Natural Remedies
Page 2
“In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith Yehuveh, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live. Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto Yehuveh, And said, Remember now, O Yehuveh, I beseech Thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in Thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. Then came the word of Yehuveh to Isaiah, saying, Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith Yehuveh, the Elohim of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years. And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria: and I will defend this city.” In the face of this promised recovery, “Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaister upon the boil, and he shall recover.” “And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.” Wycliffe comments on this verse that, “The ancients believed that a fig poultice would heal boils. The exact cause of Hezekiah’s illness is not known. Perhaps the boil was symptomatic.” Natural remedies are “believed” to work because they have worked in the past! Isaiah 38:1-6; 21; 2 Kings 20:7.
This story raises an interesting question. Doubtless Hezekiah had sought help before his condition became deathly, but there is no evidence that figs or any other remedy had been used. Did neither Hezekiah nor his counselors know of this natural remedy nor have used it before? Or was it only after Hezekiah humbled his heart in earnest prayer that Yehuveh could use the fig poultice effectively on Hezekiah? Without question, prayer is as much a part of the healing as were the figs.
I have a dear friend who suffered severely with a tumor in his throat. Earnest prayer, lifestyle adjustments and diet changes seemed to do very little. His daughter felt impressed to seek a natural remedy for his healing. She researched widely and found that there were herbal remedies known to the eastern cultures which were practically unknown in the west. Obtaining the necessary ingredients through foreign contacts, she prepared the potion she had learned about and convinced her father to take it. Within weeks the tumor was gone. Prayers alone had not brought relief, but they had definitely played a part in guiding the young lady to Yehuveh’s answers.
The Use of Water
Water is one of the simplest yet most powerful of the healing agents. From bathing and drinking, to water therapies such as steam baths, fomentations, and wraps, water works with the body to restore balance, eliminate toxins, boost the immune system, adjust the biochemistry, or change the temperature.
From childhood we’ve heard the story of Naaman washing in the Jordan, but most likely we never thought of this as a natural remedy. Naaman’s dipping was indeed a miracle, for other lepers have doubtless washed in the Jordan before and since and experienced no healing. Yet, with prayer and Yehuveh’s direct instructions, this river bath brought Naaman a profound cleansing. “Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of Elohim: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.” 2 Kings 5:10-14.
Gael Bataman
Originally Written: 25 October 2005
Latest Update: 25 December 2009
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