God's timeless touch: what the Old Testament teaches about divine healing.

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Whenever people think about faith and healing, they recall New Testament stories from the magnificent ministry of Jesus. Overlooked, however, are the many accounts of healing found among the ancient, dusty paths winding through the Old Testament.

Shortly after leaving their bondage in Egypt, the Israelites received an amazing promise from God: "I am the Lord, who heals you" (Exodus 15:26). The stories of men and women who experienced that divine healing can be just as instructive and helpful to us today as events that took place generations later. In those ancient texts, we find hope for anyone facing the uncertainty of illness and the seeming separation from our heavenly Father that's felt when days are dark and filled with pain.

Here are five important lessons we need to learn about healing as revealed in the time-weathered pages of the Old Testament.

1. TO BE HEALED, WE MUST SUBMIT IN OBEDIENCE TO WHAT THE HEALING PROCESS REQUIRES.

This is the view of physician Dale Matthews, author of The Faith Factor: Proof of the Healing Power of Prayer. He says the importance of complying with a prescribed healing regimen is vividly demonstrated in the encounter of Naaman and Elisha.

Naaman, an important and powerful Syrian general, suffered with leprosy. After all other remedies failed, he sought help from Elisha.

The prophet responded by sending a messenger who instructed Naaman to wash himself seven times in the Jordan, "and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed" (2 Kings 5:10).

Naaman wasn't what you'd call an ideal patient. First, he became annoyed that the prophet merely sent an intermediary to speak with him; and second, he had very rigid ideas about how his healing would take place. "But Naaman went away angry and said, 'I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy'" (verse 11).

Then, there was the choice of river. The unwilling soldier strongly protested, saying that rivers in his country were far better suited for his purposes than the muddy Jordan.

After listening to his tirade, Naaman's personal servants basically said to him, "Look, what's the big deal? Just do what the prophet says and go wash in the Jordan." Swallowing his pride, the general complied with Elisha's prescription and "his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy" (verse 14).

Citing that account, Dr. Matthews emphasizes that an important aspect of divine healing is the willingness to submit in obedience to what the healing process requires. He says, "Doctors are always concerned about issues of patient compliance: Will our patients take their medicines as instructed, or quit smoking or drinking? Often, the answer is 'no' and the progress of healing is retarded."

We can learn from Naaman's experiences, he says. "Our doctors may ask us to take medicines, to cut fat from our diets, to take up walking as a form of exercise. God may ask us to confess our sins and amend our behavior. We can hasten our healing by following 'doctor's orders' and turning to God with a willing heart."

2. OUR PRAYERS FOR HEALING ARE IMPORTANT TO GOD.

The Old Testament makes it quite clear that God wants to accommodate our needs. Consider the health crisis experienced by King Hezekiah who "became ill and was at the point of death" (2 Kings 20:1). He consulted with the prophet Isaiah. who bluntly told him: "Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover" (verse 1).

In spite of that doomful diagnosis, Hezekiah prayed for recovery: "Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes" (verse 3).

The answer was almost instantaneous as Isaiah promptly returned with the good news from God that Hezekiah would be healed and 15 more years would be added to his life. I believe this story clearly demonstrates that our desire for healing is important to God.

3. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT TO FEEL GOD'S HEALING TOUCH.

Some people believe that only special individuals--those who live holy, spiritual, morally pure lives--can expect to be recipients of divine healing. Two Old Testament accounts prove otherwise.

The first concerns Miriam, the sister of Moses. Guilty of gossiping maliciously about her brother, she was struck with leprosy. Even though Moses was the target of her unkind words, he offered this urgent, five-word prayer: "O God, please heal her!" (Numbers 12:13). His prayer was answered.

A second account tells of God healing the hand of the evil King Jeroboam (1 Kings 13:4-6). His hand becomes withered when he attempts to harm God's prophet. Then, recognizing the prophet's spiritual power, Jeroboam asks the same prophet to intercede with God for his healing. The man of God prays, and Jeroboam's hand is made whole again.

The lesson from those two accounts is unmistakable: while God detests our sinful behavior, He's still willing and eager to bring healing into our misguided lives.

4. IT'S NEVER TOO LATE, AND WE'RE NEVER TOO HOPELESS.

Remember the story in which Elijah restores life to a child? In this incredible account, a widow's only son became ill and "finally stopped breathing" (1 Kings 17:17). Elijah prayed: "O Lord my God, let this boy's life return to him!" (verse 21). The prayer was answered.

No matter what the prognosis, we must remember that it's never too late and never too hopeless to seek God's intervention.

When Glen Dawson was seriously injured in an automobile accident, surgeons responded heroically, but, because of the severity of the damage to his body, one doctor told his wife, Genell, "We've done everything we can, but he's in a coma. I'm very sorry, but I don't think he will make it through the night."

Genell stubbornly remained at her husband's bedside, praying fervently for his recovery. Relatives, friends, their church family, and even strangers joined in that entreaty.

After 21 days in a coma and teetering on the verge of death, Glen opened his eyes. With a thankful spouse at his side, he continued the long healing process.

5. HEALING INCLUDES THE EMOTIONAL AS WELL AS THE PHYSICAL.

Often, the wounds we bear in our minds are worse than any physical problem we must endure. The Old Testament assures us that God's healing includes the emotional as well as the physical. Nowhere is this more evident than in the psalms.

Consider these examples: "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18). In Psalm 40: 1-3, the writer speaks of his healing from a time of emotional turmoil: "I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth." Yes, God can be trusted to heal damaged emotions.

One who experienced such an answer to prayer was Richard Whetstone. There was a deep void in his life because he lost contact with his son, Teddy, whom he had not seen in 27 years. The child was less than a year old when Whetstone and his wife divorced.

Although he made every effort to keep in touch, his letters were returned unopened. Later they were marked "Addressee moved, left no forwarding address."

Whetstone had no idea where his son lived. He knew he would not be whole until he was reunited with his child or, at the very least, had made every attempt to locate him.

That's when Whetstone turned to prayer. One Tuesday evening, during a midweek church service, he bowed his head and spoke to God using straightforward and simple words: Lord, my son is a grown man now. I love him and miss him. Please just let me know what kind of man Teddy has turned out to be. Anything more than that I leave in Your hands. In fact, Lord, I don't even know where to start looking for him, so I am truly leaving it all up to You. Please, let me know of my son. Amen."

Four days later Whetstone received a letter with a return address he didn't recognize. It was from his son Teddy, who explained that he'd been searching via the Internet for his father. That letter was one of 47 letters the young man had written to Richard Whetstones all over the country.

Later, father and son were joyously reunited and, presently, maintain a good and growing relationship.

Obedience to the healing process, believing that your health is important to God, realizing that you don't have to be perfect to feel His presence, never giving up, and allowing Him access to your mind as well as your body are all Old Testament paths to divine intervention. Our heavenly Physician has never left us to find our way alone. Since the beginning of this world, we've all enjoyed unfettered access to God's timeless touch.

Victor M. Parachin, M.Div., is a pastor and writer living in Tulsa, Oklahoma.