CALL THE GREAT PHYSICIAN FIRST

by Tammy Phillips
August 5, 2021

“And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but the physicians.” (2 Chronicles 16:12 NKJV)

Asa was King of Judah for 41 years. He did good and right in the eyes of the LORD.  He commanded Judah to seek the LORD and observe the law and commandments. When his enemy came knocking, he cried for help to the Lord.  The Lord struck and defeated Judah’s enemy. Obed then prophesied: “The LORD [is] with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you. You, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!” Asa took courage and removed idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin.  He also restored the altar of the LORD. All Judah made a joyful covenant with the Lord.  They swore with all their heart and sought Him with all their soul. The Lord was found by them, and the LORD gave them rest all around. No wars.

But then…Asa did his own thing.  He relied on his own wisdom when Israel began to rise against Judah.  He went to seek help and made peace with King of Syria instead of going to the Lord and asking for help.  The Lord sent Hanani to tell Asa:   “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of [those] whose heart [is] loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.”(2 Chronicles 16:9 NKJV).  Asa got angry with this message and started oppressing some of his people. He then got a really bad foot disease.  Again, relying on His wisdom, He only sought help from the physicians and not the Lord.  Two years later, he was dead.

Asa spent most of his life seeking the Lord, but in the end, he failed to seek Him in his sickness, and it ultimately led to his death.

What is the first thing we do when we get really ill?  Is it seek the LORD?  People get all “heebie-jeebies” about healing. Most run to the doctor before they turn to the Lord.  Asa was bad off, yet he did not seek the Lord. He only put trust in other physicians, not THE Great Physician.

Our God is Jehovah Rapha, the LORD who heals.  (Exodus 15:26)
The LORD who mends by stitching.
The LORD who sews up our wounds.
The LORD who cures.
The LORD who repairs.
The LORD who restores to pristine felicity.
The LORD who thoroughly, makes whole.

If we trust that God is the Creator who perfectly made all of us, shouldn’t we also trust that He can heals us?  Would you ever wish any sickness son your child to teach them a lesson?  Then why in this world do you think our all-loving Father would do that? And, if we have the odd thought that it is God will for us to ever be sick, then why would we pray to get better? Why go to the doctor?  God does not make people sick; He heals people.  Our bodies were made to heal.  Our skin repairs itself when cut.  When we break a bone, it grows back together.   When we bruise our body, it fades with time.

Who do we put our trust in when sickness and disease come knocking?  Do we rely on our own wisdom and turn first to our personal doctors or do we turn to the Lord, first?  The Lord has a purpose for doctors.  He uses them to aid Him in the healing process.  However, they are not God.  They are simply physicians, not the GREAT PHYSICIAN.   

I enCOURAGE you to resort to the LORD.  Call Him first.  He has all the answers to your health questions, then, if need be, reach out to your doctor. He will lead and guide you and your doctors. Asa made the mistake of forgetting about the Lord and putting all his trust in his physicians.  Big mistake.  In fact, it was fatal.   Do not make the same fatal mistake.  The LORD wants you whole, healed, and complete…body, mind, and soul.  Turn to Him first!  Jesus paid for our healing with his blood and death.  Take it, it is yours as a child of the King!