Water and Oil: Healing of Body and Spirit (Part 1: Water)

As we have seen in previous posts, water and oil in Scripture symbolize the life-giving and purifying qualities of Jesus Christ, Who is the Living Water (Jeremiah 17:13; John 4; 7:38), and of the Holy Spirit, Who ignites believers with holy fire. Since the Fall, man’s sin nature has brought the curse of sickness and death (Genesis 3). But God provides health, healing, and even eternal life, as symbolized by water and oil in Scripture.

Water cleanses us from disease. Modern science has explained the germ theory of disease, or how infection spreads through bacteria and other microbes. But long before germ theory was understood, God gave His chosen people instructions to maintain health and prevent infection by washing. This is yet another example of the supernatural, God-breathed inspiration and scientific accuracy of Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16).

Levitical law defined  ”unclean” conditions, including touching dead bodies, animal carcasses, and human waste, which we now understand are highly likely to promote spread of infection. God’s prescription to the Israelites was not only physical isolation from these bacteria-laden dangers, but washing with water in the event of contamination (Leviticus 11:32; 14:8-9, etc., Numbers 19:13-21).

At the same historical time period, Egypt, which was considered the most advanced civiliztion of its day, was ”treating” open wounds by rubbing them with animal dung! Small wonder that Jews following God’s law survived plagues while pagans perished!

It was not until millennia later, in the mid 1800s, that Hungarian physician Ignaz Semmelweis made a revolutionary, but unpopular discovery. Infants delivered at a teaching clinic by medical students  who were dissecting cadavers had a much higher death rate than those delivered by midwives, or even than infants born on the streets to prostitutes. Semmelweis theorized that  ”cadaverous particles” were transferred from the corpses to the newborns via the medical students’ hands.

This led to an understanding of germ theory and antisepsis, and to a dramatic reduction in obstetrical and surgical mortality through the simple practice of thorough hand washing before doctors delivered babies or performed operations. Physicians of the day considered this advice to be insulting, but when they humbled themselves and washed their hands before deliveries or surgery, survival improved significantly. Even today, signs in public lavatories, restaurants, and throughout hospitals remind us to wash our hands to help prevent disease.

Elisha cleansed Naaman of leprosy by commanding him to wash seven times in the river Jordan (2 Kings 5:6-14).At first, Naaman’s pride almost kept him from the cure, as he insisted that rivers of Damascus were superior to the Jordan, and he expected that he would have to perform some difficult or amazing feat to be healed.

How often does our own ”reason” and ”science” (1 Timothy 6:20) hinder our faith and keep us from following God’s simple prescription for spiritual healing? When Naaman finally obeyed, his flesh became like that of a little child, and he was clean (v. 14). If we have the faith of a little child (Matthew 18:3) in Jesus Christ, Son of God, Who died as the perfect sacrifice for our sins, and in His resurrection, we too will be cleansed from sin and receive eternal life (1 Corinthians 15 1-4;John 3:16).

Water is a symbol not only of physical cleansing, but of spiritual purification and restoration through faith in God’s Word (Ephesians 5:26; Hebrews 10:22). God refreshes His people with springs and streams in the desert (Isaiah 35:6), and we need and long for Him as much as the deer craves water from the brook (Psalm 42:1).

While beneficial in its own right, water is also the perfect medium to carry healing ingredients to our bodies. Many drugs have to be swallowed with a full glass of water, and many medicines are formulated as water-based syrups or tonics.

Jesus changed water into wine (John 2), described as the good wine. This suggests that it was new wine or grape juice, carrying all the healthful nutrients of the grape without any of the harmful effects of alcohol. New wine was most highly prized in Bible times because of its very short shelf life --  there was no way to stop the fermenting process that would turn the natural grape sugar into alcohol and then into vinegar.

Paul told Timothy to take a little wine to treat his stomach, and not just water (1 Timothy 5:23). Most likely this reflected contamination of the water by parasites causing intestinal disease, as we may learn, to our regret, if we drink tap water in undeveloped countries!

The pool in Bethesda was said to heal those who were blind, crippled, or diseased, but only when an angel ”troubled the water.” (John 5:1-4). Stagnant water harbors disease, but flowing water in fountains and streams mixes with oxygen from the air that enlivens or quickens it, refreshing those bathing in it. With His Word alone, Jesus healed a man who had waited 38 years by the Bethesda pool to be cured of his disease (John 5:5-9). He is a quickening Spirit (1 Corinthians 15:45) bringing healing and life, and His Word is quick and powerful (Hebrews 4:12).

God in His love and grace gave us His Word to help us understand the depth and richness of His love and blessing. In Scripture, His healing qualities are symbolized not only by water but also by oil, as we shall see next week!

© 2013 Laurie Collett