The Gift of Healing
by Steven Josephs
“God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.” –Acts 19:11-12
Years ago, I was gifted with a shofar (ram’s horn) from former PLC Youth Director Brendon Fairley, whose father has a hobby of finishing them. Just as the trumpets (shofars) in Joshua’s time played a part in the walls of Jericho falling, this particular shofar was designated a “healing shofar.”
It is interesting to know that physical objects have been described in Scripture in connection with healing. Handkerchiefs belonging to the Apostle Paul were said to bring healing when they touched the sick (Acts 19:11-12). I personally experienced how this can work when a woman whose mother was experiencing pain asked me to come with her to the hospital to pray. At the time I was too busy, but following the “still, small voice” of God, I suggested we pray over a handkerchief she could take to her mother. We did, and when the woman pinned the handkerchief to her mother’s blouse, the pain in her upper body left her, but she said she still had pain in her legs. The woman then re-pinned it to her legs and her mother exclaimed that the pain there was gone!
The “healing shofar” was the catalyst for a similar healing a few years ago. My friend, Dave S., was leading an adult class on Joshua and asked me to bring my shofar to demonstrate the sounding of the trumpets as the Israelites marched around the walls of Jericho. He had me marching around the room, blowing the horn with gusto!
After class ended, I noticed a couple standing nearby. The wife had recently been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, and as I was about to pass by I heard that “still, small voice” again saying, “Play your shofar for her.” I wrestled with the potential for embarrassment…but caught myself agreeing to be obedient and mustered up the courage to approach the couple. “I have a healing shofar,” I said. “Would it be okay to play it for you?”
They agreed without a moment of hesitation, so I blew the shofar as I swept up and down from her head to her toes a number of times, leaving me with the relief of “I did it!” The following Friday during her doctor’s appointment they reported that no trace of cancer could be found!
Since that time I have blown the healing shofar for many others. I’ve also tied knots in prayer quilts, laid hands on the sick, prayed over more handkerchiefs, given most of my life to cancer research, and tried to follow and obey the Lord’s leading. In some cases, tumor markers have disappeared. In others the Lord has taken the person home to be with Him. In all the occasions, may God be praised. He is and forever will be in the healing business.
Dear Lord, thank You for healing all our diseases, whether in this life or the next. May we seek to know You more deeply and follow You always. In Your name we pray, Amen.