In ancient Israel there was a small bush that grew in Gilead. This bush occupied about 25 acres of land. This bush didn’t look like much. It was scraggly and small. But when its wood was sliced with a knife, sap oozed out. This sap would dry and become a medicine. This medicine was famous throughout the ancient world. People would come from all over and pay a lot of money to obtain it. To some, this sap seemed supernatural. They thought it could heal anything. It was called the balm of Gilead.
The balm of Gilead is first mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 37:25. Midianite traders, carrying the balm of Gilead, bought Joseph from his treacherous brothers. These Midianite merchants took Joseph to Egypt along with the balm of Gilead. The balm of Gilead would heal bodies; Joseph was destined to heal nations.
When Jacob went into Egypt to meet his son Joseph, he carried the best things from Canaan (Gen. 43:11). The first thing on his list was the balm of Gilead.
The balm of Gilead was such a famous medicine, that it became symbolic of the healing power of God.
A Sick Nation
Jeremiah, the “weeping prophet” was almost overwhelmed by the sick condition of Israel.
When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me. Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country. Is not the Lord in Zion? is not her king in her? “Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities?” The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved. For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me.
Jer. 8:18-21
God’s people had turned away from God. They had made up an empty religion that was devoid of God’s presence and power. They had grown spiritually cold. They didn’t pray like they used to. Idolatry had crept in.
As a result of their apostasy, they faced many problems. Their minds were tormented. Their hearts were sick. They no longer enjoyed the blessing of God.
After expressing his sorrow at the condition of Israel, Jeremiah asked a question.
“Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there?”
Jer. 8:22a
This question was rhetorical. Of course everyone knew there was balm in Gilead.
Then Jeremiah asked,
Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?
Jer. 8:22b
If there is balm in Gilead, why not be healed?
Spiritual Surgery
Healing sometimes hurts. A knife is often needed to cut away a disease, and as it does, it slices through nerves and causes pain.
The word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword (Heb. 4:12). We need the word of God to excise evil and sin from our lives. When we apply the word of God to ourselves, we repent and submit to God. We turn away from our sins. Repentance is the first step toward healing.
Repentance sometimes hurts, for it crucifies our flesh.
Elijah was a spiritual physician who came from the mountains of Gilead (1 Kings 17:1). He was armed with the word of God. He was unafraid to speak to kings and rulers, calling them to repent. He boldly spoke the word of God to an apostate nation and called them to turn away from their sins.
Sometimes we need to hear a prophetic word that will take us out of our comfort zones. Such words can be uncomfortable.
Elijah was a rough man. (See 2 Kings 1:7-8). He was hairy. He had a leather belt around his waist. He kind of looked like those scraggly bushes from his home country.
Like a careful surgeon, Elijah took the sharp knife of the word of God and excised the corruption that was eating away at Israel.
Centuries later, John the Baptist came.
He came from the wilderness, where he ate locusts and wild honey (Matt. 3:4). He wore camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist.
He came into the desert outside Jerusalem, preaching repentance to Israel. He applied the sharp knife of the word of God, calling people to return to God’s word. His cleansing baptism of repentance prepared the way for Jesus to come.
Jesus Christ
Jesus was like a root out of dry ground.
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him”
Isa. 53:2
Like the bushes of Gilead, Jesus wasn’t very attractive to human flesh. But he was the Great Physician, the Savior of the world.
When Jesus walked the earth, he released the healing power of God.
God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Acts 10:38
Wherever Jesus went, life from God flowed out from him into the earth.
At the end of his earthly life, when Jesus was falsely accused and brutally tortured, he didn’t become hard or bitter. Instead, like the bushes of Gilead he gave forth life. When Jesus was killed, it was for our sins. As he hung on the cross, he cried out “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do!”
Blood ran down from Jesus’ lacerated body into the earth. From his wounded head, blood flowed. Out from his pierced hands and feet, life flowed. When Jesus was on the cross, a soldier ran a spear through his side, and blood and water gushed out (John 19:34).
Jesus was executed for crimes he didn’t commit. But he didn’t cry out for vengeance. He wasn’t full of bitterness and rage. Instead, forgiveness and mercy flowed out from him. Because Jesus was killed, his blood and the Holy Spirit were poured into the earth.
This healing flow from Christ brings healing and salvation to the world.
It’s the true balm of Gilead.
Jesus is alive today. His anointing is freely available to all who come to him. If we ask him, he will apply this balm to our lives.
Jesus can heal inflamed minds. He can soothe hurting souls. He can heal hearts that have been burned by evil.
Jesus is like the Good Samaritan, who saw us bleeding and dying on the roadside. Other people may have ignored us, but Jesus didn’t. He came to us in our brokenness and poured in the healing oil and the wine. He bound up our wounds and put us in a safe place. Then he said, I’ll keep taking care of you until you’re 100% well.
By his stripes we are healed.
Jeremiah’s Frustration
When Jeremiah spoke of the balm of Gilead, he was upset. He was upset not only because of the apostasy of God’s people, but because there was a solution to their problems and they were not healed.
If there is balm in Gilead, then why not use it? Why not apply the healing power of God to your life?
The medicine is stronger than the disease.
The solution is greater than the problem.
In those days, sick people might have had a reason not to apply the balm of Gilead to their lives. It was expensive and hard to obtain. Maybe they couldn’t afford to buy the balm of Gilead.
But today, we are without excuse.
The balm of Gilead is freely available to anyone who wants it. There is no limit to the salvation that is available in Jesus Christ. He can do anything. He has infinite resources. He is a well that will never run dry. And his salvation is available for free without money and price.
We have all that we need for complete spiritual healing and victory in Jesus. He has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness. We can receive this salvation in faith, forsake our sins, and receive healing from Christ. I’m not primarily talking about physical healing (although Jesus can heal our bodies). I’m talking about the sicknesses of sin that separate us from God.
Obtaining a Testimony
Gilead means the hill of the testimony.
In ancient Israel, testimonies rang from the hills of Gilead. “I had a terrible disease, but I went to Gilead, got some balm, applied it, and now I’m healed!”
There was joy in Gilead, as people spread the good news of its powerful balm all over Israel.
We overcome Satan by the blood of Jesus and the word of our testimony (Rev. 12:11).
If we’ve been set free by Jesus, we have a testimony.
Today the world should be full of the testimonies of God’s people, telling others about how they were lost, and then Jesus found them. We were broken, and Jesus healed us. We were falling apart, and God put us together. The blood of Christ and the Holy Spirit are most potent healing resources in the world, and the results of their application are always miraculous.
The spiritual balm of Jesus is freely available to everyone. We apply it to our lives through faith.
And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
Rev. 22:17
There is a balm in Gilead. It’s the healing and salvation of Jesus Christ. Let’s apply this healing balm to our lives, and tell others of Jesus’ grace, love, and power to save.
Lincoln House Churches 