Through the years my mother and I had many talks as we studied the scriptures, and I remember she said all disease is, is a dis-ease within the body. Although she is gone her words ring true as I continue to read the word of God.

Although satan does not have the ability to cause disease, he does want nothing more than to kill, steal, and destroy that which is good. (John 10:10). There was no one more good than the man Job, as he was in Gods eyes a perfect and upright man! God allows satan to steal Jobs health, with the stipulation that he does not destroy him (Job 2:1-7) Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD. And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life. So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.

Many know the saying “Kicking a person when their down” and we see here satan is the prime example of kicking a person when their down, since it was just after Job had lost everything did satan show up on the scene to steal his health. How much more down could a person be then to have lost ones children, servant’s and all cattle not over time, but all at once!

We may ask why does God allow disease anyways in our life? There are two reasons disease enters ones life. The first is so we draw closer to God as seen in the example of Job. He could have cursed God and been angry for what had happened to him, instead we see in light of his wife showing no support at all in Jobs time of need he still does not curse God or sin (Job 2:8-10) And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

The other reason disease is allowed is because of disobedience. This is confirmed by the story of the Israelites in which God led them out of the bondage of Egypt only to complain to Moses when the waters had become bitter. God Himself said if they will do what is right in His eyes and keep His commandments then none of the diseases will come upon them if they were obedient (Exodus 15:23-27) And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee. And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm trees: and they encamped there by the waters.

Our Lord still heals today just as He did when He walked the earth so many years ago! (Luke 4:38-41) And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon’s house. And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her. And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them. Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.

Through the years I have encountered many people who have suffered at the hands of physicians with myself included. We may think there is nowhere in scripture that a person went to one or more physcians and was made worse, but there is in the story of the woman who needed healing and spent all she had and was made worse! We learn a very important lesson here of how it is faith at work which has the power to genuinely heal! (Mark 5:25-29,33,34) And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases. (Psalm 103:2,3).