Stop Provoking God's Jealousy

The LORD gave these instructions to Moses: “Command the people of Israel to remove from the camp anyone who has a skin disease or a discharge, or who has become ceremonially unclean by touching a dead person. This command applies to men and women alike. Remove them so they will not defile the camp in which I live among them.” So the Israelites did as the LORD had commanded Moses and removed such people from the camp. [Numbers 5.1-4] 

The articles Health Is A Touchy Subject and Mechanics of Redemption were written in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Ten years later, I stand by the understanding explained in those articles.

For such a delicate topic, why would anyone take their health to a doctor or medicine? For all the Bible passages that attribute health and healing uniquely to God, should it not at very least intrigue us that in this day's same One Year Chronological Bible reading that the topic of jealousy is addressed (Numbers 5.11-31)? 

The most compelling of all the passages that discuss healing is this one:

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 15.26]

If "I am the LORD who heals you" is also "I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God" should we not give pause before going to a doctor or taking a pill?

You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. [Exodus 20.4-6]

I realize this pops a religious bubble big-time and may hurt a lot of feelings, but Jesus NEVER refused to heal anyone sending them to a doctor instead! Don't take my word for it, go ahead and look... the time in the Word will be well-spent.

If God forgives all my sins, why would I turn to anything or anyone else for salvation? Wouldn't that provoke God to jealousy?

If God heals all my diseases, why would I turn to anything or anyone else for health? Wouldn't that provoke God to jealousy?

He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. [Psalm 103.3]

Obviously, "faith movement" people promote healing and provision (as I do in this article), but few (if any, really) produce indisputable miracles like Jesus. They do typically produce an abundance of emotion, but, clearly distinguishable, indisputable, unexplainable miracles of healing and provision are NOT the predictable and regular "norm" as it was with Jesus. We say we believe Jesus saves and heals, but, if clearly distinguishable, indisputable, unexplainable miracles of healing and provision (that are seen) are not our reality, how can really think (believe) that salvation (that is unseen) is any more real (just asking for a friend)?

If we are not feeling very "healed" and so the Church, suggesting God uses medicine, promotes the world's doctors and medicine, should not the same Church, when encountering those who don't feel very "saved" consistently suggest a worldly solution? (Again, just asking for a friend)

This would be an entirely different conversation if Jesus had not said:

I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it! [John 14.12-14]

What I am pondering here is, what if our worldly solutions, that we claim are from God, are really just idols? Wouldn't that do the trick of really provoking God to jealous anger? Who, do we think, would promote such a circumstance?

For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. [John 8.44] 

What do we do then? We STOP provoking God's jealousy! We turn away from every idol (that means "repent") and turn only to God (Whose very name is Jealous - Exodus 34.14).

But, until we recognize, from passages like Numbers 5.1-4, that God distinguishes sickness as "not His" and therefore should be removed from the camp (His people), then there is little likelihood that God will move in any kind of notable (clearly distinguishable, indisputable, unexplainable) power among us today.

It might be concluded then that the Church today has a lot of repenting (turning away) to do!

Father, this "elephant-in-the-room" subject has been ignored far too long. May Your people understand that You make a distinction between those who are Your people and those who are not. Help us to see that "health" is just one of those distinctions. Forgive us for all our "playing church" while our lives are observably no different that those of worldly people. Forgive us for provoking Your jealousy as effortlessly as we breathe. May Your Holy Spirit, through the presentation of Your Word, draw us to genuine and thorough repentance... And may our lives demonstrate everything Jesus demonstrated. So be it.