25-26).
Deuteronomy is the blessing and cursing chapter. God tells the Israelites that if they fully obey Him and carefully follow all His commands, then He will set them on high, above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings will come upon you if you obey Me.
The blessings include: (Duet. 28:1-13)
- Blessings in the city and country.
- Blessings of the fruit of your work, your crops and livestock.
- Blessings of food.
- Blessings going in and coming out.
- Your enemies will be defeated.
- Your harvests will be blessed.
- Blessings on your land. Rain in due season.
- Blessings of abundant prosperity.
- You will lend and not borrow, you will be the head and not the tail.
The blessings were conditional on the Israelites obedience to God. (vs. 13) “If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them.”
“However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all His commands I am giving you then all these curses will come upon you and overtake you” (Duet. 28:15).
The rest of the chapter covers the curses for disobedience.
- Cursed in the city and country.
- Your basket and your kneading trough will be cursed.
- The fruit of your womb will be cursed, and the crops of your land, and the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.
- Cursed when you come in and go out.
- Your enemies will defeat you.
- You will not eat of your harvests, others will eat of them.
- You will receive many plagues, and wasting diseases.
- There are many other curses included.
God wanted to bless the Israelites in every way; in health, prosperity, peace, and with all abundant overflowing blessings.
Healing During Jesus’ Ministry
“Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and He healed them” (Matthew 4:23-24).
Jesus ministry on earth was to teach, preach and heal.
“…and He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: ‘He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases'” (Mat 8:16-17).
“My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.”
‘When Jesus entered the rulers house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd, He said, ‘Go away.’ ‘The girl is not dead but asleep.’ ‘After the crowd had been put outside, He went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up’ ” (Matthew 9:18 & 23-25).
So Jesus raised the dead! This was done many times throughout His ministry.
“When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick” (Matthew 14:14).
Jesus was full of compassion and love for others, He didn’t want them to suffer.
“Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed Him” (Matthew 20:34).
A meaning of compassion is: Sympathetic consciousness of others’ distress, together with a desire to alleviate it. (Webster’s Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary)
A man with leprosy came to Jesus and while on his knees begged Him, “If you are willing, you can make me clean. ‘Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man.’ ‘I am willing,’He said. ‘Be clean’ ” (Mark 1:40-41).
“People brought all their sick to Him and begged Him to let the sick just touch the edge of His cloak and all who touched Him were healed” (Matthew 14:36).
The Holy Spirit was present with Jesus and it was through His power that people were healed.
“And the power of the Lord was present for Him to heal the sick” (Luke 5:17).
“Those that had evil spirits were cured and the people all tried to touch Him because power was coming from Him and healed them all” (Luke 6:18).
If God the Father didn’t want people to be healed, but instead wanted them sick to learn a lesson or something, then Jesus would NEVER have healed anyone.
“My food, Jesus said ‘is to do the will of Him who sent me’ and to finish His work” (John 4:34).
“For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but to do the will of Him who sent me” (John 6:38).
“My teaching is not my own, it comes from Him who sent me” (John 7:16).
When Jesus had compassion on the sick and healed the people it was because the Father also had compassion and love for the people. Jesus and the Father are one. They didn’t want people sick or demon possessed.
Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. Jesus didn’t go against the Fathers will and work against Him in any way. God the Father didn’t make people sick and Jesus come in behind Him and heal them. God didn’t have to ask Jesus “Just what do you think you’re doing.?” I sent you to earth just to save people, nothing more. You are interfering with My plans. “NO” Jesus and the Father were of one mind. They were a perfect team. Jesus also didn’t pick and choose who to heal, He’s not a respecter of persons, He healed them all.
“And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them. ‘Only in His hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor.’ And He did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith’ ” (Matthew 13:57-58).
Many of these people knew Jesus from birth, or knew His family. They reasoned “how is he anything special,” and they did not believe Him.