God healed and made sick
In the previous chapter, we looked at several Old Testament passages that speak about healing and health. We also examined the story of Job and his healing. In this chapter, we will continue exploring healings in the Old Testament. We will consider various accounts where God healed people. We will also look at examples where God caused sickness.
Did the people whom God afflicted with sickness have anything in common? This helps us understand much about God’s will to heal and the purpose of sickness.
Reason 22: God Healed in the Old Testament
As we study the Old Testament, we find several accounts of healing. Below is a brief list of some of these healing stories. If God was willing to heal under the Old Covenant, how much more does He desire to heal us today under the New Covenant? Let these stories strengthen your faith and remind you that God is the Healer.
1. Miriam was healed of leprosy: Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because he had married a Cushite woman—something that seemed to go against the Law, which forbade marriage covenants with foreign nations. But instead of rebuking Moses, God defended him. He summoned all three—Moses, Miriam, and Aaron—to the tabernacle of meeting and pronounced judgment. As a result, Miriam was suddenly struck with leprosy.
So the anger of the Lord was aroused against them, and He departed. And when the cloud departed from above the tabernacle, suddenly Miriam became leprous, as white as snow. Then Aaron turned toward Miriam, and there she was, a leper. So Aaron said to Moses, “Oh, my lord! Please do not lay this sin on us, in which we have done foolishly and in which we have sinned. Please do not let her be as one dead, whose flesh is half consumed when he comes out of his mother’s womb!” (Numbers 12:9-12)
Aaron acknowledged their sin and pleaded with Moses to intercede for Miriam’s healing. Moses responded by crying out to the Lord on her behalf:
So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “Please heal her, O God, I pray!” (Numbers 12:13)
In response, God commanded that Miriam be shut out of the camp for seven days. After this time, she was received back among the people, healed by the Lord.
2. Elijah and the Widow’s Son: During the time of the prophet Elijah, the king of Israel and the people were living in sin. Because of this, God’s judgment came upon the land. Elijah prophesied that there would be no rain, which led to a severe famine. God took care of Elijah by the Stream Cherith, where ravens brought him food and the stream supplied water. After some time, the stream dried up, and God sent Elijah to a place called Zarephath, where a widow lived. Elijah asked her for water and her last portion of food. The woman obeyed and gave it to him. Because of her faith and obedience, God performed a miracle: the flour in her bin and the oil in her jar did not run out. She had enough food every day for herself, her son, and Elijah.
Then a tragic event occurred.
Now it happened after these things that the son of the woman who owned the house became sick. And his sickness was so serious that there was no breath left in him. So she said to Elijah, “What have I to do with you, O man of God? Have you come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to kill my son?” (1 Kings 17:17-18)
It was a heartbreaking moment for the woman. But God is the great Healer—even raising the dead is possible with Him. He did so even in the Old Testament.
And he said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him out of her arms and carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. Then he cried out to the Lord and said, “O Lord my God, have You also brought tragedy on the widow with whom I lodge, by killing her son?” And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the Lord and said, “O Lord my God, I pray, let this child’s soul come back to him.” Then the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived. (1 Kings 17:19-22)
What a powerful miracle! God heard Elijah’s prayer, and the child was raised from the dead and returned to his mother. Truly, God is a God of healing and life.
3. King Hezekiah’s Miraculous Healing: King Hezekiah also experienced a miraculous healing. He became sick, and the prophet Isaiah told him that he would die from his illness. But Hezekiah prayed to the Lord, and God chose to heal him and add fifteen years to his life.
In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.’” Then he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying, “Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. And it happened, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord. And I will add to your days fifteen years.” (…) Then Isaiah said, “Take a lump of figs.” So they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered. (2 Kings 20:1-7)
It is wonderful to see that God healed Hezekiah in response to his prayer. The Lord heard his cry and answered him. A man who was about to die received fifteen more years of life and health. The same story is told in Isaiah 38, where we also read Hezekiah’s heartfelt thanksgiving for God's healing.
4. The Healing of Naaman: Now we come to a very special healing—the healing of Naaman in 2 Kings 5. Naaman was the commander of the army of the king of Syria. He was a non-Israelite and therefore had no part in the covenant between God and Israel. In fact, Naaman was an enemy of Israel—and he was a leper.
During a Syrian military raid, a young Israelite girl was taken captive and brought to Syria, where she became a servant to Naaman’s wife. This girl told her master’s wife that the prophet Elisha could heal Naaman of his leprosy. What stands out is this: how did this young girl know that Elisha, through God’s power, could heal leprosy?
In the chapters leading up to Naaman’s story, we read of remarkable miracles performed by Elisha. One example is when Elisha healed the water in Jericho, making it safe so that it no longer caused death or miscarriage.
Then the men of the city said to Elisha, “Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren.” And he said, “Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him. Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.’” So the water remains healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke. (2 Kings 2:19-22)
By the hand of God, Elisha also “healed” a poisoned stew that his servant had unknowingly prepared.
And Elisha returned to Gilgal, and there was a famine in the land. Now the sons of the prophets were sitting before him; and he said to his servant, “Put on the large pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets.” So one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered from it a lapful of wild gourds, and came and sliced them into the pot of stew, though they did not know what they were. Then they served it to the men to eat. Now it happened, as they were eating the stew, that they cried out and said, “Man of God, there is death in the pot!” And they could not eat it. So he said, “Then bring some flour.” And he put it into the pot, and said, “Serve it to the people, that they may eat.” And there was nothing harmful in the pot. (2 Kings 4:38-41)
There are other miracles in the Bible that Elisha performed in the name of the Lord. It is also very likely that Elisha worked more miracles that were not recorded in Scripture. In any case, the young girl was fully convinced that Elisha could heal Naaman.
Imagine a little girl who had been kidnapped and forced to serve the enemy. A tragic situation. She must have known that if she lied to Naaman, he would likely get angry or punish her. Yet she spoke with confidence. Why? Because she believed that God was a Healer, and she had seen or heard that He was working through Elisha. Naaman received permission from the king of Syria to travel to Elisha in the land of Israel, seeking healing for his leprosy.
Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he stood at the door of Elisha’s house. And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.” (2 Kings 5:9-10)
Naaman was not pleased with this instruction. He became angry that Elisha did not come out to him personally, and he felt that washing seven times in the Jordan River was too simple and even humiliating.
Sometimes, we make healing seem like a complicated process, as if we must fulfill many conditions before God will heal us. But in Naaman’s story, we see that healing was simple. God does not ask us to do what we cannot do. Eventually, Naaman’s servants persuaded him to follow Elisha’s command.
So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. (2 Kings 5:14)
God healed Naaman—a man who was not part of Israel, and even an enemy of God’s people. If God was willing to heal an enemy, how much more will He heal you?
Jesus, too, healed not only His friends but even those who came to harm Him. For example, when Jesus was being arrested in Gethsemane, He healed the servant of the high priest after one of His disciples struck him.
And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him. (Luke 22:47-51)
We never have to wonder whether God wants to heal us. If God healed Naaman and Malchus—both of whom were enemies—how much more is He willing to heal His children?
Finally, let us consider what Jesus said about Naaman. Why was he healed? It was because of his faith. Jesus traveled throughout the region, preaching and healing the sick. Eventually, He came to His hometown of Nazareth, where He had grown up. But there, He could not perform many healings because of the people's unbelief. They saw Him only as Joseph’s son, someone familiar, and they could not accept that He was the Son of God. Then Jesus said:
“Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country. But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” (Luke 4:24-27)
In this passage, Jesus refers to two stories we have discussed in this chapter: the widow in Zarephath, whose son was raised from the dead, and Naaman, who was healed of leprosy. Jesus made it clear that these miracles were not random. The widow and Naaman experienced the power of God because of their faith. The people of Israel at that time did not believe, and therefore did not receive. But two Gentiles—outsiders—received the blessing of God.
5. God Opened Hannah’s Womb: We have already read the story of Sarah, who was barren. But Sarah was not the only one who experienced the miracle of God opening a woman’s womb and giving life. Hannah, the mother of the prophet Samuel, also received a miracle from the Lord.
So Hannah arose after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat by the doorpost of the tabernacle of the Lord. And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.” And it happened, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth. Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. So Eli said to her, “How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!” But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.” (1 Samuel 1:9-15)
Hannah was deeply grieved because she could not have children. When someone goes through sickness, pain, or sorrow, they often feel overwhelmed—experiencing sadness, hopelessness, anger, or fear. It is important to bring all our pain and needs to God and to cast all our cares upon Him.
When we read the Psalms, we see that David and the other psalmists often poured out their hearts to God. They expressed their needs with emotion and honesty.
How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart daily? (...) But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me. (Psalm 13:2-6)
We may go through sorrow and cry out to God. But like David, we should also learn to turn that sorrow into thanksgiving and praise. You may not feel ready to praise God in the middle of your pain, but when you do, you will find strength.
Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. (Nehemiah 8:10)
There is a place for sorrow, but do not remain in it. Let sorrow turn into joy and thankfulness.
Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.” And she said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. (1 Samuel 1:17-18)
After Eli heard Hannah’s plea, he blessed her and declared that God would grant her request. Faith arose in Hannah’s heart, and her sadness left. She believed that God would give her a child.
So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the Lord.” (1 Samuel 1:20)
God performed a miracle in Hannah’s womb, and a great prophet was born. Truly, God is the One who opens wombs and gives life.
6. The resurrections performed by Elisha: Finally, we return to the prophet Elisha. Earlier, we saw that the prophet Elijah raised a dead child. But Elisha also performed two remarkable resurrections.
The first story is about a woman from Shunem. She was a notable woman who desired to bless Elisha. Whenever Elisha passed through the region, she and her husband invited him to eat with them. In time, she decided to build an upper room in their house so that Elisha would have a place to stay whenever he came by.
And it happened one day that he came there, and he (Elisha) turned in to the upper room and lay down there. Then he said to Gehazi his servant, “Call this Shunammite woman.” When he had called her, she stood before him. And he said to him, “Say now to her, ‘Look, you have been concerned for us with all this care. What can I do for you?” (…) And Gehazi answered, “Actually, she has no son, and her husband is old.” (…) Then he said, “About this time next year you shall embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!” But the woman conceived, and bore a son when the appointed time had come, of which Elisha had told her. (2 Kings 4:11-17)
Elisha was deeply grateful for the room the woman had prepared for him. Because of her kindness and generosity, he wanted to bless her. He didn’t bless her as part of a transaction or in exchange for money, but out of genuine love and appreciation for the heart she had shown. In the same way, God desires to bless those who come to Him with a sincere and generous heart. He is not looking for payment, but for people who trust Him and honor Him with what they have. The Lord delights in generosity and in those who put Him first—even in their finances.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)
This is a great story where God opened a woman’s womb and gave life. But then something terrible happened to the child.
And the child grew. Now it happened one day that he went out to his father, to the reapers. And he said to his father, “My head, my head!” So he said to a servant, “Carry him to his mother.” When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died. (2 Kings 4:18-20)
What a tragic event—the child died. Yet the woman did not panic. She told no one about his death and went straight to Elisha the prophet. She returned with him to her home so that he could pray for the child.
When Elisha came into the house, there was the child, lying dead on his bed. He went in therefore, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the Lord. And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands; and he stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm. He returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again went up and stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. (2 Kings 4:32-35)
The child came back to life. This is a powerful demonstration of God’s ability to heal and restore—even in the most hopeless situations. God can even raise the dead.
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. (Matthew 10:8)
One of the most remarkable resurrection stories in the Bible is the next one—simple, sudden, and full of divine power. It shows that the anointing of God upon a person, in this case, Elisha, was so strong that even after his death, someone was raised from the dead.
Then Elisha died, and they buried him. And the raiding bands from Moab invaded the land in the spring of the year. So it was, as they were burying a man, that suddenly they spied a band of raiders; and they put the man in the tomb of Elisha; and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet. (2 Kings 13:20-21)
The anointing and power that Elisha had received from God remained so strong that even in death, it caused a man to rise from the grave. All glory to God! If the anointing of a deceased Old Testament prophet could raise the dead, how much more can the living Jesus, under the New Covenant, heal you of any sickness or pain? No one expected the man to rise from the dead when he touched Elisha’s bones—but the power of God brought him back to life.
Reason 23: Sickness Due to a Reason
Before we look at this reason, let me first clarify something. People can become sick because of a sinful lifestyle. We see this in the natural world—for example, someone who eats an unhealthy diet is more likely to develop symptoms than someone who eats a healthy diet. A person who smokes is more likely to develop lung disease than someone who never smokes. Someone with many sexual partners is more likely to contract a sexually transmitted disease. We also see this in the emotional and mental realm. A person who is constantly negative or bitter may experience more physical ailments than someone who is joyful and rejoices in the Lord.
At the same time, not every sickness or physical condition is caused by sin. Illness can have other causes. We see this clearly in the Gospel of John:
Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned” (…) (John 9:1-3)
In chapter 16, we will explore the origin of sickness in more detail. For now, let us look at examples of sickness in the Old Testament. There are several stories in Scripture where people became sick. In some cases, it is even stated that God caused the sickness. However, just because someone became sick—even if God was involved—does not mean that God desired for them to be sick. We will look at several examples and briefly highlight the main reasons why people in the Old Testament became sick.
We begin with a passage from the Law of Moses, where God sets a clear choice before His people: blessing or curse.
I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; (…) (Deuteronomy 30:19-20)
We have already learned that healing and health are part of the blessing, while sickness is part of the curse. If the people of Israel chose to obey God, they would receive the blessing, which included health. If they disobeyed, the curse—including sickness—could come upon them. What did God desire? He wanted His people to be blessed and live in health. But the choice was theirs. Sadly, many generations in Israel turned away from the law. They worshiped idols and lived in immorality. As a result, sickness and suffering came upon the land. Let us now look at some of these stories.
1. The plagues of Egypt:
So the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Take for yourselves handfuls of ashes from a furnace, and let Moses scatter it toward the heavens in the sight of Pharaoh. And it will become fine dust in all the land of Egypt, and it will cause boils that break out in sores on man and beast throughout all the land of Egypt.” Then they took ashes from the furnace and stood before Pharaoh, and Moses scattered them toward heaven. And they caused boils that break out in sores on man and beast. And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils, for the boils were on the magicians and on all the Egyptians. But the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh; and he did not heed them, just as the Lord had spoken to Moses. (Exodus 9:8-12)
Why did the Egyptians come under this curse? Because they lived in sin. Pharaoh enslaved the Israelites and refused to let them go, despite God’s repeated commands. The same principle applied to the death of all the firstborn in Egypt—these judgments did not come without cause.
2. Miriam became leprous:
Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman. So they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?” And the Lord heard it. (…) Suddenly the Lord said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “Come out, you three, to the tabernacle of meeting!” So the three came out. (…) “Why then were you not afraid to speak against My servant Moses?” So the anger of the Lord was aroused against them, and He departed. And when the cloud departed from above the tabernacle, suddenly Miriam became leprous, as white as snow. Then Aaron turned toward Miriam, and there she was, a leper. (Numbers 12:1-10)
Why did Miriam become leprous? Because she sinned by speaking against Moses, the servant of the Lord, and challenged his God-given authority. This was not God’s desire for her—but it was the consequence of sin. After Miriam and Aaron repented, God removed the leprosy from her after seven days.
3. The people of Israel in the wilderness:
“Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way. And the people spoke against God and against Moses: ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.’ So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, ‘We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord that He take away the serpents from us.’ So Moses prayed for the people.” (Numbers 21:4-7)
Why did the Lord send fiery serpents among the people, which led to many of them dying? Because of sin. The Israelites themselves confessed, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you.”
If we examine the plagues and afflictions the Israelites experienced in the wilderness, we see that they were always the result of sin or disobedience. Even their forty years of wandering in the wilderness were not part of God's original plan—it was because of their unbelief.
Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? (Hebrews 3:17)
4. Rachel died in childbirth:
Then they journeyed from Bethel. And when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel labored in childbirth, and she had hard labor. Now it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, “Do not fear; you will have this son also.” And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin. (Genesis 35:16-18)
This is a tragic story. Rachel died while giving birth to her second son. One possible reason for Rachel’s death may be found earlier in the story. When Jacob fled from Laban, Rachel secretly took Laban’s household idols. Jacob, unaware of what Rachel had done, responded to Laban’s accusation with a strong declaration:
“Anyone with whom you find your gods shall not live. In the presence of our kinsmen point out what I have that is yours, and take it.” Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them. (Genesis 31:32, ESV)
Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the idols. Laban searched but could not find them because Rachel had hidden them. Yet Jacob’s words came true—Rachel died not long after.
This is a sobering reminder of the power of our words and the danger of idolatry. Possessing idols was not only forbidden by God, but it also brought consequences.
5. Gehazi became leprous: After we read that Naaman was healed of his leprosy, we see that the same leprosy later came upon Gehazi. The story unfolds as follows: Naaman wanted to thank Elisha for the great miracle of healing, but Elisha refused to accept any gifts. So Naaman departed. However, Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, secretly followed Naaman against Elisha’s will. Gehazi told Naaman that they needed gifts after all. He lied, took the gifts, and hid them in a house. But Elisha received a revelation from the Lord and confronted Gehazi.
Now he went in and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, “Where did you go, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant did not go anywhere.” Then he said to him, “Did not my heart go with you when the man turned back from his chariot to meet you? Is it time to receive money and to receive clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants? Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever.” And he went out from his presence leprous, as white as snow. (2 Kings 5:25-27)
Why did Gehazi become leprous? Because he sinned. He lied, was dishonest, and tried to get money from a miracle that came from God. His actions came from greed and a wrong heart, and because of that, God’s judgment came upon him.
6. King Uzziah became a leper:
But when he (Uzziah) was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. So Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him were eighty priests of the Lord—valiant men. And they withstood King Uzziah, and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed! You shall have no honor from the Lord God.” Then Uzziah became furious; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead, before the priests in the house of the Lord, beside the incense altar. (2 Chronicles 26:16-19)
Why did King Uzziah become a leper? Because he became proud and sinned against the Lord by entering the temple to offer incense—something that only the priests, the sons of Aaron, were allowed to do. His pride led him to overstep his God-given authority. As a result of his disobedience, leprosy came upon him. This was never God’s desire for Uzziah. His sickness was the consequence of his sin.
7. King Ahaziah did not recover:
Now Ahaziah fell through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria, and was injured; so he sent messengers and said to them, “Go, inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I shall recover from this injury.” But the angel of the Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say to them, ‘Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?’ Now therefore, thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not come down from the bed to which you have gone up, but you shall surely die.’ ” So Elijah departed. (2 Kings 1:2-4)
Why did King Ahaziah not recover from his fall? Because instead of seeking the Lord, the living God of Israel, he sought help from an idol—Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron. His choice to turn away from God brought judgment upon him.
8. King Asa did not recover:
And in the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa became diseased in his feet, and his malady was severe; yet in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but the physicians. (2 Chronicles 16:12)
The reason King Asa did not recover was the same reason King Ahaziah did not recover— Asa turned only to the physicians for healing and did not ask God for help. It is important that we look to God as our Healer. This does not mean we should avoid doctors, medical treatment, or medicine. Rather, we must recognize that God is the highest and most faithful Healer. We can trust Him completely. God is not angry or disappointed when we seek medical help, undergo surgery, or take medication—as long as we continue to look to Him as the true source of healing.
I also want to encourage anyone who is sick to stand in faith for healing and health, while also seeking medical advice. Do not stop taking any prescribed medication unless you have first consulted your doctor or medical specialist. Take every opportunity that God gives to receive your healing.
In Asa’s case, the problem was not that he consulted a doctor, but that he placed all his trust in man and not in God. This was part of a greater pattern in his life, as we also see in 2 Chronicles 16:1–10, where he relied on human strength in military matters instead of trusting in the Lord. Do not trust in the strength of man, but in the power and faithfulness of God.
9. King David's child died: One of the saddest stories in the life of King David is the death of his child due to illness.
So David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.” Then Nathan departed to his house. (2 Samuel 12:13-15)
This is a heartbreaking account. But why did the child become sick and die? It was the consequence of David’s sin. David had committed adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah. When Bathsheba became pregnant, David tried to cover up his sin. He called Uriah home from battle, hoping he would sleep with his wife so that the child would appear to be his. But Uriah refused, saying it would not be right to enjoy the comfort of home while his fellow soldiers were sleeping in tents and risking their lives.
When David saw that his plan had failed, he arranged for Uriah to be killed in battle. He instructed Joab, the commander of the army, to place Uriah on the front lines and then withdraw, so that Uriah would be struck down. David committed both adultery and murder.
As a result, the child became sick and died. This judgment was not without reason—God did not strike the child randomly. It was a direct consequence of David’s sin and disobedience.
10. The lepers in the camp:
Another story in the Bible where we read about the sick is found in the Book of Kings:
Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, “Why are we sitting here until we die? If we say, ‘We will enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore, come, let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they keep us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall only die.” (2 Kings 7:3-4)
The lepers then went to the camp of the Syrians and discovered that the Lord had brought about a great victory—causing the enemy to flee. The lepers returned to the city to report the good news. The people went out and plundered the camp, bringing an end to the famine and misery in the city.
But why were there lepers in the first place? To understand this, we must look at the spiritual condition of Israel during that time. The kings of Israel were often wicked and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. At the time of the four lepers, King Jehoram reigned in Israel. Concerning him, the Bible says:
Now Jehoram the son of Ahab became king over Israel at Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned twelve years. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, but not like his father and mother; for he put away the sacred pillar of Baal that his father had made. Nevertheless he persisted in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin; he did not depart from them. (2 Kings 3:1-3)
The people of Israel were living in sin. As a result, famines, plagues, and sickness came upon the land. They were experiencing the curse of the law due to their disobedience:
If you do not carefully observe all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, THE Lord YOUR GOD, then the Lord will bring upon you and your descendants extraordinary plagues—great and prolonged plagues—and serious and prolonged sicknesses. Moreover He will bring back on you all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you. Also every sickness and every plague, which is not written in this Book of the Law, will the Lord bring upon you until you are destroyed. (Deuteronomy 28:58-61)
It was not that God suddenly decided to bring famine, war, and sickness upon Israel. These judgments came because of continued disobedience. Although God had warned the people through many prophets, they refused to repent. Eventually, God’s patience ran out, and the people came under the curse, resulting in suffering and disease.
So, when we read stories of sickness or misery in the Old Testament, it does not mean that it was God’s will for those individuals to be sick. God’s desire was to bless Israel so that other nations would see and desire what Israel had.
Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God: (Deuteronomy 28:1-2)
11. Ezekiel could no longer speak:
I will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be mute and not be one to rebuke them, for they are a rebellious house. But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ He who hears, let him hear; and he who refuses, let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house. (Ezekiel 3:26-27)
This is an extraordinary account in which God caused Ezekiel’s tongue to cling to the roof of his mouth. Ezekiel could not speak unless the Lord gave him a word to proclaim. This was not a permanent condition but a temporary and prophetic sign to the people of Israel.
The reason this happened was because of the spiritual state of the nation. Israel was a rebellious house, and Ezekiel’s muteness served as a sign of God’s judgment and message to the people. Later, the Lord fulfilled His promise and restored Ezekiel’s ability to speak.
And it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity, in the tenth month, on the fifth day of the month, that one who had escaped from Jerusalem came to me and said, “The city has been captured!” Now the hand of the Lord had been upon me the evening before the man came who had escaped. And He had opened my mouth; so when he came to me in the morning, my mouth was opened, and I was no longer mute. (Ezekiel 33:21-22)
This moment had been prophesied earlier:
On that day your mouth will be opened to him who has escaped; you shall speak and no longer be mute. Thus you will be a sign to them, and they shall know that I am the Lord. (Ezekiel 24:27)
This is a special story where Ezekiel could not speak because God gave him a message to show the people. He was not mute because of sin or disobedience, but because God chose it as a sign. Ezekiel knew—because God told him—that it was from the Lord and that it had a purpose.
12. Jacob's hip:
Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. (…) So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip. (Genesis 32:24-31)
This is a very special and unique story. Jacob wrestled with God—whether this was God, an angel of the Lord, or an appearance of Jesus in the Old Testament. Remarkably, Jacob prevailed. Then God touched the socket of his hip, and it was dislocated. From that moment on, Jacob walked with a limp. We are not told whether Jacob’s hip ever healed or if he continued to limp for the rest of his life.
Why did Jacob limp? Because he had wrestled with God and prevailed. Some believe this was to humble Jacob, who may have struggled with pride. Others think it was a consequence of deceiving his brother Esau. Still, others see it as a sign to Jacob and to the people of Israel—a lasting reminder that Jacob had wrestled with God. We don’t know the exact reason. But what is clear is this: Jacob understood that the injury came directly from God. It happened suddenly, and Jacob was fully convinced that God caused it.
Conclusion on sickness in the Old Testament
There are indeed stories in the Old Testament where people became sick or were struck with illness. However, this does not mean that it is God’s will to make people sick. In fact, the opposite is true. When we look at these stories carefully, we see that people did not become sick without cause.
In many cases, sickness came because of sin—either personal sin or the sin of the nation of Israel. Often, it was the result of the curse that came upon Israel when they did not keep the Law of Moses. Nowhere in the Old Testament is sickness described as a blessing from God or as something to rejoice over.
It is possible, in rare and unique cases, that God causes someone to become sick. But before making that conclusion, consider the following important points:
Point 1: Are you living a sinful lifestyle—refusing to repent and even hindering others from receiving the gospel of God?
Point 2: Has God clearly spoken to you beforehand that He is the One causing the sickness?
Point 3: Did the sickness come suddenly? Not through a slow decline, but all at once?
Point 4: Does the sickness serve as a miraculous sign? For example, are you able to speak when prophesying, but unable to speak when sitting at home?
Let me explain Point One a bit further. I am not referring to an occasional sin, a forgotten sin from the past, or a sin that you have already confessed. I am speaking about a continued lifestyle of sin. If you are living this way, it is important to repent and turn back to God, so that your relationship with Him may be restored. This is true whether or not your sickness is connected to sin.
I hope this reason helps you understand that even in the Old Testament, God did not cause sickness suddenly and without reason. First, it was very rare for God to make someone sick. Second, it was never God's desire to do so. It is far more likely that sickness is caused by the devil, by demons, or by some other source—not by God. If a sickness truly comes from God, you will know without any doubt that He is the One who caused it. He will have spoken and warned you beforehand. You will be living in sin. And the sickness will come upon you immediately—not through a slow process.
Summary
In this chapter, we looked at several Old Testament stories where people became sick or were healed by God. In the stories of Miriam, Elijah, King Hezekiah, Naaman, Hannah, and Elisha, we saw that God was able and willing to heal. Even some who had died were brought back to life. This shows that God desires to heal and that nothing is impossible for Him. Naaman, though an enemy of Israel, was healed of his leprosy by God.
We also examined stories where people were sick or made sick by God. These included the Egyptians, Miriam, the Israelites in the wilderness, Rachel, Gehazi, King Uzziah, King Asa, the child of David, the four lepers, Ezekiel, and Jacob’s hip. In each case, God did not cause sickness without a reason. There was always a clear cause. Many sicknesses in the Old Testament were the result of sin or came because the people were under the curse for disobeying God’s commandments. However, this does not mean that every sickness today is caused by sin.