24 January | EVERYONE
"And said, ‘If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.’" Exodus 15: 26
Covid-19 and other pestilences have claimed the lives of millions of people around the world. However, diseases were never in God's original plan. Health problems are the result of the entrance of sin into the world. Today we suffer from ailments for three reasons: (1) the polluted environment in which we live, (2) the genetic inheritance we carry, and (3) the disregard for divine instructions. We may not be in control of the first two; but, on the other hand, taking heed of God's counsel is up to us.
Israel's wandering through the wilderness was not easy. Imagine at least two million people walking with no medical care, no clinics, and no hospitals. It must have been a health problem of gigantic proportions. What would it be like if today a city with two million inhabitants had no doctors or hospitals?
Faced with such a situation, God had to take more care of the preventive aspect of the disease than possible treatments. God is God. He could cure any disease with the power of His word alone, but He wanted to teach us the importance of prevention in health care. That is why He asked them to listen to the voice of His promise, as we read in today's verse.
"Christ had been the guide and teacher of ancient Israel, and He taught them that health is the reward of obedience to the laws of God" (Ellen G. White, To Be Like Jesus, p. 300).
Take Action
Think about what you need to improve to maintain good physical, mental, and spiritual health. Pray that the Lord will give you the strength to put them into practice to prevent disease. Sing "I Am the Lord Who Heals You" (if possible, with your family).