Origin of sickness
In this book, we have already looked at many reasons why God desires to heal. We have also seen a few examples in the Old Testament where God caused someone to become sick. However, in each of these cases, there was a specific and special reason. There are also a few examples in the New Testament where someone was made sick by God. In this chapter, we will look at some of these people and examine why God allowed them to become sick.
We will also explore the origin of sickness. In Reason 4, we saw that sickness entered the world at the Fall. In the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, everything was still good, and sickness did not exist yet. But because of the Fall, sickness and suffering entered creation. This shows that God is not the author of sickness; sickness came into the world through the curse.
In this chapter, we will look at more Bible passages to see how sickness can happen and what or who might cause it.
Reason 87: The Devil Makes Sick
In the Bible, we read that the devil makes people sick.
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. (Acts 10:38)
This verse clearly shows how the roles are divided in the world. Jesus is the One who does good and brings healing, while the devil oppresses people with sickness and suffering. It is the devil who causes people to be sick, and Jesus who heals them. We see the same truth in the story of the woman who was bent over.
And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. (...) 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? (Luke 13:11-16)
In this story, we read that Satan had bound this woman for eighteen years. But how does the devil bind people? When we study the Bible, we learn that there are different kinds of spiritual beings. There are angels who serve God, but there are also fallen angels and demons who serve the devil. These demons try to keep people away from the truth of God and torment them both spiritually and physically. In the New Testament, we often see that demon possession and sickness are closely connected. Consider the following examples:
As they went out, behold, they brought to Him a man, mute and demon-possessed. And when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. (Matthew 9:32-33)
Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. (Matthew 12:22)
Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. (...) And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. (Matthew 17:15-18)
It is likely that the fever of Peter’s mother-in-law was also caused by a demon. Luke writes that Jesus rebuked the fever, and then it left her. This suggests that Jesus may have been addressing an evil spirit.
(...) But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them. (Luke 4:38-39)
Another example is the woman of Canaan, who cried out to Jesus on behalf of her daughter:
And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” (...) And her daughter was healed from that very hour. (Matthew 15:22 and 28)
In many cases, we see that healing and deliverance took place together in the ministry of Jesus. For example, during the large-scale healings, Jesus not only healed the sick but also cast out demons.
Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. (Matthew 4:24)
We see the same pattern in the book of Acts.
Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. (Acts 19:11-12)
Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed. (Acts 5:16)
In many cases, sickness is caused by a demonic spirit. However, this is not always the case. Sometimes illness or injury can result from natural causes. For example, someone may be hurt by falling off a bicycle.
But how can a person be afflicted by a demonic spirit through sickness? Is this always because of sin? It is true that demonic influence can sometimes enter a person’s life through serious sin or repeated sin. However, this is not always the reason. In this book, I will not go deeply into how demons can influence people, but I will mention several possible causes. If any of these apply to you, bring the matter before God, and break its influence in the name of Jesus. For instance, if you have occult stones in your home, throw them away, ask God for forgiveness, and renounce any spiritual influence they may have had. Here is a brief list of potential open doors for demonic oppression:
- Repeated or serious sins
- Sexual relations outside of marriage between a man and a woman (this can also include rape or abuse, even when someone was a victim—unfortunately, demons are extremely cruel and may exploit such situations)
- Occult practices, such as divination, horoscopes, tarot cards, spiritism, yoga, occult objects, etc.
- Worship of demons or other gods
- Ancestral events or generational curses
- Spoken curses
- False doctrine (in Scripture, this is also called doctrines of demons)
- Addictions
- Drunkenness
- Pride and arrogance
- Unforgiveness
These are some of the important open doors through which demons can enter. If you recognize any of these in your life, it is important to confess it to God. If it involves sin, you should also repent. Remove anything connected to that sin from your life. When it comes to occult practices or objects in your home, it is essential to throw them away and break every connection with them. If the open door came through something that happened to you—such as a curse or abuse—it is important to break the power of that demonic influence and ask God to deliver and restore you completely. If you need to forgive someone, then it is important to truly forgive them from your heart.
We have touched on this only briefly. There is much more to say about demonic influence, but that is beyond the scope of this book. You can also seek help from a born-again believer or a pastor who can pray with you to break these powers. Deliverance does not need to be a long process—one sincere prayer of faith is enough.
What causes sickness? In many cases, it is caused by demonic powers, not by God. It is the devil who seeks to make people sick, and it is God who desires to heal and restore. This truth is important to understand. When we know that the enemy is behind sickness, we can treat it as a trespasser. We can take authority over it and command it to leave our lives in the name of Jesus. Sickness has no rightful place in the life of a believer. It is a work of the devil, and Jesus came to destroy all the works of the devil.
(...) For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8)
Reason 88: Sickness can Come from Sin
Before we look at this reason more closely, let me first say clearly: not every sickness comes from sin. Sickness can have other causes as well. But if someone has become sick because of sin, they will know it. We already discussed this in Reason 78, where I gave several examples of how sickness can result from sin or an unhealthy lifestyle:
- Eating too often and unhealthily can cause physical problems.
- Using many drugs can lead to weight loss.
- Drinking too much alcohol affects the liver.
- Sexual immorality can result in sexually transmitted diseases.
- Anger can lead to stress.
- Worry and anxiety can lead to physical symptoms.
In these examples, it is clear that the sickness is a direct result of sinful choices. Is it God's will for someone who eats unhealthily or lives unwisely to become sick? No. But when we make wrong choices, sickness can arise as a natural consequence. The Bible also gives examples where repentance was necessary before healing could take place. Let us look at some of these Scriptures:
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (James 5:16)
The next passage refers to the Lord’s Supper. Some believers in Corinth were partaking in an unworthy manner, not discerning the body of the Lord. Because of this, Paul writes:
For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. (1 Corinthians 11:29-30)
Because the congregation in Corinth partook of the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner—where the rich ate abundantly while the poor were left with nothing—many became weak and sick. Some even died. But when the church repented and began to partake of the Supper in a worthy manner, healing came. In the next chapter, we will return in more detail to the Lord’s Supper and its healing power.
Jesus also healed many people during His ministry. To one man, Jesus gave a clear warning to repent so that something worse would not happen to him. This was the case with the paralyzed man at the pool of Bethesda:
Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” (John 5:14)
When we read this story, we see that the man had placed his trust in a false hope and remained in a place of idolatry. Jesus came to him, healed him, and then told him to sin no more. In other words, he was to stop putting his trust in idols. So the Bible clearly teaches that sin and sickness can be connected. However, this is not always the case. We see this in the story of the man who was born blind:
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, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.” (John 9:1-3)
This shows that not every sickness or disability is the result of sin. In the case of the blind man, Jesus did not explain why the man was born blind, only that through him, the works of God would be revealed.
We see the same truth in the story of Job. Job did not become sick because of sin in his life:
Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.” (Job 2:3)
Why Job became sick and how it happened was already discussed in detail in Reason 21.
There is also an important passage in Luke 13 that shows when disaster happens to someone, it does not mean that the person is worse than others who seem to escape such events. In fact, someone who is sick may live more righteously than someone who is healthy:
There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:1-5)
Therefore, when someone is sick, it does not automatically mean they are living in sin. The sickness could be the result of a spiritual attack by the devil, or it could come from another cause.
However, sickness and sin can be connected. And when someone experiences the consequences of sin, it is never God's will or intention. It results from wrong choices that the person may have made.
Reason 89: God does not Reward with Sickness
When we read the Bible and consider how God desires to bless people, one important truth becomes clear: God always blesses and rewards with good gifts—abundance, health, and life. Nowhere in Scripture do we read that God says, “This person is living righteously; let Me reward him with sickness.” Whenever God rewards someone for living in obedience and holiness, He blesses them with good things. Let us look at a few examples:
Abraham obeyed God. What was his blessing?
Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things. (Genesis 24:1)
Then Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people. (Genesis 25:8)
Noah obeyed God. What was his blessing?
So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. (Genesis 9:1)
Isaac obeyed God. What was his blessing?
Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him. The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous; for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants. So the Philistines envied him. (Genesis 26:12-14)
Joseph obeyed God. What was his blessing?
The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. (Genesis 39:2)
Even though Joseph was thrown into prison because of the actions of men, God’s blessing remained on him. Even in prison, the Lord was with him. In time, Joseph became the viceroy of Egypt.
Job obeyed God. What was his blessing?
Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. (Job 42:12)
There are many more examples in the Bible of people who lived under the blessing of God. Consider the kings who obeyed the Lord—God’s blessing made them prosperous and gave them peace with the surrounding nations. God's blessing always aims to give good gifts. God did not say to Abraham, “Because you have left everything behind and obeyed Me, I will bless you supernaturally: you will spend your life searching for food, living in sickness and misery. You will barely be able to walk from weakness, everyone will try to kill you, and I will take everything away from you.” No—quite the opposite is true. When God’s blessing is on your life, He does not bless you with misery and adversity. God always blesses with good things.
But how do we know that sickness is not a good gift from God? We already looked at this in Reason 15, where we saw that God describes sickness as a curse and health as a blessing.
Reason 90: Redeemed from the Fall
When did sickness first enter creation? It began with the Fall of Adam and Eve. We already discussed this in Reason 4. Because of the Fall, sickness, suffering, and death entered the world. God was not the Creator of sickness—sickness came as a result of sin. However, this does not mean that humanity must remain bound by the curse of sickness. Jesus came to earth to redeem us from the power of sin and to deliver us from the negative effects that followed the Fall, including the curse.
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (Galatians 3:13-14)
Jesus died to break the curse of the law—but also to break the curses that came through the Fall. One powerful symbol of this is the crown of thorns. Before Jesus was crucified, the Roman soldiers placed a crown of thorns on His head to mock Him:
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. (...) (Matthew 27:27-29)
The crown of thorns is a sign of the curse. What did the curse of the Fall include?
Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field.” (Genesis 3:17-18)
The curse of the Fall included the bringing forth of thorns and thistles from the earth. This sign of the curse was placed on Jesus’ head during His crucifixion. Jesus bore the curse—and the consequences of the curse—on the cross. He died not only to break the curse of the Law, but also to break the curse that came through the Fall. Jesus came to restore us completely.
The full restoration from the Fall will take place in the future, but the children of God may already begin to enjoy the blessings of God in this life. In the Bible, we read that Jesus came to redeem us from the effects of the Fall. That is why Jesus is often compared to Adam. Through Adam, misery and death entered the world. Through Jesus Christ, blessing and eternal life have come to those who believe.
But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s (Adam) offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. (Romans 5:15)
For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:21-22)
The following passage speaks of the future hope:
For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (Romans 8:19-21)
Jesus is called the second Adam. What was lost through Adam, Jesus came to restore. Since sickness came through the Fall, Jesus also came to redeem us from it, so that we would no longer be bound by the power of sickness. We are not called to live under the bondage of sin, the Fall, or its consequences. Instead, we are called to walk in the healing and restoration that Jesus has made available.
Reason 91: Sickness Had a Cause
In Reason 23, we looked at people in the Old Testament who were made sick by God. In this reason, we will do the same, but now with examples from the New Testament. We will look briefly and clearly at each case, focusing especially on whether there was a reason why someone was made sick.
Zacharias
Zacharias was the father of John the Baptist. He and his wife had been unable to have children for many years. Zacharias was a priest, and one day he was chosen to offer incense in the temple. There, the angel Gabriel appeared to him with a special message: his wife would bear a son, even though they were both advanced in age. But Zacharias did not believe the angel’s words.
And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.” (Luke 1:18-20)
Zacharias was made temporarily mute—he could not speak. But why did the angel do this? Because Zacharias did not believe the words spoken to him by God’s messenger. The angel made Zacharias mute to prevent him from continuing to speak in unbelief. It was not God's desire to make him mute; it was a necessary consequence to protect the fulfillment of God’s plan.
Now let us compare this with Mary's response to the angel. When the angel Gabriel visited Mary, her words were quite different.
Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.” (...) Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:30-38)
Mary responded in faith. She did not speak words of unbelief but received the message with a heart of trust. Because of this, there was no reason for her to be made mute.
King Herod
Another example where an angel of God caused someone to become sick is found in the story of King Herod.
Now Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; but they came to him with one accord, and having made Blastus the king’s personal aide their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food by the king’s country. So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died. (Acts 12:20-23)
Why was Herod struck and eaten by worms? Because he did not give glory to God. In this, we see that God did not, in His sovereignty, randomly decide to make Herod sick. There was a clear reason: Herod accepted worship as if he were a god and failed to honor the true and living God.
Ananias and Sapphira
Ananias and Sapphira were also struck dead. But why did this happen?
But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” She said, “Yes, for so much.” Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. (Acts 5:1-10)
This is a very serious story. But why did Ananias and Sapphira die? Because they lied to God and tested the Holy Spirit. This was not a light matter in the eyes of God. They died because they chose to lie on purpose. As sad as it is, their actions had serious consequences.
Barjesus
Barjesus also experienced a miraculous sign—he was temporarily struck with blindness.
Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” (Acts 13:6-11)
The blindness that came upon Barjesus was not without cause. He actively opposed the gospel and tried to prevent others from believing. Because of this, Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, declared that he would be blind for a time. Fortunately, the blindness was temporary, as Paul specifically said he would not see the sun for a time.
Paul
Barjesus was not the only person in the Bible who was temporarily blinded. Paul—then called Saul—also experienced temporary blindness. Why did this happen? Because he was opposing Jesus and was persecuting His followers.
Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. (Acts 9:4-8)
Paul was blinded because he had been persecuting Jesus by attacking His followers. But after this, the Lord sent a disciple named Ananias to pray for him. When Ananias laid hands on him and prayed, Paul's sight was resored.
Participants of the Lord’s Supper
Paul wrote to the church in Corinth that many among them were sick and weak because they were not properly partaking in the Lord’s Supper.
Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. (1 Corinthians 11:27-30)
Why did these people become sick? Because they partook of the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner and did not discern the Lord’s body. We will return to this topic in more detail in the next chapter.
Summary
Sickness entered the world because of the Fall. After Adam and Eve sinned, sickness and suffering became an unwanted part of creation. This does not mean that God is the source of sickness.
In the Bible, we also read about the power of demonic influence that can cause sickness. For example, Jesus healed a woman who had been bent over for eighteen years. Scripture says she had been bound by a spirit of infirmity. This shows that demons can bring sickness and misery. Although sickness can sometimes result from natural causes, such as injury, demonic influence is often involved.
Sickness can also come as a result of sin—such as repeated sins, sexual immorality, occult practices, and other sinful actions. In such cases, it is important to repent, break with sin, and turn to God for forgiveness and healing.
At the same time, not all sickness is caused by a sin. The story of the man born blind is a good example. Jesus clearly said that his blindness was not the result of sin.
It is important to understand that sickness is not portrayed in Scripture as a punishment from God for sin, but rather as a consequence of the Fall. Jesus came to break the curse of the Fall and to bring healing and restoration—including deliverance from physical sickness. He came to destroy the works of the devil, and that includes sickness and suffering.
Finally, we looked at examples of people in the New Testament who were made sick or afflicted by God or by an angel. In each of these cases, there was always a clear reason. God did not make people sick without cause.