“God’s will— and the sufferings of his children”
(part 3, of 3)
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Isaiah 53— about the Lord himself
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Isaiah 53
“Who has believed [built up or supported, fostered, nursed, being true and certain by the right hand, steadfast and verified] our report [announcement, doctrine, famed news mentioned— our tidings]?
And to whom is the arm [force, help, might or shoulder of strength] of the LORD [self-existent eternal one— Jehovah] revealed [stripped, and bared, disclosed, and discovered, or uncovered]?”
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This chapter is all about the Lord, and he will tell us much in this chapter about ‘his’ very own walk with the Father— through the prophet Isaiah; as he walked out all of what the prophets of old said he would, and in that— he fulfilled the Law, and the prophets.
Believed, here in scripture is described as— built up, supported, fostered, nursed— being true and certain, steadfast and verified; that alone makes me understand new definition and meaning pertaining to ‘belief,’ in general.
We are believing something, if we are— built up in something, supporting that thing, fostering it (which means watering it, nourishing that seed) and nursing it like a mother caregiver— and being true to that thing, certain of it, steadfast with it, and are verified in our hearts— about it.
That is what God is saying we are to do in general, concerning him, the gospel, salvation, and relationship with him; sell ourselves into LIVING OUR TRUST IN HIM— building that trust of him up inside ourselves, supporting our relationship and who and what he has done in our lives, fostering and nursing, nourishing that belief and faith— while remaining true and certain of it, and verifiably steadfast unto him— in it.
Here, in this verse of scripture he’s asking— Who has built up, supported, fostered, nursed, and found it to be true, certain, trustworthy (by his right hand) —our report, and has remained verifiably steadfast with it?? Who believed our report??
And what was their report??
It was what they were announcing of doctrine, or— famed news mentioned— it was their tidings: the good news, essentially.
And there is a reason why this is being said, because he is desiring to know, and or point out— who the arm, or force, help, might and shoulder of strength that God has— is resting with, or on; whom is the strength of God the Father— revealed, or— bared and shown to be discovered, disclosed, and resting on, or with??
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2 “For he shall grow [ascend, raised up high, mount, or mount up, arise] up before him (the Father, countenance facing him) as a tender plant [sprouting] —and as a root [deep down at the bottom] out of a dry [parched, arid, desert— barren place, wilderness] ground: he has no form [figure or appearance, beauty, favorable countenance or visage] nor comeliness [magnificence, or splendor, glory or honor]; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty [shapely, comely, appealing view of appearance, handsomeness, nor favored form] that we should desire [delight in, covet, or be pleased of] him.”
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The one in which the arm, or strength of the LORD will be revealed to be resting on, or with— he will grow, ascend, be raised up— highly exalted, mounted up and arisen —before the face of the Father, as a tender planting, sprouting forth; and he will be like a root, that is founded deep down in sustenance— where dry ground is all around him (spiritually speaking of how all the others around him are) —parched, arid desert, barren souls of men, in wildernesses.
He will be a man with a figure or appearance lacking beauty and favorability of his countenance— to other humans; a man who is seen as having no magnificence, splendor, glory or honor in his appearance— no comeliness.
And when we see him [Yahshua], we will think he has no beauty or good looks, and is not shapely or appealing in viewing his appearance— not handsome nor favored; and we would not have carnally desired, nor delight in him— or coveted after him.
He was an ‘average Joe,’ so to speak (funny as his name is from the root of JOSHUA, or JO—shua); and the Father did this for good reason— he came here to represent the average person, no special treatment.
In fact, oftentimes, as we read scripture— we come to realize he actually came into this earth and DISADVANTAGED himself.
He came NOT with his divinity, nor any attractiveness; he came average in all ways— so we would all RELATE to him, and find acceptance in him; as these verses state— one would not favor him, nor find him special in any way.
If you have ever seen yourself as average— nothing special to look at or behold— then you can relate to Christ; he was not the GQ model we all see painted or drawn.
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3 “He is despised [disesteemed, disdained, contemptible– despicable, scorned and vile] and rejected [vacant, ceasing and destitute, and frail] of men; a man of sorrows [anguish, affliction, grief and pain], and acquainted with [knowing, seeing, sensing, observing, recognizing, comprehending, discovering, endued with, familiar with, and understanding] grief [malady, anxiety, calamity, disease, sickness]: and we hid as it were [averted, turned] our faces from him; he was despised [disesteemed, disdained, contemptible– despicable, scorned and vile] —and we esteemed him [computed him of value, considered, reckoned] NOT.”
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Christ, Yahshua the Messiah is to be, and was despised and rejected by humans— or otherwise described as— one no one regarded, the found him contemptible, despicable, vile, and they scorned him— looking down upon him; and he was frail and destitute the scripture states— as he was rejected.
Did you know that the definition of destitute is— lacking the basic necessities of life; and the root of the definition is— deserted, abandoned, emptied— forsaken, and to place away from.
We will often be viewed in such manners by others as well— while walking his paths and practicing and expressing his attributes, fruits and nature in this world— in our discipline of him. The common frailties of man were upon our Lord, the same as we experience. He did not carry his divinity with him in this earth— and was subject to many ‘issues’ that we are subjected to in this lifetime.
Like us— he faced a great many challenges, albeit— he executed them flawlessly, though painfully; he was challenged with pain and suffering— as we are.
He was a man of sorrows, which is described as one familiar with— anguish, affliction, grief and pain— as well he was acquainted with, knew, saw, sensed, observed, recognized, comprehended, discovered, was endued with, familiar with, and understood— grief; which is malady, anxiety, calamity, disease, and sickness.
If he is acquainted with, quite familiar with all these types of suffering— sorrow, anguish, affliction, grief and pain; then we will encounter these same issuances of trials allotted to us— as we follow him down his same path of righteousness. We will come to the same bends in the road that he did; and we will be expected to endure those trials and tribulations, testings and refinement— as he did.
And scripture states we all hid, turned from and averted our faces away from him; that means we did not entreat him, we did not comfort him, we did not honor him, we did not receive him, we did not turn our hearts toward him.
We— being humans of the day he lived in; and Isaiah foretold it all.
People despised him, they— disesteemed him, found him contemptible and with disdain rejected him, scorned him and deemed him vile; we esteemed him NOT the scripture states, which means— we did not find him to be anyone to VALUE or even considered him any regard.
Ouch.
We too will go through a lot.
I myself can see many ways in which I have been stripped in life— compared to many others; and I know I’m not the only one. It would be easy to judge me as destitute, rejected, disesteemed and forsaken of God— but looks can be deceiving: as looks were deceiving in this world, wherewith Christ was concerned.
The ULTIMATE godly man, the God of man himself— came into this world as an average, nothing special, disadvantaged man; when the truth of his being— was anything but that: he was, and is— God incarnate. And yet he reduced everything about himself, and challenged himself in all ways that man is challenged.
We ought to be VERY careful how we view people in this world, how we judge with perception; for the only acceptable perception of anyone— is what God’s perception of them is. It would behoove us all to NOT judge a book by its cover.
In many ways I can see the brilliance of God coming in such a form, and under such challenges, physically, emotionally, mentally, etcetera; for coming in this format— the TRUTH in the hearts of men, toward him— and other such individuals such as/like him— showed and manifested.
What we do in how we perceive and judge others, when left to our own minds and perception as we devise them, in their destitute outward appearances (covers of books, first glances) —actually shows whom we serve, right then and there. If we are serving God Most High and HOLY— we will function expressing his fruits and nature; and we will esteem every individual, regardless of what circumstances in their lives ‘look like.’
Father often challenges us all in many ways; and sometimes, the challenge with us is not upon ourselves— but upon how we view others who are ‘different than’ us.
In that— we will see what kind of person we really are, underneath; as it is revealed whether or not we see the VALUE they have and bring— or if we can only see THE DIFFERENCES between them and ourselves— as we judge, reject, ridicule and stand puffed up over them, while we place them lower than ourselves: Pride.
Sometimes the testing is of our character, as we judge and perceive others; best we seek Father’s perspective— and rightly divide the truth, instead of judging from perspectives viewed from down here: Christ was DEFINITELY perceived as disesteemed and rejected— when he was the Chosen One to redeem all of humanity.
Best we walk humbly in this lifetime;
pride often judges presumptuously.
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4 “Surely he has borne [absolutely and relatively— accepted, suffered, beared upon, carried, fetched, furnished, married, obtained, received] our griefs [maladies, anxieties, calamities, diseases and sicknesses], and carried [burdened up under, labored in— in gravid (pregnant with)] our sorrows [anguish, affliction, grief and pain]: yet we did esteem [compute, thought of, conceived, devised, and reckoned] him stricken [touched, hand laid upon, reached and acquired violently in striking, defeat, and destroyed, plagued] —smitten [struck, beaten, cast out, wounded, killed, slaughtered, punished] of God, and afflicted [looking down upon, depressed (held down in oppression), abased, chastened, dealt harshly with, defiled, humbled and hurt].”
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The point he is driving home right here, is that Christ was carrying and receiving upon himself— our griefs, or grievous circumstances: maladies, anxieties, calamities, diseases and sickness.
As well he carried, or became pregnant with, and labored under— our sorrow; which is our— anguish, afflictions, griefs (which is maladies, sicknesses and diseases) and pain.
Yet scripture states we esteemed him, or it computed to us in our reasoning, as we conceived or reckoned him— stricken, or touched by the hand of God laid upon him, reaching violently and striking, and destroying him; we saw him smitten, or— struck, beaten, cast out, wounded, killed, slaughtered, punished— by God, and afflicted.
We perceived him— abased, chastened, dealt harshly with, defiled, humbled and hurt— of God; which means, we viewed that God had rejected this man— because of his outward circumstances.
We must see what God the Father placed upon the Son, and realize— looks can be deceiving; and we do not know what Father knows, and our thoughts and ways— are below his thoughts, reasoning, and ways.
Best we learn from what Christ endured, and take it to heart that we too will often go through things in this lifetime that to others— do not appear to ‘add up;’ but that has no bearing upon one being chosen and used of God unto his great purposes: Messiah being the ultimate expression of this truth.
Who do you say he is?
Do you say God does not afflict, nor suffer men in such ways?
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5 “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised [crushed and destroyed, humbled and oppressed] for our iniquities [evil, perversity, faults, mischief and sin]: the chastisement [reproof warning, or instruction, discipline and rebuke] of our peace [wellness, welfare, prosperity, do well, be whole] was upon him; and with his stripes [black and blue marks, bruising, hurt and woundings] —we are healed [mended by stitching back together, curing, repairing— made whole].”
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He was crushed, destroyed, humbled and oppressed— that’s the description of wounded for our transgressions— and iniquities, our evil, perversity and sin; do we think we will not be, if the Son who deserved none of that, was— when we ARE actually guilty of transgressions against God?
What we deserved of chastisement— reproof warning, instruction, discipline and rebuke— was upon him and with that, the lack of our peace, or— wellness, welfare, prosperity, to do well, and being whole— was lumped upon him; if he had to endure that ‘because of us,’ then we ought to know we, who are deserving of all that— shall endure the same: we shall be— chastised, corrected, warned, instructed, disciplined and rebuked of the Lord— the same.
But, by his taking of all those stripes, or— black and blue marks, bruising, hurt and woundings— that he endured, for us —we are healed, mended by stitching back together, curing, repairing, and making us whole again.
Whole— what does that mean?
Does that mean— outward man, inward man, body wholeness, soul wholeness, or spiritually whole again?
I reckon it means however God desires it to mean; but let’s see what the definition of whole here is in Strong’s.
H8549 — Whole
Hebrew: תּמים
Transliteration: tâmîym
Pronunciation: taw-meem'
Definition: From H8552; entire (literally— figuratively or morally); also (as noun) integrity of truth: - without blemish, complete, full, perfect, sincerity, sound, without spot, undefiled, upright— whole.
In this definition ‘whole’ means a whole lot of things; it means we will then be entire, or complete. It means we will be seen as without blemish, perfect, sincere, sound, and without spot or defilement— we will be upright before him.
Those are all descriptors of spiritual, or soul wholeness, more so than physical wholeness— but it does not exclude that; however, I can see much more spiritual inner man dealings in becoming ‘stitched back together,’ than I can physical dealings.
And what I mean is— we were estranged from God, torn from him— and we needed reconciliation— to ‘stitch us back together’ again: we needed our relationship ‘mended,’ or stitched back together.
Again— it does not mean God does NOT WISH TO HEAL PHYSICALLY, he does heal physically, miraculously, and instantaneously— ‘sometimes;’ and yet— other times, he does not.
But one thing I know for SURE, based upon countless scripture, is that— he desires for ALL to repent (which is turn to him again), and be saved— and mended in relationship back to him: reconciliation of God and man, inside.
But just for clarity— that he does heal physically too, when his will is to do so, let us include H4982, of ‘whole.’
H4982— Whole
Greek: σώζω
Transliteration: sōzō
Pronunciation: sode'-zo
Definition: From a primary word σῶς sōs̄; to save, that is deliver or protect (literally or figuratively): used as heal, preserve, do well— whole.
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6 “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed [driven like an animal and worked, tyrannized, distressed, held under a taskmaster], and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth [speech or words]: he is brought as a lamb [a lesser animal] to the slaughter [butchered] —and as a sheep before her shearers [figuratively— enemy] is dumb [tied up fast, tongue tied/silent]— he opened not his mouth.”
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We all have sinned, and become estranged from God, and the Lord laid all the iniquity (lawlessness to follow unrighteousness) upon Yahshua.
He had to endure tyranny, driven like a slave and worked like an animal, distressed on every side, and put under a taskmaster— as like we are, when in bondage to satan, and this world; he was afflicted— yet he never tried to stop it all: for he took it all on, what Father dished out to him— for us all, to redeem us.
They took him, like a lesser animal to the slaughter, and butchered him; he let them lead him there like a sheep is led innocently to her shearers [figuratively— this is the enemy] and he spoke not— his tongue was tied up fast, silent— and he never contested a thing.
We are not called, most of us— to suffer whipping at a post, or to endure a literal cross and crucifixion; but we will be called to suffer— and we will be called to suffer without murmuring, complaining, or cursing God, during our endurance of suffering.
If we are called to endure to the end, to be saved— we must be called to endure something critically set against us; or what would it be to bear up under comfort??
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8 “He was taken from prison [constraints, barrenness and oppression] and from judgment [verdict, pronounced sentence, formal decree and determination— judicially]: and who shall declare his generation [revolution of time or age and dwelling]?
For he was cut off [excluded and divided] out of the land [nations] of the living [strong, alive with vitality]: for the transgression [revolt, rebellion, sin and trespass] of my people— he was stricken [took blows, inflicted with, spotted— leprous person, plagued, sore, and wounded].”
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He was given a guilty sentence and verdict, he was oppressed, barren and constrained; he was chosen out of all the people of the living— and for the purpose of the revolt, rebellion, sin trespasses against God: for our transgressions. And he took our blows, was inflicted with, spotted with like a leprous person, plagued sorely and wounded— for us.
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9 “And he made his grave [burial] with the wicked [morally wrong, bad person— condemned, guilty, ungodly] —and with the rich [noble], in his death [ruin]; because he had done no violence [wrong, injustice, cruelty, damage, oppression toward any] —neither was any deceit [deceptive fraud, craftiness, falsity, or feigned truth, or treachery] in his mouth [speech or words].”
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He counted himself with all of us transgressors (that means he affiliated himself with all of us filthy sinners) —and he made his grave, or buried himself in death— with all of us wicked, morally wrong, bad persons: the condemned, guilty, and ungodly persons; as well as the rich— he did it for ALL— and suffered ruin, or death, because of it.
He did no violence, wrong, injustice, cruelty, damage, or oppression toward any —and neither was there any deceit or deceptive fraud, craftiness, falsity, feigned truth, or treachery found in his speech or words: he tricked no one, and faked— nothing.
We are called to walk his paths, we are called to be as gentle as a dove, but as screwed in wisdom, and our thinking and reasoning— as serpents; we will be called to judge properly, and entreat properly; for he is IN US now.
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10 “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise [crumble, break in pieces, beat, crush, destroy, humble and oppress] him; he (Father) has put him to grief [rubbed, worn down, weakened, afflicted, made sick, diseased, infirmed, pained] (him): when you shall make his soul [vitality, breath, heart, mind, person, will and desires] —an offering for sin [guiltiness, fault and trespass]— he shall see his seed [planting— sown in time, his posterity (future generations of children), fruitful] —and he shall prolong [lengthen] his days, and the pleasure [valuable desire of a matter, acceptable delight, purposeful will] of the LORD— shall prosper [push forward, break out, come mightily, be profitable, make effective] in his hand [power, directing, dominion, charge, labor, force, ministry, service, and work].”
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If it pleased the Father to crumble, break, beat, crush, destroy, humble and oppress him— do we not think he will put us through a ‘mill,’ too? A mill is for refinements; and Christ did not need nor deserve refinement— but he was and is to be our example of a ‘son’ of the living God.
The Father put him to grief— weakened, afflicted, made sick, diseased, infirmed, and pained him— and he deserved it not, but we do; we have transgressed him at one point or another. He has forgiven us legally, spiritually— but we will still walk out what Father deems ‘his will,’ and unto his purposes in this earth.
If the Son endured things he did not deserve; do we think we will not have to endure things that we ‘think’ we do not deserve, but likely do deserve to have to endure??
And if it worked out for the Son in the end, by him being resurrected from all that death, with keys and saved ones in his hand— as he was glorified in the Father; do we not think Father will be just as faithful in resurrecting us, and giving us keys to help save others with him, too??
Father took his soul, his vitality, breath, heart, mind, person, will and desires —and made his soul, an offering for sin, or— guiltiness, fault and trespass against him; that means, Christ’s sacrifice of his soul and all it went through— was viewed by Father, acceptable.
Father will see his seed plantings of children under him, be prolonged and he will lengthen their days, and his pleasure and delight— shall make them prosper.
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11 “He (Father) shall see of [it will appear, will discern, and experience] the travail [toiling, wearing down in effort, worry— whether or body or mind, grieve, be pained of, in sorrow of, troubled] of his soul [countenance, heart, will, mind, vitality, person] —and shall be satisfied [filled to satisfaction, satiated, sufficed]: by his knowledge [cunning and awareness, wittingly] —shall my righteous [just, lawful] servant [bondman– that’s one in bonds to/with another] justify [make right, cleanse, clear] many; for he shall bear [carry, burden himself with, in gravid— pregnant with, laboring strongly with] —their iniquities [perverse, moral evil, faults, mischief, and punishment of sin].”
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The Father saw the Son’s soul travailing, troubled, grieved and pained— in his heart: countenance, will, mind, vitality and person. And it satisfied him. For there was ‘purpose’ in the suffering, and unto and end and means. We will encounter the same as we walk his path.
By Christ’s awareness of what the Father was doing through his life, he was able to bear up under it all— and walking in Father’s righteousness, as he obeyed everything Father led him into, as a just servant…
Christ, the Son who leads all ‘sons’ now— justified many, or made, cleansed and cleared many people, and sentences.
For he took on, and bore up under, carried, and burdened himself with, in gravid— pregnant with, and laboring strongly under —our iniquities, our perverse, moral evil, faults, mischief, and the punishment of sin that we deserved.
And in ALL THAT— it pleased the Father to afflict him.
Because there was MUCH PURPOSE IN IT; we too will endure what Father puts into our lives to endure— for he has purpose in it, as well.
But— Romans 8:28— “We know that all things work together for good— to those who love God, to those who are ‘the called’ → according to his purpose.”
He has a purpose to all who are ‘the called,’ and it’s unto our best interests that he leads us, like he led Christ— in the lives he has prepared for us; even when we cannot understand, why, or how it all works out best for us.
But I can tell you— ‘works out best for us,’ always is tied to SALVATION; which means he is ‘delivering us’ from something, and justifying us— which is ‘righting us,’ upright before him again.
And likely, our testimonies of how his grace is sufficient for us— will help to encourage others during the ‘enduring’ times of life— as well.
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12 “Therefore I (Father) will divide [smooth out, separate unto him a portion, distribute, flatter him with, impart] him— with the great [abundant, high rank, captain, elder exceedingly full and master, mighty, prince or head/chiefest]— and he shall divide the spoil [booty] with the strong [powerful and numerous]; because he has poured out [bared, emptied, demolished, made destitute, uncovered and made naked] his soul [vitality, mind, heart, will, desires, person] unto death [ruin]: and he was numbered [weighed out, counted, enrolled, allotted] with the transgressors [those who broke away from just authority, trespassed, quarreled with, became apostate, rebelled (God)]; and he bare the sin [crimes, penalty, offenses and punishment of sin] of many— and made intercession [importunity— persistence, to the point of annoyance, coming between, mediating for, pray together, and reach unto] —for the transgressors [those who broke away from just authority, trespassed, quarreled with, became apostate, rebelled (God)].”
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He went through placing himself with the vilest transgressors of us— to redeem us all— if we will take and receive him; walk life out with him, following his path— as the Father leads us in all our ways too.
He is our gift, he is our example, he is the way to come home to God; and in joining him, it will be hard— as the world hated him, he was tried and tested of God too, like a sword being tempered and refined in fires; but in the end— IT ALL WORKED OUT FOR HIM, BECAUSE HE LOVED GOD, and God worked all those seemingly terrible afflictions and circumstances he endured, together, for EVERYONE’S GOOD.
He will do the same with all we are going through, will go through, and cannot understand right now; he will work all the hard stuff we must endure, together— into a beautiful mosaic that delivers, and justifies us— for our good ending, he has planned, and given us hope of.
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An excerpt from brother Edward Koye-Ladele
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“The cup which my Father has given me, shall I not drink it?”
“To have a sympathizing God we must have a suffering Savior, and there is no true fellow-feeling with another —save in the heart of him who has been afflicted like him.
We cannot do good to others —save at a cost to ourselves, and our afflictions are the price we pay for our ability to sympathize. He who would be a helper— must first be a sufferer. He who would be a savior —must somewhere and somehow have been upon a cross; and we cannot have the highest happiness of life in succoring others— without tasting the cup which Jesus drank, and submitting to the baptism wherewith He was baptized.
The most comforting of David’s psalms were pressed out by suffering; and if Paul had not had his thorn in the flesh— we would have missed much of that tenderness which quivers in so many of his letters.
The present circumstance, which presses so hard against you (if surrendered to Christ), is the best shaped tool in the Father’s hand to chisel you for eternity. Trust Him then. Do not push away the instrument lest you lose its work.
‘Strange and difficult indeed we may find it— but the blessing that we need is behind it.’
The school of suffering— graduates RARE BREEDS.”
—Edward Koye-Ladele
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Paul
2 Corinthians 12:9
“And he (the Lord) said to me— My grace [manner of graciousness, divine influence upon your heart and its reflection of life— including gratitude] is sufficient [raising a barrier, warding off, availing satisfactory] for you (Paul): for my strength [force of miraculous power, ability and abundance of might] is made perfect [complete, accomplished, consummated in character— finished]— in weakness [feebleness of body or mind— maladies, frailty, disease, infirmity, sickness].
Most gladly [with great pleasure] therefore— I will rather glory [vaunt, boast or rejoice] in my infirmities [weakness, feebleness of body or mind— maladies, frailty, disease or sickness] —so that [purpose, result, intent] the power [force, miraculous power, ability, abundance of might or strength] of Christ —may rest [tent and abide] upon me.
Therefore [consequently] —I take pleasure [think well of, approve of] in infirmities [feebleness— of body or mind, maladies, frailty, disease, weakness, or sickness], in reproaches [insolence— as in overbearing of insult or injury, or hurt], in necessities [constraint, distress, needfulness], in persecutions, in distresses [narrowness of room, calamity or anguish]— for Christ’s sake [regard]: for when I am weak [feeble, diseased, impotent (powerless), or made to be sick]— then I am strong [powerful, capable, possible or able].”
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Excerpts from online study
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Job
Perhaps no Bible character has suffered more than Job. Job had everything — a good family, a good name and plenty of wealth. But then Satan went to God and asked for permission to alter Job's good fortune.
Then tragedy struck, and Job lost everything: his children, his wealth, his livestock, his crops, his health and even the relationship of his wife and friends.
And what did Job do? Well, not curse God, as Satan had thought he would— instead, he praised His name.
Job was further rewarded with twice as much as he had before. Thus, his physical afflictions were not a direct result of personal sin.
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Joseph
Genesis 45:7-8
"God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So then— it was not you who sent me here— but God."
Recall that Joseph suffered much affliction, imprisonment, oppression, servitude under a reprobate king— and it all worked together for his, God’s, and everyone else’s benefit, in the nation of Israel— in the end.
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Moses
He was Temporarily Given Leprosy.
There is an episode of the lawgiver Moses putting his hand to his chest and discovering it to be leprous.
Again, the LORD said to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” And he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow.
Then God said, “Put your hand back inside your cloak.” So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh (Exodus 4:6-7).
This temporary leprosy is not attributed to any sin of Moses. Instead it was an illustration of the power of the Lord.
Which states— all God does— is for a reason, and unto a purpose.
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Elisha
He died from an Illness.
The Bible speaks of an illness which eventually took the life of the prophet Elisha. We read the following in 2nd Kings.
Now Elisha was suffering from the illness from which he died. Jehoash king of Israel went down to see him and wept over him.
“My father! My father!” he cried. “The chariots and horsemen of Israel!”
(2 Kings 13:14).
His death was attributed to natural causes— not sin.
And so, we can see that even when people die of natural causes, in illness— it is not because they are rejected of God.
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Hezekiah
2 Kings 20:1-6
“In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord— Set your house in order; for you shall die, and not live.
2 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, saying—
3 I beseech you, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in your sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
4 And it came to pass, before Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that— the word of the Lord came to him, saying—
5 Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people— Thus saith the Lord, the God of David your father— I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears: behold, I will heal you: and on the third day you shall go up unto the house of the Lord.
6 And I will add unto your days, fifteen years; and I will deliver you and this city— out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city— for my own sake, and for my servant David's sake.”
Hezekiah was going to die— but the Lord God’s will was to heal him; all it took was an honest and forthright conversation with the Lord, entreating him to recall his loyal service unto him, and genuine relationship with him. I believe God wanted to restore him all along— and it was a testing of his faith, and his relationship with God— to seek him out about the matter.
And in that he was restored, but not only that— given back unto his life 15 added years to carry on with the Lord, and his purposes in the earth.
*Likely— that had something to do with his restoration— it had its purposes in the Lord to defend his city, and deliver his people from Syrian oppression; and in that— Hezekiah was his man he chose to use.
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Psalm 41:1-3 (to/of anyone) A psalm of David
“Blessed [happy] is he that considers the poor [weakly dangling, needy]: the Lord will deliver [smooth out, cause to escape, release or rescue, bring forth, deliver, let go, preserve speedily] him —in time of trouble [evil, affliction, calamity, distress, grievousness, harm, hurt, mischief, misery, sorrow, vexing].
2 The Lord will preserve [hedge about, guard, protect, attend to, take heed to, keep, narrowly observe, regard, save] him— and keep him alive [revived, living, nourished up, preserved, quickened, recovered, repaired, restored, whole]; and he shall be blessed [straight, level, happy, honest prospering, guided and relieved] upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies [hating adversaries, foes].
3 The Lord will strengthen [support, comfort, establish, hold him up, or refresh] him upon the bed of languishing [sickness, loathing, sorrow]: thou will make [overturn, convert] all his bed in his sickness [malady, anxiety, calamity, disease and grievousness].”
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Proverbs 18:14 (to/of anyone)
“The spirit of a man will sustain [keep, maintain, feed, forbear, nourish] his infirmity [sickness, disease]; but a wounded [smitten, broken or afflicted] spirit— who can bear it.”
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Lazarus
John 11:1-6, 11-15, 23-25, 37-45
“Now a certain man was sick [feeble, diseased, impotent and weak], named Lazarus— of Bethany— the town of Mary and her sister Martha.
2 (It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)
3 Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying— Lord, behold, he whom you love [a friend of, fond of, have affection for]— is sick [feeble, diseased, impotent and weak].
4 When Jesus heard that, he said— This sickness [feebleness, malady, frailty, disease or infirmity of weakness] is not unto [the destination of the relation to which predicated (something declared beforehand) unto] death— but [contrariwise] for the glory [dignity and honor] of God— that the Son of God might be glorified [rendered, esteemed and magnified] thereby.
5 Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.
6 When he had heard therefore that he was sick— he abode [remained and tarried/delayed] two days still (longer) in the same place where he was.
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He stayed extra days, to prove a point, and unto Father’s purposes; Lazarus was not restored— and was beloved of the Lord— he was called to endure till the end of the matter.
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11 These things said he: and after that he said unto them— Our friend Lazarus sleeps [deceased, sleeps death]; but I go— that I may awake him out of sleep.
12 Then his disciples said (to him)— Lord, if he sleeps— he shall do well [be delivered and preserved].
13 Howbeit Jesus spoke of his death [: but they thought that he had spoken of taking rest [repose] in sleep.
14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly— Lazarus is dead.
15 And I am glad [well pleased] for your sakes [regard] that I was not there— to the intent [demonstration, purpose and result that] may believe [have faith, respect a thing, give credit, entrust and put oneself in trust to]; nevertheless let us go unto him.
23 Jesus said unto her— Your brother shall rise again [stand up].
24 Martha said unto him— I know that he shall rise again, in the resurrection— at the last day.
25 Jesus said unto her— I am the resurrection [standing up again from death, author of, recoverer of spiritual truth, raiser of life], and the life: he who believes in me— though [even if] he were dead— yet shall he live [quicken].
37 And some of them said— Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind— have caused that even this man should not have died?
38 Jesus therefore again groaning [snorting indignantly, sighing sternly, murmuring] in himself comes to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
39 Jesus said— Take away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him— Lord, by this time he stinks: for he has been dead four days.
40 Jesus said unto her— Did I not say to you, that, if you would believe [put trust in]— you would see [gaze upon, remark of, and observe] the glory [dignity] of God?
41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said— Father, I thank you that you have heard me.
42 And I know that you hear me always: but because of the people— who stand by, I said it— that they may believe [put trust in] that you have sent [set apart, sent out on mission] —me.
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He did it all so that they could see him raise the dead; Lazarus was called, and appointed to die— so God could use his life, even in death, to witness the power of the Kingdom, to humanity.
It may not always make sense in our minds and perspectives, as to why God does what he does— but he certainly has his reasons, and unto his purposes.
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43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice— Lazarus, come forth.
44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus said unto them— Loose him, and let him go.
45 Then many of the Jews who came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on [put trust in] —him.”
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Miriam
Numbers 12
“And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
2 And they said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the Lord heard it.
3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
4 And the Lord spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out.
5 And the Lord came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.
6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.
7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all my house.
8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
9 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them; and he departed.
10 And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.
11 And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.
12 Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother's womb.
13 And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.
14 And the Lord said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.
15 And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.
16 And afterward the people removed from Hazeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran.”
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God himself put Miriam through his reproof and discipline; he struck her with Leprosy— and he made his point clearly unto her; and seven is a number of completion.
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THE CUP
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Mark 10:38-40
“But Jesus said to them— You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism [of suffering and death] with which I am baptized?
And they replied to Him— We are able.
Jesus told them— The cup that I drink you will drink, and you will be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. But to sit on My right or left, this is not Mine to give; but it is for those for whom it has been prepared [by My Father].”
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If we are walking with him, discipled under him, on the same paths of righteousness with him— we will share in his afflictions; that’s just the truth of the ‘walk’ with him.
And in that sharing— we will endure till the end of the matter— and in that, then— we will be saved, as scripture stated.
For us to assume we know everyone’s ends, and the will of God is the same for every person— is foolishness, pride and audacity.
The only way we can know the will of God— is to seek his will, and ask for it to be done in earth (or earthen vessels) as he wills it from his domain in heaven.
God knows what he is doing— and man ought to reverence him enough— to ASK the will of God, in all circumstances; for the will of God is sovereign.
(End)
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