In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians.
Foster Bible Pictures 0079-1 Moses Pointing to a Great Snake (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Several years ago, my aunt took me with her to her doctor’s appointment. A sign in the doctor’s office caught my attention. It said: “Physicians treat, but only God heals.” We often lose sign of this truth. We forget that even the symbol of the medical profession, which is the serpent wrapped around a pole, represents Jesus, “the Great Physician.”
Look Up & Live
The serpent on the pole as a symbol of healing historically dates back to the time of the Exodus. The Lord sent manna, a bread-like substance for the Israelites to eat during their journey in the wilderness, but they soon tired of this food. The people complained and spoke against Moses, openly doubting that they would ever reach the Promised Land. They longed to return to Egypt. The Lord punished the people by sending poisonous snakes. Those who were bitten feared for their lives, and rightfully so. The Lord took pity upon them and gave instructions for how the people would be cured:
Numbers 21:8-9
New International Version (NIV)
8 The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.
Short Memory
Over time, the people forgot the original purpose of the bronze snake. Instead of recounting how the Lord delivered them from a certain death, the people starting worshipping the serpent on the pole.
Eventually, the bronze serpent idol was destroyed by King Hezekiah. Today’s verse reminds us of how people shift their focus from the true Healer-Who is the Lord, to the instruments of healing (doctors, medicines). To totally remove our expectation of healing from the Lord to doctors whose profession is represented by the serpent on the pole, is wrong.
Should Christians Refuse Medications?
Does today’s verse imply that we should only pray for healing and not take medications? No it does not. The verse says that Asa “did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians.” His mistake was not seeking the Lord at all. In other words, King Asa put all of his trust in men.
The Right Perspective on Healing
The Lord gives physicians and scientists the knowledge to invent therapies that help people recover from illness. But in our need for healing, we should never forget our God Who heals us. Our God is Jehovah Rophe, “the God Who heals.” We should not lose perspective like King Asa, who only listened to physicians. In sickness and in health, we should always pray and ask the Lord what to do, and be willing to give Him all the glory. Physicians treat, but only God can heal.
Until we meet again: “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might!” (Ephesians 6:10).
– Verneda
(Twitter handle: @vlights)
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