Try Repentance

It was there at Marah that the LORD set before them the following decree as a standard to test their faithfulness to him. He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the LORD who heals you.” [Exodus 15.25b-26]

I can't say that this passage has ever stood out to me before as it has today. Why, I do not know. It has to do with diseases and obedience and it is a decree - all very important topics.

It is worth pointing out that this decree precedes the blessings and curses for obedience/disobedience found in Deuteronomy 28. And, unlike the Deuteronomy decree, this one is simple in its definition and parameters.

Also worth pointing out is that even this early in the history of the relationship between God and man, disobedience and disease are directly related. Worth repeating: disobedience and disease are directly related.

What would happen in our modern society (religion included) if we took this passage of scripture seriously?

I will answer my own question, because it happens every day - the answer is: Denial. The first thing the world and far too many Christians do when faced with sickness and disease is claim "no fault." There is a scientific explanation for everything that is unrelated to anything moral. And, it's not just the science community that defaults to this conclusion - the Church has largely adopted the same philosophy. No one is guilty - everyone is a victim (to science).

In the simplistic early societies of man however, it was not so scientific. People believed that sickness was a punishment (whether from disobedience to Almighty God or some other idolatrous deity). People better understood that disease was directly related to powers unseen (again, whether they associated it with the LORD God or not). 

I am not suggesting that our society revert to primitive means of dealing with sickness. Well, ...that's not entirely true - I guess I am suggesting that we perhaps consider the oldest defined cause of sickness, disobedience, and deal with it. But this suggestion alone (if anyone was truly paying attention to my writing here) would solicit a firestorm of corrective responses, citing, "good people who died of cancer," as evidence that what I am suggesting here is invalid. My only question to that argument is, "Are we going to base our opinion on man's estimation of goodness, or God's 'decree' about sickness (EX 15.25b-26)?"

Regardless how one feels about this topic, I think it is worthwhile to consider our first response to sickness. Is it denial? Or, do we at least consider taking it before our Father to see if it is associated with disobedience? There is more than enough scriptural reference to at least warrant that initial response.

Nothing else seems to correct the disease factor on earth. Why not try repentance?

Father, I know I have painted myself in a corner here. But that's okay - I am riddled with selfish and proud ideas that need to be dealt with. Forgive me for every self-centered motive in my life. I know from Your Word that I have held myself in bondage with my own self preservation.