How does serving God lead to Him "removing sickness" from our midst? The Promise Stated “Serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and water. And I will remove sickness from your midst.” (Exodus 23:25) Setting the Promise • Spoken at Sinai as part of God’s covenant terms with Israel • Linked directly to worshiping Him alone and rejecting idols (vv. 24, 32–33) • Blessing of health is listed alongside provision (“bread and water”)—God cares for body as well as soul Serving That Invites Healing • “Serve” (Hebrew ʿābad) means wholehearted worship, obedience, and daily allegiance • Turning from idols removes spiritual contamination that opens doors to disease (cf. Deuteronomy 7:25) • Service positions us under God’s protective covering; rebellion steps outside that shelter Channels God Uses to Remove Sickness • Preventive care—keeping disease from arising in the first place • Direct healing—supernatural intervention when illness strikes • Wisdom for living—laws on sanitation, diet, rest, and sexual purity that curb infection • Community accountability—elders, priests, and later the church laying hands, anointing, and praying (James 5:14-16) • Covenant faithfulness—blessing tied to obedience, curse tied to disobedience (Deuteronomy 28) Broader Scriptural Witness • Deuteronomy 7:12-15: “…the LORD will keep the covenant… and the LORD will take away from you all sickness.” • Psalm 103:2-3: “He forgives all your iniquities; He heals all your diseases.” • Proverbs 3:7-8: “Fear the LORD… It will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.” • Matthew 8:16-17 quoting Isaiah 53:4: Jesus “took our infirmities and bore our diseases.” • 3 John 2: “I pray that you may prosper in every way and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.” Christ the Fulfillment • Old-covenant promise foreshadows Christ’s atonement, where sin and sickness are jointly addressed • By bearing the curse (Galatians 3:13), Jesus opened the way for the blessing of Abraham—including health—to reach the nations • The Holy Spirit now indwells believers, making our bodies “temples,” naturally prompting God’s care for them (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) Practical Response Today • Worship God exclusively—no rivals in habits, affections, or worldview • Obey revealed commands promptly; repentance restores the protective hedge • Apply biblical wisdom: Sabbath rest, moral purity, stewardship of diet and work • Receive healing by faith—ask confidently, stand on covenant promises, welcome medical help as God’s gift • Serve others; as we refresh them, we ourselves are refreshed (Proverbs 11:25) |
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