In preparing for this week's message at Calvary Chapel Sydney, I came across a quote from Matthew Henry that impacted me: "Carnal hearts, in time of trouble, see their sickness, but do not see the sin that is the cause of it." (Matthew Henry Concise, pg. 11112) This insight is easily verified in our own lives, for it is easier for us to describe our negative symptoms to a doctor than to know for certain the cause our malady. We may have theories about how or when we contacted a virus, but the fact we would even go to a doctor shows our need for help in treatment.
God spoke through Hosea the prophet concerning His people in Hosea 5:13, "When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then Ephraim went to Assyria and sent to King Jareb; yet he cannot cure you, nor heal you of your wound." Ephraim and Judah were able to see their symptoms, but they did not seek healing in God. They vainly went to the king of Assyria for help to assuage their symptoms, desperate for peace. The unstoppable Assyrian war machine was headed their way, and all hope of successfully defending their borders was lost. The cause of Israel's trouble was not the might of Assyria but they had forsaken the LORD. God's complaint was His people did not even know Him, as their sins separated them from God.
This passage of scripture caused me to consider: am I like the Israelites who only sought to relieve their symptoms or do I seek God to be cured? Physicians do not in themselves have the power to heal anyone but utilise medical training to prescribe medicine, treatment, and procedures to promote the natural healing ability of the body. The illness of Israel was exhibited by physical symptoms but had a spiritual cause only God could heal. Israel stooped to attempt to make a peace treaty with their enemies rather than seek the LORD in repentance. Instead of making deals with the devil, God's people ought to be zealous in repentance before Him (Revelation 3:19).
Whilst all physical illness we endure does not have a spiritual cause (Job's friends were presumptuous to assume he was afflicted as a direct result of his sin), in the case of Israel there was a direct correlation. Because they had forsaken God they did not seek Him in their trouble, and because they did not know Him they did what was right in their own eyes. How often have we too sought help in our trouble from what could not cure us! Praise the LORD He is sufficient for all things, by grace having provided us all things which pertain to life and godliness. When we cry out to God in repentance, He comes to us in our affliction. In our struggle may we seek Him, desiring Him over healing or salvation because He is worthy.
God spoke through Hosea the prophet concerning His people in Hosea 5:13, "When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then Ephraim went to Assyria and sent to King Jareb; yet he cannot cure you, nor heal you of your wound." Ephraim and Judah were able to see their symptoms, but they did not seek healing in God. They vainly went to the king of Assyria for help to assuage their symptoms, desperate for peace. The unstoppable Assyrian war machine was headed their way, and all hope of successfully defending their borders was lost. The cause of Israel's trouble was not the might of Assyria but they had forsaken the LORD. God's complaint was His people did not even know Him, as their sins separated them from God.
This passage of scripture caused me to consider: am I like the Israelites who only sought to relieve their symptoms or do I seek God to be cured? Physicians do not in themselves have the power to heal anyone but utilise medical training to prescribe medicine, treatment, and procedures to promote the natural healing ability of the body. The illness of Israel was exhibited by physical symptoms but had a spiritual cause only God could heal. Israel stooped to attempt to make a peace treaty with their enemies rather than seek the LORD in repentance. Instead of making deals with the devil, God's people ought to be zealous in repentance before Him (Revelation 3:19).
Whilst all physical illness we endure does not have a spiritual cause (Job's friends were presumptuous to assume he was afflicted as a direct result of his sin), in the case of Israel there was a direct correlation. Because they had forsaken God they did not seek Him in their trouble, and because they did not know Him they did what was right in their own eyes. How often have we too sought help in our trouble from what could not cure us! Praise the LORD He is sufficient for all things, by grace having provided us all things which pertain to life and godliness. When we cry out to God in repentance, He comes to us in our affliction. In our struggle may we seek Him, desiring Him over healing or salvation because He is worthy.
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