During
an intense three-month battle for my health, the words of Jesus concerning the
woman who had been bent over for 18 years became a significant source of faith and encouragement that catapulted me into complete victory (Luke 13:10-16). Jesus said that she “ought” to be healed and the Greek
word from which “ought” is translated is edei, a very strong word that
speaks of “necessity” and could be translated as “must.”
My Fiery Furnace
Beginning on November 22 of last year, I was suddenly hit with a series of health challenges that began with a serious bladder infection followed by an enlarged
prostate that completely blocked my urinal flow. This resulted in six visits to
the ER, three visits to a urologist, and having six different catheters
inserted before the urologist finally decided to do surgery. This was followed a
urinary tract infection that hospitalized me for one week and delayed prostate
surgery. This was followed by the Covid virus which delayed the surgery a second
time. I finally had prostate surgery on February 27.
Now, three months later, I can testify that I am in better health than before going through this fiery
furnace. My faith is also stronger, and I am more convinced than ever that God
wants His people well. Jesus’ words to the bent-over woman in Luke 13:10-16, that
she “ought” to be healed, played a major role in building my faith for a
complete recovery.
Jesus Explained Why She “Ought” to be Healed
Beginning at Luke 13:10
we read the story of Jesus teaching in a synagogue one Sabbath day and a woman was
there who had been bent over for eighteen years, caused by a spirit of
infirmity. Jesus called out to her and said, Woman, you are loosed from your
infirmity. He then laid His hands on her and she was made straight and
began glorifying God.
The ruler of the
synagogue was angry because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. He exhorted the
people that there are six days for people to work and come and be healed on any
of them, and not on the Sabbath day. Jesus responded by calling the
ruler of the synagogue a “hypocrite” and then said,
Does
not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and
lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham,
whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years be loosed from this bond on
the Sabbath?
Jesus, first of all,
presents a logical argument for why this woman ought to be healed, and he
uses a Hebrew form of argument known as Kal Vechomer, meaning “from the
lighter to the heavier.” The lighter premise, which they all accepted, was that
it was right to loose their animals from the stall on the Sabbath and lead them
away to water. Jesus then moves them to the weightier conclusion by pointing out
that if this is the case with animals, then how much more should this woman,
whom Satan had bound, be loosed from her bond on the Sabbath day. This was a
powerful Kal Vechomer argument.
Jesus then gave the
Biblical basis for why she “ought” to be healed, pointing out that she was a "daughter of Abraham." As a daughter of Abraham, she was a rightful heir to the covenant blessings promised to Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 12:1-3), which
obviously included healing.
That Abraham had a
healing ministry was made clear when Abimelech, King of Gerar, took Sarah into
his harem after Abraham told him Sarah was his sister. Suddenly, all the women
of Abimelech’s family and kingdom became barren and unable to have children.
Genesis 20:7 tells of God
appearing to Abimelech in a dream and rebuking him for taking Sarah. He then
said to him, Now therefore, restore the man’s wife; for he is a prophet and
he will pray for you and you will live. Genesis 20:17 says, Then Abraham prayed to God and God healed Abimelech,
his wife and his female slaves, so they could have children again.
The words of Jesus concerning this woman, reveal that being a daughter of Abraham brought more than the
mere right or privilege of being healed. It created a necessity and obligation.
In the words of Jesus, she “ought” or “must” be loosed from the bondage of
Satan on the Sabbath day.
I Told God that I “Ought” to be Healed
I recall lying in the
hospital bed day after day with an intravenous tube inserted in my left arm and
a catheter inserted up my urethral tube and unable to turn to the right or
left. But in that condition, I meditated on this passage for hours and found my
spirit lifted and my heart overflowing with gratitude and praise.
I also reminded myself
and the Lord of Galatians 3:29, which reads, And if you are Christ’s, then
you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. I would say to
the Lord,
Lord,
I “ought” to be healed for I am a son of Abraham through faith in Jesus the
Messiah. Healing is as much mine as the bent-over woman in Luke 13, and even
more so, for through faith in Jesus, I am also a son of Almighty God. Lord, I
“ought” to be healed!
God brough me through the urinary tract infections and Covid and I was able to go home, but still wearing a catheter. The day arrived for my surgery and Sue drove me to the hospital at 5:30 am with my heart at rest and my mind at peace. I was convinced that I “ought” to be healed.
When the surgeon walked in I said to him, “I am here in great peace today, for I have great confidence in God and I have great confidence in you.” He responded by stepping to my bedside, taking my hand and praying in the name of Jesus for a successful procedure.
It was a successful procedure and I was released the following day. As I walked out the front door of the hospital, I felt that all of nature was praising God. Indeed, while in the hospital I had asked God if there was a particular Scripture for me for this time. Immediately, Isaiah 55:12 had come to mind, which reads,
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace;
The mountains and hills will burst into song before you,
And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
That has been my experience. My heart
today is overflowing with thanksgiving for what the Lord has done. At 77 years of age, I have returned to my daily two-mile prayer walks and I am in better health now than before this ordeal. I just had my regular Veterans
Administration physical, and the doctor said I am doing great and have no need
of any medications. Hallelujah!
My Word to You
Having gone through this
ordeal, I am more convinced than ever that God wants His people well: physically, mentally, financially, and in every area of life. So, if
you are suffering ill health in any area of life, and you are a child of God through faith in
Jesus, “You 'ought' to healed!”
Put your case in His hands. If you do not see an instantaneous miracle, don’t be discouraged. Delay does not mean denial. Mediate on His goodness and trust Him to show you His personalized plan for your healing. Trust him to guide you to the right medical people who will help you regain your health.
Meditate on Luke 13:10-16.
Read it over and over. Incorporate it into your conversations with God. Remind yourself
continually that you too are a son or daughter of Abraham through faith in
Jesus, and that you “ought to be healed!”
Dr. Eddie Hyatt is an author, revivalist, and Bible teacher. His books on how America was birthed out of the Great Awakening are very timely for this critical time in the nation's history. 1726: The Year that Defined America, and others, are available from Amazon and his website at http://eddiehyatt.com.
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