With His Stripes We Are Healed (Isaiah 53:5)

2022-01-29

There are many religious groups out there that believe strange things about sickness and death. These things include being sick is always because you have sinned, or if you do get sick, it is guaranteed that God will heal you. Others believe that going to doctors is sinful. In these times, some of these views are exacerbated because of the pandemic, and bizarre views are being promoted. Most of these views come from a certain Scripture, taken out of context: “...with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

The Bible does not guarantee good health. We still get sick and die, as the human body is still Adamic in nature. The immaterial part of us has eternal life and is redeemed. The body is not yet redeemed but will be on the Day of Christ: “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body” (Romans 8:23).

Here is the whole verse of Isaiah 53:5: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). The context clearly says that our sins were placed on Christ, and He brought about our peace with God. His stripes healed us spiritually.

Does this rule out miraculous healings? It does not. Multitudes of people were miraculously healed throughout the Bible. However, many people were sick and did not get miraculously healed instantly, and some never were healed. Paul had the “thorn in the flesh” that he prayed to be healed, and God did not heal it (2 Corinthians 12:7-9). Epaphroditus was sick for a while and did not recover instantly (Philippians 2:26-27). Paul left Trophimus sick in Miletum (2 Timothy 4:20). Though God did not heal Paul or these two men, He did heal others through Paul, such as Publius’ father (Acts 28:8).

Does this mean we need to avoid doctors? Clearly there is nothing wrong with doctors. Luke was one (Colossians 4:14). Jesus Himself said, “They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick” (Matthew 9:12). Jesus used this as a metaphor, but the point remains, He was using this as an example that everyone would have been familiar with.

The problem comes when we place faith in doctors instead of God. “...yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians” (2 Chronicles 16:12). We use medicine and doctors, but our faith must always be in the Lord. He heals by miracle, and He heals by medicine; He chooses whatever means He wants. Or maybe He doesn’t heal. The good news is that sickness and death one day will end. Look beyond the bounds of this life and trust in Christ; our lives here are momentary compared to endless eternity.