Balm of Gilead

Jer. 8:22; 46:11 

Introduction
The world is sick. It needs healing. Wars in the Middle East, in Europe, Asia, Africa… just to name a few are some pressing issues right now.

What if everyone gets what they wanted? Is that even possible? No. Will that bring about peace? No. Disputed lands, waters, airspace will continue and this world will be even worse off.

During the Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant crisis, many countries, pharmaceutical companies and entrepreneurs were engaged in the search for its cure or at least a vaccine. One of them was Gilead Sciences, a pharmaceutical company established in 1987.

Gilead Sciences, in 2009 developed a vaccine called Remdesivir for the Hepatitis C disease. But, it was soon found that it was not a very effective vaccine. When, in 2013-2016, the Ebola Virus Epidemic was wreaking havoc in West Africa, Remdesivir became a very effective weapon against the Ebola Virus.

In 2020, during the height of the Coronavirus Pandemic, many people pinned their hopes on Remdesivir. It became very popular, receiving great media coverage. Even Donald Trump, the then President of the United States took this vaccine. But again, experts could not find any real evidence that this vaccine could work miracles against the Coronavirus disease.

Meanwhile, other vaccines had come up and Remdesivir and its company Gilead Sciences soon came to be forgotten.

Gilead
Gilead Sciences is not what we wanted to talk about. It is a sickness and its cure that we want to talk about today.

We find several mentions of Gilead in the Bible. Genesis 37:25 tells us that the Ishmaelites had brought with them a balm of Gilead along with other things while on their way to Egypt. It was to them that Joseph’s brothers had sold him to.

Gilead is not a town or a city. In fact, it is a region in the Transjordan, a land of hills and trees. It was a land of Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh. It is also said to be a place where goats grazed (SS 4:1; 6:5). It is here that the fabled ‘Balm of Gilead’ is available. But it is not clearly known what tree it came from or how it is made. It is from here that the proverbial ‘Balm of Gilead’ is said to originate.

Now, Jeremiah also used this and said, “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?” (Jer. 8:22). He also said, “Go up to Gilead and get balm, Virgin Daughter Egypt. But you try many medicines in vain; there is no healing for you” (Jer. 46:11).

Jeremiah, God, Israel and Judah

Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet. He saw the sins and apostasy of Israel and of Judah and wept. He saw the total degeneration of the people, society and their religious life. He wanted the people to turn back to God. He warned them of the impending judgment of the LORD, but they refused to listen (Jer. 7:24). Instead, the Israelites sometimes burned his writings, put him in a pit or in a prison.

The Israelites had been arrogant. They thought they had achieved all they had through their strength, wisdom and wealth. They sad, “we are wise” (Jer. 8:8). They did not think of God (Jer. 9:3). They are close to the LORD in their mouths, but far away from Him in their mind (Jer. 12:2). What they did not know was that they were naked and helpless. The LORD was always willing to accept them back. He said, “Hear and pay attention, do not be arrogant” (Jer. 13:15). They did not listen.

Jeremiah looked at the Israelites and Judah. He saw sufferings and hardships and lamented, “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?” (Jer. 8:8). Why couldn’t they be healed while there is a balm? Why couldn’t they be healed when there are physicians? He was not talking about the physical healing of sicknesses, but he was talking in spiritual terms which would, no doubt, affect their physical lives as well.

The reason behind their continued suffering was because they refused to heed the LORD’s words and the word of His prophets.

An introspection

Many people were looking at a cure for the Covid sickness a couple of years ago. Just imagine what it would be like if pharmacies suddenly sell vaccines for the virus? We would be in line and in long queues to buy it. Even those who are not suffering from it would want to have one.

When I look at all these things spiritually, I wonder why we are not rushing to the LORD when there is the cure for all the spiritual ailments the world and our people are suffering from? The world is sick. Like the Israelites, we have been trying to depend on our strengths and abilities, and we failed. Many have been led astray.

The balm of Gilead

There is a balm in Gilead. A balm to heal and save people from their hardships, sufferings and worries. A balm to save us from eternal death – the Lord Jesus Christ. He came into the world to save us. He is the balm of Gilead.

But for those who still refused to come to Him, there can be no healing. This is why many are still suffering.

This balm is the balm the world desperately needs. Being a balm from a tree, our Lord suffered on the tree and became the cure (1 Pet. 2:24). Like all balms, we also need to apply it to our lives.

Why are we then still suffering?

As Jeremiah said, “Go up to Gilead and get balm, Virgin Daughter Egypt. But you try many medicines in vain; there is no healing for you” (Jer. 46:11). We have been trying out too many other medicines in vain. Let us come to the true balm, the cure for Eden’s disease – Jesus our Lord.