I Am The Lord That Healeth Thee

Jesus Christ

The timing of God is significant. It reveals God’s character in a redemptive way.

The name “Iyar” (אִיָּיר) forms an acronym that speaks directly to those seeking restoration: Ani Adonai Rofecha – “I am the Lord, that health thee.” These words echo the divine promise recorded in Exodus after the Israelites crossed the Red Sea.

At Marah God declared:

“ If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.” Exodus 15:26

This declaration was not a momentary assurance - it was a covenant promise that reverberates through Scripture and time. The timing is significant. The Israelites had physically left Egypt during Nisan, but their journey of healing – both physical and spiritual - unfolded during Iyar. For generations, Israel’s slavery had not merely exhausted them physically; it penetrated their souls, distorting identity and crushing hope. In that context, the Exodus did not just physically relocate the Israelites, it was God’s design to heal them of their wounded hearts and lives. This mirrors what the cross of Christ has accomplished for us. During Iyar, God began this restoration process. The Israelites received manna for the first time in this month – divine sustenance that addressed their immediate physical needs while teaching dependence on God’s daily provision. God’s redemption happens both in dramatic moments and through ongoing restoration.

David recognized that divine healing is for the whole man - spirit, soul, and body. Psalm 103:2-3

The same God who declared “I am the Lord, that health thee” in the wilderness stands ready to bring restoration today. In a world of instant gratification, the month of Iyar points back to this truth: real healing flows from staying connected to the nature of God as Healer.

God’s method of healing defies conventional wisdom. Instead of replacing the bitter waters with sweet ones, God instructed Moses to cast a tree into the waters. Trees naturally would contain bitter elements. God used the tree to transform the bitter waters into sweet. In so doing, the message was that the remedy for bitterness was not sweetness, but rather something bitter itself. Similarly, the Word of God might initially appear harsh and demanding, bringing sweetness and healing when embraced with the right perspective. God does not remove our bitterness by eliminating it; He uses life’s bitter moments to transform us from within. The healing comes not by avoiding painful conversations and situations but by confronting it with divine wisdom. The tree that was cast into the waters represents Gods Word itself, which is called “a tree of life to those who take hold of it” (Proverbs 3:18).

Immediately, after the sweetening of the waters, God gave the Israelites a set of commandments - a foretaste of the covenant they would receive at Sinai. These commands were conditional on the people’s obedience and were not separate from the healing; they were integral to it. The message was clear: following God’s ways does not just bring healing as a reward - it is the healing. The commandments themselves are the medicine.

Marah represents the disappointments we face in life. In life, people get stuck in bitterness, wanting change but not knowing how to achieve it. Personal and community transformation begins when we recognize we have choices and take responsibility for making them wisely. The tree may also be understood as man’s capacity to choose - to discern between good and evil, bitter, and sweet.

It is important to see God’s design in this significant time - this month of Iyar is a bridge between Nisan, the month of redemption through the Exodus, and Sivan, the month of revelation at Sinai. After the dramatic liberation from Egypt, the Israelites needed a period of healing and preparation before they could receive the Torah (the law). Freedom alone is not enough; freedom must have purpose and covenant. A believer is free in Christ, but if he is purposeless, he achieves nothing of significance.

Israel’s modern calendar reflects this bitter-sweet paradox. Iyar contains both Yom HaZikaron (Israel’s Memorial Day) on the fourth and Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel’s Independence Day) on the fifth. Within 24 hours, the nation transitions from mourning fallen soldiers and victims of terror, to celebrating the miracle of independence. Israel’s birth came through tremendous sacrifice, embodying the teaching of Psalm 126: “Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy.” The month culminates with Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day) on the 28th of Iyar, marking the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967. After nineteen years of division, the return of Jerusalem’s Old City to Jewish sovereignty represents the most significant national healing in modern Jewish history.

God does not promise a life without bitter waters - He promises to transform them to sweetness through our active participation. Ani Hashem Rofecha - ”I am the Lord that healeth thee” - means not just that God heals us, but that through following His ways, we participate in our own healing. The journey from slavery to revelation, from Nisan to Sivan, requires passing through Iyar - the month of healing; and healing requires confronting our bitterness with the tree of life that God has provided.

As New Covenant believers, we must receive our healing in Christ, and desire to have a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. It is an acceptable time in God’s calendar. It is a time of God’s favour. Will you exercise your faith in who Christ is and what He does?

Background

Kainos Church India, Bengaluru led by Ps. Manoj and Lincy Iype is a gathering open to all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Church is ideally located for believers in the Koramangala, HSR Layout, Agara, Sarjapur Road, Bellandur areas of Bengaluru and our Church Service in English starts at 10am on Sundays.

These notes are from the Sunday Sermon held on 4th May 2025