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Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has not the health of the daughter of my people been restored?
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The Lord had been speaking through the prophet Jeremiah confronting and correcting His people over their apostasy. They had clearly been worshiping the queen of heaven and many other false gods. {Jer.7:18} Isaiah had written a number of times that God said, “I am the Lord (YHWH), and there is no other.” {Is.45:5} It would do us well to remember that He had said when after miraculously freeing His people from the bondage of Egypt, that you shall not worship any other god, for YHWH, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. {Ex.34:14}

King Solomon was used to give us, the children of God, wise instruction from the Father so that we would have understanding, and he wrote, “…give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your sight; Keep them in the midst of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and health to all their whole body.” {Pro.4:20-22}

If the Word of God is life and health to the whole body, and it certainly is for His word is true, then it would logically follow that rejecting or compromising His word would open the door to death, sickness and disease. The root cause of death and all sickness and disease is not bugs, germs, or bad diets—it is sin! There was no death, sickness or disease in the Garden of Eden; and there will not be any in that bright land to which we are going!

Here in the state of Florida, where I am right now, the health care industry (yes, it is an industry) amounts to about 270 billion (that needs to be a capital ‘B’) dollars a year. Very likely bigger than even the tourism industry, and that certainly has an effect on everybody, saint and sinner alike! Rejoice my brother or my sister for we have already died and our lives are hidden with Christ in God. {Col.3:3} The road we travel can indeed be a bumpy one, but it leads to a wonderful eternity!

So the difference is that we have a Savior who has told us that we can and should cast all of our cares upon Him for He cares for us. {1Pt.5:7} Yes, the Lord may indeed direct you to a doctor, or a medical group—an opportunity for them to see the love and faith that can only be found in the Lord. We are after all ambassadors for Christ {2Cor.5:20} and are called to show forth the excellencies of Him who has called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light. {1Pt.2:9} If they are not saved, they need you far more than you need them! And if you tell of His glory and they get saved, the chances are that they needed that word of encouragement more than you needed them. It can be tough being out in that world but it is all about the destination.

Ultimately, returning to today’s verse. I can understand why the Lord would say to His children, “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there?” He IS the balm of Gilead!

“The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will extol Him.” (Exodus 15:2)

GOD IS THE LORD THAT HEALETH THEE