We look at some biblical stories about diseases in which God was glorified in the bible.
The Bible is full of fascinating stories about miracles and healings. All of them have something in common: they point to the greatness and power of God. There is no one like our God! We serve the Almighty God who has freed us from the power of sin and death and continues to work in all areas of our lives.
One of the biggest concerns of human beings is health. Nobody likes being sick! But because we live in a fallen world, sickness is a part of life. Sometimes it’s just a cold, but other times it’s something more disturbing. Whatever it is, God is in control and he works on our behalf. Sometimes he will heal us directly or through the doctors. Other times he will give us the strength and peace to face the disease with faith and courage.
3 biblical stories about diseases in which God was glorified
Let’s look at 3 biblical stories in which God worked to bring healing. Let us always remember to give glory to God and trust that no matter what happens, heal us or not, he does not abandon us but he is always with us. In his presence, we have the fullness of joy! (Psalm 16:11)
1. Naaman, healed of leprosy
Biblical Passage: 2 Kings 5:9-15
Naaman was a very successful soldier in the Syrian army. Although Syria was an enemy country of the people of Israel, the Bible says that through Naaman the LORD had given victories to the Syrians (2 Kings 5:1). He was a highly esteemed military man. The only problem with him was that he was sick with leprosy.
Leprosy was a very serious disease that severely led to death. It started with some spots. It continued with a kind of scales that degenerated the body and rotted it in parts. Finally, pieces of the body began to fall off. It was a long road that led to a horrible death!
Naaman’s wife had a servant, a young Israelite girl captured in one of the battles. That young lady, instead of being bitter against her captors, she cared for them. She told Naaman’s wife about a prophet, Elisha, that she could heal Naaman. Apparently, the girl had grown up in a God-fearing home and she was a young woman full of faith.
Naaman’s wife told him and Naaman spoke to his boss, the king of Syria. Naaman got permission to go to Israel. He left with a load of silver and gold coins, ten changes of clothes, and a letter that the king of Syria gave him to deliver to the king of Israel. He would say something like this: “Dear King of Israel. There you have Naaman, one of my best officers. He has leprosy so heal him.”
When the king of Israel read the letter he panicked, tore his clothes, and thought that since he could not heal Naaman, surely this would serve as an excuse for a war. However, the prophet Elisha told him: “Relax, king. Send him to my house so he can see that there is a prophet in Israel.” So Naaman went with all his entourage to Elisha’s house. When they got there, Elisha sent a servant to tell him that all he had to do was dive into the Jordan River seven times to be healed.
Naaman was angry that the prophet did not even come out to talk to him. He wanted to go back to his house regardless, but his servants convinced him to go to the Jordan and do what the prophet had told him. He did so, and after dipping 7 times in the Jordan, he was completely healed, his skin looked like that of a baby.
His obedience, however reluctantly, bore fruit: Naaman was healed. This is how he realized that the God of Israel was the true God. God was glorified!
2. The Woman with the Blood Issue
Biblical Passage: Matthew 9:20-22; Mark 5:24-34; Luke 8:43-48
The Bible tells us about a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for 12 years. She had been to many doctors and had spent all her money on treatment, but instead of getting better, she got worse. Her situation was desperate. Due to her condition, she was considered an impure woman. This means that she had to stay isolated, alone, away from everyone: her family, her friends, her neighbors… everyone! For 12 years…
One day she heard about Jesus. She found out that he was near her house. Full of faith and courage, she decided to take a risk and leave her house. There was a crowd of people surrounding Jesus, pushing from all sides, but she kept going. As she approached Jesus she reached out her hand to touch his cloak. She thought:
“If I can even touch her clothes, I’ll be healed.” Instantly she stopped bleeding from her, and she realized that her body had been freed from that affliction.
(Mark 5:28-29)
Jesus also realized that something supernatural had happened: he felt that power came out of his body. He stopped, and looking around him, asked who had touched him. The disciples looked at him and said that everyone was touching him: they were in the middle of a crowd! But Jesus knew that the woman’s touch had been different, one full of faith and hope.
The woman, seeing that Jesus had realized it, was filled with fear, knelt before him, and confessed that it had been her. Jesus replied:
“Daughter, your faith has healed you! Jesus told him. Go in peace and be healed of your affliction.”
(Mark 5:34)
The power of God was manifested in the midst of that crowd! The woman was healed of the disease that had plagued her for 12 years. The crowd witnessed that God values and responds to the requests and needs of all who come to him in faith and who await his touch full of power and love.
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3. The man born blind
Biblical Passage: John 9:1-38
One day, while Jesus was walking through Jerusalem with his disciples, he saw a young man – blind from birth – who was quite well known in the city. The disciples asked Jesus who had sinned that he was born blind, him or his parents. Jesus answered them with something very interesting:
The young man’s blindness had a reason for being: so that the work of God would become evident in his life!
Jesus then did something quite unconventional: He spits on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and rubbed it on the blind man’s eyes. He told her to go to the pool of Siloam to wash. Just that… he didn’t promise her anything. However, the young man did exactly as Jesus told him and he was healed.
When the people of the town saw him return they realized that now he could see and this caused a stir. The Pharisees, instead of rejoicing over the young man, began to question everyone: who had dared to heal on the Sabbath? They talked to the young man and they talked to his parents. They tried to tarnish the name of Jesus by insinuating that Jesus was just a sinner and that he did not know the God of Moses whom they served. Only God knew where Jesus had come from, they said. The young man answered them very wisely…
Here’s the amazing thing! The man replied, “That you don’t know where he came from, and that he has opened my eyes.” We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to the pious and to those who do his will. No one has ever been known to open the eyes of one born blind. If this man didn’t come from God, he couldn’t do anything.
(John 9:30-33)
The miracle of healing that Jesus had performed on the young man was a unique miracle. So the conclusion was clear: Jesus came from God. The miracle was the work of God! Nothing would change the young man’s mind because he had experienced in his own flesh the healing touch of Almighty God.
Let’s learn with these three biblical characters to give glory to God for his move in our lives. There are so many ways that God intervenes on our behalf! In the midst of sickness or in the midst of health, let us heed and glorify our heavenly Father for the way he manifests each day his constant love and care for us.
