The Divine Names. Pt. 1 Jehovah Rapha

Good morning to everyone.

We had a blessed Lord's Day with our church family.  A missionary  from Ghana, Africa that our church supports was able to spend the day with us.  Aquila preached a great sermon from Hebrews 11 & 12 about "Looking Unto Jesus." 

It was a call to lay aside any weights that hinder us from running the faith race so that we might follow Christ harder.  Aquila reminded us that these weights could include relationships, careers, hobbies or anything else that we put higher in priority than God.

It was a call to lay aside any sin issues in our lives so that we can run the race with nothing to hold us back from giving our best effort.  It was a call to consider all that Christ suffered and endured because of the joy He had from bringing salvation to sinners like you and me.  It was a passionate message from this wonderful missionary.

Jehovah Rapha

I would like to study another name of God with you.  This name is Jehovah Rapha and it occurs only one time in the text of scripture. We will look into the context of this name to gain a better understanding of its importance to us.  The photo below shows us part of the Red Sea.  All of the action connected with this name of God happened right after the Hebrews crossed the Red Sea. 




In a few moments we will read texts from Exodus 15:1-21.  This text tells us what the Hebrews did immediately after they were safely across the Red Sea and after they had witnessed the destruction of the Egyptians. 

This chapter contains a prolonged and joyful victory celebration followed by a brief period of trial, a stunning collapse of faith and a faithful servant of Jehovah pointing the people to the LORD’s gracious provision.

Jehovah's glory is the central theme.

The focus of this chapter is Jehovah.  His name is used 16 times in the text, in addition the name Elohim is used twice and El once.  In total, the names of God are prominently on display in the text 19 times.  The obvious occasion for the celebration and abundant praise given to Jehovah is the final judgment He rendered upon Pharaoh and his host during the crossing of the Red Sea. 

Moses led the people in offering joyous praises to Jehovah.

Exodus 15:1-2 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him. 

In the text we see references to singing songs to Jehovah 5 times. 8 times the subject matter of this hymn references the glorious triumph, power and strength of God aiding His people.  The text tells us that their worship was directed to Jehovah 3 times. 

Moses made 3 "I Will" statements to Jehovah. 

In the text above Moses' spiritual and emotional reaction to what God just did for His people spills out in jubilant praise.  He said "I will sing unto the LORD."  Moses is going to lead the people in singing a song of triumph.  A few moments later Moses exclaims "I will prepare Him a habitation."  Moses wanted a proper and established place where all Israel could worship Jehovah.  Last, Moses cried out "I will exalt Him."

We have God’s servant responding with declarations of what he knows to be true about Jehovah.  He is the source of strength and the One who places a song into our hearts.  He is a man of war and He brings salvation to those who trust in Him.  He is glorious in power, glorious in holiness and fearful in praises.  Moses stated from his heart what he personally observed and knew to be true of Jehovah. 

I would suggest that the 3 "I will" statements of Moses are praiseworthy and ought to be coming out of our lips.  We serve the same wonderful God that Moses did.  How can we not give Him honor by filling the air with our praises?

Pharaoh made 4 "I Will" statements against God's people.  

We have a willful enemy.  Pharaoh said I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil, I will draw the sword to destroy, and my lust will be satisfied.  In spite of seeing the aftermath of the heavy hand of God exercising judgment upon the Egyptians, Pharaoh seemed intent on doing the impossible.  He thought he could take on Jehovah and win but he found himself receiving a death sentence from God instead.   The court of heaven rendered final judgment.

Exodus 15:9  The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them. 

The arrogance and hard heart of Pharaoh are on display even though the nation Egypt was decimated by the ten plagues unleashed by Jehovah forcing the Egyptians to let God's people go. 

Jehovah responded with many mighty actions.

Notice the verbs in this passage as we read it.  Each one tells us what Jehovah did.  The verbs directed against Pharaoh include the actions of throwing, casting, dashing, overthrowing, sending forth, blowing, stretching and bringing again. 

There are 8 phrases describing the outcome of the Egyptians. 

• Cast into the sea
• Drowned in the Red Sea
• The depths covered them
• They sank to the bottom like a stone
• The sea covered them
• They sank as lead
• The earth swallowed them

We have our God responding with immediate judgment.  The text tells us that Jehovah did many things to the enemy of His people. He triumphed gloriously.  He cast them into the sea.  He sent for His wrath to consume them.  He used the blast of His nostrils to gather the waters and blew with His wind to cause the waters to drown the Egyptians.  He stretched out His right hand so that the earth swallowed them and He caused them to be overthrown in the sea. 

Exodus 15:3-8   The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.  Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.  The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone. Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.  And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.  And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.  

The infinite abilities of Jehovah to save His people are in full view.

The text tells us that Jehovah is a man of war.  He will fight the battle to save His people.  He is called glorious in holiness.  The perfect holiness of Jehovah is what sets Him apart from all man made gods. 

He is all glorious in power.  The great wonder working power of God to part the Red Sea and dry it so all the Hebrews could cross over safely is hard for us to comprehend.  God was not done, He then brought the massive waters back into place and utterly destroyed Pharaoh and his army. 

Jehovah is fearful in praises.  The surrounding nations heard the account of what happened and they were afraid of what Israel's God would do to them.  The text says they stood still as stones, as if paralyzed by fear.  Moses ran out of ways to describe the glory of God so he asked "Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? This is a rhetorical question that demands the answer of "There is none like Jehovah!"

Exodus 15:11  Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? 

Pharaoh, horses, chariots and riders are mentioned a total of 9 times.  The sea, waters and depths are mentioned 6 times.  The fate of Pharaoh is highlighted with words or phrases like drowned, sank like lead, sank to the bottom or the sea covered them.  No one but Jehovah could do these mighty works. 

The loving actions Jehovah did for His 
people.

In the closing text we see the phrases describing the work of Jehovah on behalf of the Hebrews. 

• He purchased them
• He shall bring them into the land
• He shall reign
• He has guided them
• He will plant them
• He has triumphed over their enemies
• He has overthrown their enemies

Exodus 15:11-21  Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them. Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation. The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina. Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.  Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased. Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established.  The LORD shall reign for ever and ever. For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.  And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. 


Moses personal response to the Lord of Glory

Moses displays a heart fully focused upon Jehovah.  He called Jehovah "my strength" in humble recognition that he was a weak vessel in need of Divine enabling for the tasks at hand.

Moses called Jehovah "my salvation" indicating his trusting dependency upon God.

Moses called Jehovah "my God" and "my father's God" in expressing his gratitude for all that Jehovah did for him and the Hebrews. 

Points to Ponder....

• The glory of God is to be the central motivation for all that we say, think and do.

• We should offer loud praises to Jehovah because He is worthy.

• The "I will" statements of Moses remind us that we can have a personal relationship with God. 

• We see an arrogant enemy of God attacking His people.

• Jehovah always acts to save His people.

• We must respond by relying on Him as "my God, my strength and my salvation."

I hope and pray that each one of you are stirred by the glorious account of God in Heaven taking swift action to destroy the enemies of His people.  The ultimate expression of salvation is always rooted in what Jesus Christ did on the cross of calvary. That is the ultimate display of the power and wisdom of God that utterly overthrows the devil and pays for mankind's sins. 

In the next post we will see the things that happened at the point where the Divine Name Jehovah Rapha is found.

Bob