The Divine Names. Pt 3 Jehovah Rapha

Good Morning

We are continuing our brief study of the name Jehovah Rapha. Today we will see the immediate context where the name is found and see how God uses testing and trials to prove our faith. 


Exodus 15:22-27  So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah.  And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,  And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.  And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters. 

A hot, dry journey with no water supply. 

The wilderness of Shur was the region where the Ishmaelites, Midianites and and Kenites lived.  It is roughly 1800 square miles of plains.  This would allow for easier travel in terms of elevation changes.  They journeyed 3 days into the wilderness of Shur. 

Water found but unable to be consumed.

Imagine their disappointment when the people came to the waters of Marah and found that it was not safe to drink.  3 days without water in a hot desert is very difficult for most people to survive. A lack of water causes our balance and mental acuity to be impacted. 

The people murmured to Moses and Moses cried out to Jehovah. 

When Moses cried out to the Lord, Jehovah immediately showed him a tree.  After reading all that the Lord had done in Egypt and the Red Sea, perhaps we expect a more dramatic solution to the water problem.  However, there were no earth shaking divine manifestations given.  God pointed out a tree to Moses.

God provided a simple cure for bad water. 

The solution to the bitter waters of Marah seems deceptively simple.  Jehovah showed Moses a certain tree and apparently instructed him to cut it down and cast it into the waters. 

Nowhere does the text suggest the idea that this was some type of a special tree.  We should avoid trying to figure out what kind of tree it was and what type of chemical properties it must have had to make bitter waters turn sweet.  The text simply states that the waters became sweet.  The word means that the water became sweet like sugar or honey.  The thirsty people could now satisfy their own thirst and water their flocks.

The bitter water was a faith test from God. 

This is a miracle that Jehovah did in the eyes of the people when Moses followed His instruction.  This would seem to be borne out by the meaning of this particular name of God used in this passage.  Moses’ unhesitating obedience was honored by God and the Lord healed the waters.  The real message here for us is that God will bless His people when they obey what He has commanded in His word.

Next, we see that God is “proving” the people to see if they will do what is right in His sight and listen to His voice.  The Lord promised to put none of the diseases or plagues upon the Hebrews if they would follow hard after Holy God.  Marah was a place of severe testing for the Hebrews.  How would they respond?  Would the LORD help them?  Would they trust God?

In fact, the text spells this out for us in verses 25-26.  God brought Israel to the bitter waters of Marah in order to “prove” them.  The word “prove" means to be subjected to a test or a trial of our faith. God wants to test their faith and in the process.  He will show them where they still have growing and trusting to do with regard to Jehovah.

Jehovah gave 2 conditions to receive His 

blessings: Listen & Obey.

There are two conditions to receiving the blessing from Jehovah that were laid out for the nation at Marah.  First, they were to listen to the voice of the Lord.  This means that when God spoke audibly or when He gave commands to Moses, they were to listen.

Second, the people were to do what Jehovah said was right, not what they thought was right.  It is given a second time using slightly different words to give ear to His commandments and to keep His statutes.  The message is straightforward.  Listen and obey and you will be blessed.

Jehovah Rapha gave the people a very vivid picture of what this name means when He healed the bitter waters.   Putting the two names together we see that Jehovah Rapha is the self-existent I Am, the High and lofty One who dwells in eternity, the unchangeable God who can heal the hurts and hearts of nations and people.

This is where He reveals the wonderful name Jehovah Rapha to them.  The text states that He will not permit the awful diseases to touch their bodies  “for I am the LORD that healeth thee.” The LORD that healeth is how Jehovah Rapha is translated.  Jehovah had just healed the bitter waters and made them drinkable. 

This paragraph ends with God leading them to travel a bit further into the wilderness.  They left Marah behind and moved on until they arrived at a known oasis called Elam.  Here, they found 12 wells of water and 70 palm trees.  They had some relief from the intense heat of the desert.  Their previous crisis was over and they had a measure of peace and refreshment while they encamped in Elam.

Points to Ponder....

• God is always faithful and true. He will keep His promises.

• God also uses trials to test our faith and show us areas where we need spiritual growth. 

• Trials cause us to experience temporary pain, discomfort or hardship but they are designed to helps us run to our Father. 

• Listening to His word and obeying His word is still the standard for the people of God. 

A message about God using trials and tests in our lives to "prove" our faith is not popular today.  Yet it is just as needed for us as it was in the time of Moses and the Hebrews.  We have a lot of shortcomings and impurities that the LORD wants to work out of us in this life.  He uses trials to show us our need to depend upon His ever flowing grace. 

Bob