medicine for the HEART

In September, when we first starting hearing doctors talk about ACE inhibitors for Bryce, Erik and I did a lot of research. One of the most startling discoveries I made was the origination of Enalapril and other drugs like it.

Get ready for this: ACE Inhibitors are derived from the venom of the jararaca, a Brazilian pit viper.

PAUSE FOR REACTION

If you hate snakes as much as I do – though no one does – you might have just had a shiver run up your spine. It’s very unsettling, no?

Somehow I thought this fact in itself gave me more ammunition to believe God for complete healing, as opposed to needing any medication for Bryce. Something about “pit viper venom” just did not sit right with me and I couldn’t see myself thankful for such a thing.

On our drive home Wednesday I had plenty of time for contemplation about Bryce and healing and what I believe to be true. God is so faithful and I believe He is ALWAYS speaking. So I was tuned in and grasping for a specific word from Him.

God brought to mind a story from the book of Numbers. Remember the time that the Israelites’ camp was swarmed by venomous snakes . . . they bit the people and many people died. So Moses prayed for the people. Then the Lord told Moses to make a bronze snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who was bitten could look up at it and live. So Moses did as the Lord instructed. When anyone was bitten by a snake they could look at the bronze snake and be saved. (Numbers 21:4)

Today we see that same symbol reflected in medicine. This is the Caduceus, which looks very familiar to us:

And this is the symbol you’ll see on an ambulance, which is derived from the Rod of Asclepius:

In John 3:14, Jesus brings it home for us: “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

To me, this was a very profound story for God to remind me of. It wasn’t a story about God striking down all the snakes. Moses didn’t aim his staff at the people and command them to be healed. I would be willing to bet that the Israelites would have much preferred NO snakes and NO biting.

But God provided a way.

God provided an answer.

The same is true today. That standard is Jesus and He is lifted up in my life every single day. I choose to believe His word is true. I choose to hold Him up in front of my children. My kids need to see me looking up to be healed and freed and delivered. And then they will learn to claim that for themselves.

I’m not going to lie to you – It is very hard when the bite is real, when the wound is deep, when it really hurts – and when it’s your child. But I need my kids to believe this as much as I do:

Psalm 91:12-16
He will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
"Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."