Healing in His Wings

'For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall' (Malachi 4:1-2) Definition The word healing, in the context of the Scripture quoted above means marpe in the original Hebrew language. According to Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary, marpe is defined as medicine, cure, deliverance, health, healing, sound mind, remedy. That is to be wholesome. Healing Under the Old Covenant The people of Israel travelled for a period of forty years in the wilderness, yet not a single one of them experienced sickness. They enjoyed God’s providential care, provision and protection. He led them through the wilderness as a pillar of cloud during the day and as a pillar of fire during the night to give them light. In the scorching sands of the desert the cloudy pillar protected them from the heat of the sun. By His miraculous hand He provided them food and water to keep them strong and healthy. None of them was weak, or afflicted by disease in their bodies although they had been dreadfully oppressed for many years in Egypt. 'He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes... He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night. The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven. He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river' (Psalms 105:37, 39 - 41). 'Then he led the Israelites out; they carried silver and gold, and all of them were healthy and strong' (Psalm 105:37 GNT). 'And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night' (Exodus 13:21). The Lord did all these things for the people of Israel because He remembered His everlasting covenant with Abraham: 'For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant' (Psalm 105:42). In Genesis 15, we see an account of what God told Abraham concerning Israel and the things they were going to experience in the land of Egypt.