This scripture is to the Nation of Israel. We can also apply to our nation and its government.

We had an election last Wednesday. But will it change the nation? We want peace with North Korea but we dont know how to get it. We want to do things different. God has written these down for the nation very clearly. If we want to be above the rest; not only in finances, culture, or business, we need to change our thinking. Yes! God is the greatest. Who can challenge God and win? Jehovah Rapha is not only the healer but the protector of our health. We often do not recognize that God does this. I remember when HIV or AIDS was a concern in America. Some thought it was because America had abandoned God and His principles. It was a sign of a rebellious generation. In many ways I agree with them because America has followed the road that the Apostle Paul had outlined as the fall of a nation. God has been taken out of the school system. We have gay priests and preachers. The slide will continue until, like Canada it is considered a non-Christian nation. Korea is not there yet but is slowly following the same path. God gives us three actions that we need to do if the power of Jehovah - Rapha is to be in our nation. The first is to give attention to the voice of the true God. This means that the leaders have to make choices which are hard. They have to choose God over their politics. The second is Do what is right! You cannot do if you do not listen. Listening is the hardest part. Hard because there are so many people who want our attention. We can be richer and more powerful if we do it their way. That is true. But is richer and more powerful our goal? Imagine if we let God be the power. Imagine the world around us, like Egypt suffering when we are not only healed, as Israel was in the desert with the snake, but also protected from destruction. Third, we must continue in this path of change and obedience. It is hard to listen, but we can do it. We can follow the directions for a short while. But can we continue doing it. That was Israels problem. Israel changed for a short time and then went back. For the promise made in these verses to be effective there needs to be a continuing life change. This was the problem we have today and the problem Israel had. The commitment to be more like Jesus in Person and God in character is a lifetime commitment. As we change we will find that Jehovah Rapha will keep our nation from those plagues that are around us. We will stand out because of his protection and again He will get the glory and the honor.

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