Tag: healing and forgiveness
Prayer for Healing
Scripture reading for July 21: Numbers 12:10-13 “When the cloud removed from over the tent, behold, Miriam was leprous, like snow. And Aaron turned toward Miriam, and behold, she was leprous. And Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord, do not punish us because we have done foolishly and have sinned. Let her not be as one dead, whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes out of his mother’s womb.” And Moses cried to the Lord, “O God, please heal her–please.”
James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
Sometimes sin brings disease. Miriam and Aaron, Moses’ sister and brother, had spoken foolishly against Moses for marrying a Cushite woman. This was spoken from jealousy of Moses’ authority and friendship with God. Moses was the mediator of the Old Covenant and chosen by God for that position. He was not sinning at that time in marrying the Cushite woman Zipporah.
God summoned Moses, Miriam and Aaron to come meet with Him at the tent of meeting. He came down in a pillar of cloud radiating His glory. He reprimanded Aaron and Miriam for their jealousy and confirmed His selection of Moses to be His spokesman. As He and the glory cloud departed, Miriam was left with leprosy, a skin disease that was painful and often fatal. She must be removed from the camp as it made her unclean.
Aaron saw his sister and cried out in confession of their sin, asking for mercy through his brother Moses. Moses immediately cried out to the Lord a humble prayer: “O God, please heal her, please.” God heard and answered. In seven days outside the camp, Miriam would be healed and restored. This is an Old Testament example of James 5:16 where believers are told to confess their sins to the elders and the prayer and anointing with oil would heal the sick person and they would also be forgiven.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for showing mercy to those who sin. How often we speak with our mouths sinfully out of jealousy or envy. Some of our wasting diseases require us to confess and humbly ask those who are mature to pray for us that we may be forgiven and healed. Give me wisdom today. Amen.