God proclaimed, "... for I am the LORD that healeth thee." (Exodus 15:26 KJV ), yet required obedience to preventative health laws.

Exodus 29:14 "But the flesh of the bullock, and his skin, and his dung, shalt thou burn with fire without the camp: it is a sin offering."

After the sacrifice was killed the choicest parts were burned on the altar, the fat adding fuel to the fire (Exodus 29:13 ). The flesh and its hide and its offal, in the interest of sanitation, was burned outside the camp (Exodus 29:14 ). Human refuse had to be buried outside the camp.(Deuteronomy 23:12-14 ). Sanitation was practical holiness, caring for the welfare of the community. Interesting that God was displeased by a disregard of sanitary rules that put the health of others at risk. Those set apart to God should demonstrate that they are the Lord's by showing His concern for preventative cleanliness.

Leviticus 11:32,39-40 "And upon whatsoever any of them, when they are dead, doth fall, it shall be unclean; whether it be any vessel of wood, or raiment, or skin, or sack, whatsoever vessel it be, wherein any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the even; so it shall be cleansed. ³⁹ And if any beast, of which ye may eat, die; he that toucheth the carcase thereof shall be unclean until the even. ⁴⁰ And he that eateth of the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: he also that beareth the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even. "

Cleanliness had as much to do with touching the carcasses of vermin as eating them. Even handling a clean animal, having died of a disease or from natural causes required careful sterilisation.

Numbers 19:11-13 "He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days. ¹² He shall purify himself with it on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean: but if he purify not himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean. ¹³ Whosoever toucheth the dead body of any man that is dead, and purifieth not himself, defileth the tabernacle of the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water of separation was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is yet upon him."

Insistence on ceremonial cleansing protected the community corporate, emphasising individual responsibility. Disregard for cleansing removes the glory of God's presence. How can the love of God be seen when there is careless impurity and unconcern for the welfare of others. Cleanliness is next to godliness - is not a Scripture as many seem to think, nevertheless it is true that godliness produces cleanliness both natural and spiritual.

Numbers 5:1-4 "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, ² Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is defiled by the dead: ³ Both male and female shall ye put out, without the camp shall ye put them; that they defile not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell. ⁴ And the children of Israel did so, and put them out without the camp: as the LORD spake unto Moses, so did the children of Israel."

Quarantine or separation was required for:

	Lepers - infectious skin disease (Leviticus chapters 13 and 14) including types of eczema of the infectious kind.
	Discharge - an uncontrolled fluid discharge, chronic in nature (Sexual diseases). Although not all bodily discharges were infectious, they were treated as potentially so until it could be determined otherwise. The motivation was the protection of others and limiting the spread of infection.

Leviticus 11:3 "Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat."

This prohibited the eating of such animals as pigs and rabbits by Israelites. Modern medicine has demonstrated that these animals are especially liable to infections and parasites: accepting them as unsuitable proved beneficial to health. This prohibition is not required of His people today - it is a warning that such meats are only safe if well cooked.

1 Timothy 4:4-5 "For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: ⁵ For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer."

The Old Testament teaching encourages refraining from foods that have adverse effects on us as individuals. The New Testament would have us accept the difference of another without being critical or judgmental. Whatever our personal preference our eating should be with thankfulness and our lives lived in the Word and prayer.

Exodus 20:10 "But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:"

Israel was given the Sabbath as a sign that God truly ruled Israel. To break His law was to rebel against Him (Exodus 21:14 ). The creation pattern for living applies to us.

Genesis 2:1-3 "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. ² And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. ³ And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made."

It is health spiritually and physically to rest one day out of seven. God wants us to have physical rest and spiritual revitalisation - rest and recuperation promote health. Physical exercise is also beneficial to health - surprisingly this is not mentioned as a requirement in the Old Testament. There is an interesting verse in the New Testament.

1 Timothy 4:8 "For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come."

The word for exercise, used only here in the New Testament is "gymnasia". Paul did not disparage physical fitness, so loved by the Greeks - but he states by the Holy Spirit that godliness is more valuable, and of course for the promotion of health, because it is profitable "for all things" and for life to come, eternity. Physical exercise coupled with spiritual exercise promotes health.

Divine healing from the Biblical point of view sees God's providence in the increase of knowledge in medical resources. Today, a good number of physicians accept the value of alternative medicine, and food supplements. So do we, as long as the "alternative" excludes what God forbids.

Bible information to consider:-

First mentioned in Genesis 50:2. The Bible totally rejects those involved in magic, sorcery, occult,

Acts 8:9 "But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:"

Simon the sorcerer, was convinced by the genuine miracles of divine healing which God the Holy Spirit did through Philip, but Simon's lust for greatness earned Peter's rebuke (Acts 8:20-23 ).

Physicians who practised known medical science were accepted in Israel (2 Chronicles 16:12; Jeremiah 8:22 ). In the New Testament Paul calls his fellow-worker Luke "beloved physician." (Colossians 4:14 ). Such relieved the sick and maintained health.

That is not the advanced drugs and surgery we know. Their medicines were made up from minerals - animal substances - herbs - wine - fruit - leaves and parts of plants. For example:

	"Balm of Gilead" (Jeremiah 8:22 ), a substance taken from an evergreen tree.
	"Wine" mixed with myrrh used to relieve pain by dulling the senses (Mark 15:23 ).
	"Figs" used as a poultice (Isaiah 38:21 ) prescribed by Isaiah the prophet.
	"Wine" suggested for a stomach complaint, by Paul (1 Timothy 5:23 ).
	"Leaves". Ezekiel saw a future temple with a river from under its threshold towards the east (Ezekiel 42:1-7, 12 ) and trees on the riverbanks, providing fruit for food and leaves for medicine, God meeting all physical needs.

We should be thankful for increased knowledge today of how to supplement deficiencies and boost the immune system.

We must recognise God as the provider - be thankful for His multiple provision. Available to us, for example, are hospitals - doctors - medicine - natural remedies - change of climate - diet. Contact with physicians should not be a rejecting of the Great Physician. It is dangerous to turn to doctors in rebellion against God as Asa did (2 Chronicles 16:12 ). James 5:13-16 should be put to effect first.

All means are in need of God's blessing. Even beloved physicians need to begin with prayer. All God's providences of healing flow from His love. Every healing should lead to glorifying and thanking God. Do remember it is not a question of whether you can or cannot use medicine, it is a matter of are you lead of God to do so.

Romans 8:14 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."

Proverbs instructs in practical ways that prolong life. Read these instructions prayerfully.

Proverbs 3:1-2 "My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: ² For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee."

Proverbs 3:7-8 "Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. ⁸ It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones."

Proverbs 4:10 "Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many."

Proverbs 4:21-22 "Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. ²² For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh."

Proverbs 8:35 "For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD."

Proverbs 9:11 "For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased."

Proverbs 10:27 "The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened."

Proverbs 12:28 "In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death."

Proverbs 14:27 "The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death."

Proverbs 14:30 "A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones."

Proverbs 21:21 "He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour."

When God's Word is seriously obeyed, health is promoted and prolonged. When requirements are ignored or disobeyed life can be shortened.

Ephesians 6:2-3 "Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) ³ That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth."

The old covenant produced a Caleb that testified of health and prolonged days of strength unabated.

Joshua 14:9-11 "And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God. ¹⁰ And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. ¹¹ As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in."