Psalms 103:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
This passage of scripture tells us that The God of Heaven takes the health of His believing children very seriously. It is not the will of God that the human family should spend its days, living in poor health and riddled with diseases of all sorts. God is not the author of sickness and therefore He takes proactive steps to promote and improve the health of His people. One of the ways in which He does this is through the use of natural remedies. Throughout the Bible a consistent pattern of dealing with disease can be observed, but it requires a very careful study of God's dealings, with the various issues that surfaced with His people.
Not long after the Israelites had been emancipated from Egyptian bondage, they came to a body of water which they hoped could be used for drinking purposes, both for themselves and their flocks. However they soon found out that the water was unfit for use and so Moses cried unto the Lord as to what should be done. Let's read:
Exodus 15:23 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. 24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? 25 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,
Even though God's miraculous power was engaged in this instance, yet the symbol used represents one of the resources God employs in the healing of His people. Trees and their products have often been used in treating various diseases. For instance, when king Hezekiah was gravely ill, it was the product of trees that were used in his recovery. Let's read:
2nd Kings 20:1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. 2 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, saying, 3 I beseech thee, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. 7 And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.
The Bible also tells us of the use of tree leaves in the process of healing, for there are numerous trees whose leaves, flowers and fruit are of tremendous benefit to those who are sick. For instance in the scriptures we observe that the almond tree appears several times, both outside and within the sanctuary. Let's read:
Exodus 37:19 Three bowls made after the fashion of almonds in one branch, a knop and a flower; and three bowls made like almonds in another branch, a knop and a flower: so throughout the six branches going out of the candlestick.
Numbers 17:8 And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.
The question is, why out of all the thousands of trees God has created, He chose the almond for Aaron's rod to blossom in and bear seed? Research has confirmed that the almond tree and its products are very effective in treating a host of diseases, ailments, skin problems insomnia, and even weight-loss. Furthermore, the Bible even gets more specific on the use of trees as medicine. Let's read:
Ezekiel 47:12 And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine.
Revelation 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
Another one of the many natural remedies brought to light in the Bible is water. When Naaman the leper came to Elijah, he was instructed to bathe in the running water of the Jordan river in order that his leprosy could be cured. Let's read:
2nd Kings 5:9 So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. 14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
God is the One who healed him, but the symbol used is full of practical instruction for us, for The Lord often works through the natural remedies He has provided for the treatment of disease. The use of alternating hot and cold baths goes a long way in alleviating fevers, and water is of critical importance in any good weight-loss program. One of the reasons why we sometimes suffer as a result of a build up of toxins and impurities in our system, is because we do not drink enough water. By the way, soda is never to be considered as a substitute for water even though it is liquid, for it effectively drains our bodies of disease fighting nutrients.
One of the reasons why Elijah sent Naaman to bathe in the river Jordan is because at this time, the waters were very muddy, which brings us to another very important natural remedy, mud and clay.
John 9:1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
Again, it was the power of God working through the use of natural remedies that brought about the healing of the blind man, and through this experience we are to receive instruction. Volcanic clay is used extensively, both externally, to treat a multitude of skin disorders and internally to trap many toxins that have built up in our systems. If diligent research is done a treasure trove of cures will be discovered by the use of these and other natural remedies.
In our day we are faced with the prospect of super bugs, and anti-biotic resistant strains of bacteria and microbes, which according to a recent warning from the CDC and world health organization, pose a significant risk to the general public, and are a real threat to communities because they are becoming more difficult and expensive to eradicate. Isn't it then high time that we investigate God's methods of dealing with sickness and disease, since as our Creator, he knows what's best for His children? We therefore end with a question that should be answered within the domain of every heart, for most, if not all of us have been touched by some sort of sickness or disease. Let's read:
Jeremiah 8:22 Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?
May the answer to this question result in the healing of all who put their trust in the Eternal God, who desires that we live healthy lives. "Good night" and God bless!