Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? why then is there no healing for the wound of my people? Jeremiah 8:22
This was a question posed by God to His children through the prophet, Jeremiah. At this point, it seemed like they were in so much pain and anguish in their bodies, souls and spirit. These were children of God who enjoyed health and wealth in the presence of God but got carried away by their wealth, health and knowledge. They started to put all their trust in their accumulated wealth and started to make gods out of those things.
They turned towards to the sun, moon and star and worshiped them; the things that God created. Jeremiah 8:2 I perceive this had gone on for so long and perhaps God had sent many of His prophets to warn them about the impending danger that laid ahead.
But now it seemed like everything they had put all their trust in could not save them neither could it help them; such a sad ordeal.
How is this relevant to us living in the 21st century? We shall have a look at as we go on in this blogpost.
What is the balm of Gilead?
This balm was a rare perfume or balm(it probably came in many forms) made in a region known as Gilead back in day had many medicinal benefits and perhaps had to be applies by a physician. I perceive that many people who had health or other kinds of challenges in their bodies, spirit or soul went up to Gilead to get this balm for healing. We can see God saying to the Egyptians to go up to Gilead to get balm….. in Jeremiah 46:11
Therefore, we can conclude that this balm and the region Gilead were of great value to the world back then. So why was God asking His children if there was no balm? Had His children forgotten so soon about the balm and its benefits? Had all the physicians there died?
Well, I perceive that this was more or less a rhetorical question posed by God. Apparently what the Israelites were going through was beyond the balm of Gilead, they needed a more potent balm from the greatest physician – Jehovah
What does the balm mean to us in the 21st century?
At the time, I cannot say for sure if there is an actual balm of Gilead in existence here on earth. Even if there is a balm of Gilead, it sure cannot save the world from this pandemic that seems to be ravaging it.
But then, we Christians refer to the balm of Gilead for healing; what exactly is this balm of Gilead? It is a figurative expression that points to the ultimate physician, the ultimate balm who has the potency to cure any form of disease or virus that could ever exist- Jehovah Rapha is His name a.k.a Jesus
Jesus Christ is the great healer, the ultimate balm of Gilead!
Where is God in all this chaos?
But then if there is a Jehovah Rapha why hasn’t He healed the whole world of this pandemic. Well like every physician; we need to consult Him, He needs to diagnose our situation/illness, then He prescribes a cure for it and then we need to diligently follow through with the prescription that He gives to us.
I am trying to say that the world cannot just expect Him to heal the world if we do not ask or consult Him. So God is feeling whatever pain, anguish that the world may be feeling right now. In Jeremiah 8:21 God said to prophet Jeremiah,”Since my people are crushed, I am crushed; I mourn, and horror grips me.
So you see my dear, God has emotions and He feels whatever we feel. He only wants us to express them to Him in words and ask Him for help. He has given us free will and the ability to make choices; He will not just badge into our lives if we do not ask Him to.
What can we do?
That said; we should turn to the great physician who has healed countless people, given them wholeness in the body, soul and spirit. His consultations are free, you can meet with Him from the comfort of your house or wherever you find comfortable.
Most of the times; consultations with Him will have Him speaking to us like this:
If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and then will forgive their sin and will heal their land. – II Chronicles 7:14
But then I encourage that you speak to Him personally today. ;;)
And for us already saved, Opeyemi Oso (a sister in faith) says that we are the ‘Jeremiahs’ in our contemporary world, we should keep on being the representatives of Jesus by reflecting Jesus in our deeds. We should endeavour to be the visible Bible that the world can read. Telling others about the love of Jesus should be our way of life. Prayerfully, God’s light will penetrate the hearts of people and they would come to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour.
May the good Lord heal our land in Jesus name.