Some difficult Old Testament Scriptures
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The scriptures are God’s means of revealing Himself to us. From the Scriptures, we gain insights into the
character of God, that it is His nature - to heal and not to afflict with sickness, to save and not to destroy men’s
lives, to do good to us and not evil.
But there are certain verses in the Old Testament, which do not seem to be consistent with this understanding of God’s nature. Some of these verses are: We have to keep in mind that God is Love. This we know is the highest revelation of God. In the beginning, when God created the earth, He made all things good (Gen.1:31). There was nothing evil on the face of the earth. It was Adam, by disobeying God, permitted evil to enter the world. Therefore, in these above verses, God as the Creator, is taking responsibility for all evil, as a father takes responsibility for the misdoings of his children. In Job 2:7, we see that satan “smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.” Yet, God takes the direct responsibility for this evil work - “….thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause” (Job 2 : 3). See “Case of Job” for more details. How many parents have had to go to the schools of their children and give an assurance to the authorities about the behaviour or performance of their children? How many fathers and mothers have stood before juvenile courts and accepted the faults of a wayward child? Are there not many noble and loving parents who would readily take the punishment that civil authorities impose on their children? Did not Jesus Christ come and die on our behalf? Do not read any Old Testament Scripture in isolation. Always compare it with the New Testament. For, it was in the Life and Person of Jesus, that God revealed Himself fully to mankind. Jesus was “the express image of God”. (Heb1:3). Jesus Himself said, “He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9). When healing the lame man at the pool of Bethesda, Jesus said that He did the works of His Father. John 5:17 - “But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto and I work.” Therefore, through the life of Jesus, it is revealed, that the will of the Father is to heal and not to afflict with sickness. Read every Old Testament Scripture in the light of the New Testament. The Old Testament and the New Testament are like the two sets of lenses in a pair of binoculars. The larger lenses represent the Old Testament and the smaller the New Testament. If we look at an object through the bigger lenses, it would appear to be very far away. If we look at the object through the smaller lenses, the object would appear closer. Similarly, if we look at healing through the Old Testament, it would appear very far away with many difficulties. But, if we look at divine healing through the life, ministry, death, resurrection, commission and ascension of our Lord, then, healing would appear very close to us. 
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