I love Handel's beautiful hymn, "Joy to the World."¹  I especially enjoy the verse² of the song that repeats . . . and heaven and nature sing . . . and heaven and nature sing . . .    The Bible tells us that God's invisible qualities have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made (Romans 1:20).  

Each day heaven and nature present evidence of our mighty and wonderful God -- that all things were made by, for, and through Him (Jesus) (Col. 1:16).   Recently I learned more about Jesus as the Balm of Gilead because of a combination of evidences and an in-depth Bible study.    In this article, we will explore these two evidences -- one from the heavens and one from nature -- that united with the Bible to reveal this very powerful attribute of Christ.

The Heavenly Evidence

We begin with a look at the heavens.    The figures below are the constellations of the Scorpion³ and the Serpent ⁴ which are universally recognized in astronomy.    Because of their interactive relationship, they are often grouped together.    In the night sky, the scorpion is always at the feet of the man.    Notice that there are several actions taking place:

1. The scorpion is positioned to sting the foot of the man,

2. The man's foot is on the head of the scorpion, and

3. The man has a serpent held in his arms - the serpent is struggling to reach a crown (just outside our picture).

Ophiucus - The Serpent Holder and
Scorpio - The Scorpion

Although the illustrations are ancient, they are unusual pictures for any day or age.    The Bible says, "The heavens declare the glory of God. . . ." (Psalm 19:1-4)    This is true in many ways.    The heavens portray the Creator's majesty and power on a grand scale, but it seems they also declare the coming and work of the Savior, who, himself, is the "glory of God" (2 Cor. 4:6).    The pictures will be used to illustrate the work of Jesus in becoming our Balm of Gilead.    As you read the scriptures, please keep in mind that Satan is portrayed in the Bible as a serpent and a lion, in addition to other metaphors (names).

Searching the Scriptures

Our Bible search begins in Genesis 3:15, where Adam and Eve have sinned in the Garden of Eden.   The Plan made before the creation of the world is put into effect.   God himself gives the very first prophecy of a coming mighty Offspring or Seed.   He addresses the serpent, who has deceived the woman, and says,

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

In other passages, we learn more about the work and identity of this mighty man:

You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent (Psalm 91:13).

Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance?    You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.    You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:18-20).

Satan as a Scorpion

From the Beginning, Satan has been the enemy of mankind, and he takes many forms while accomplishing his evil deeds.    In addition to the serpent and the lion, the Bible also refers to him as a scorpion.    An example of this is found in Luke 10:17-19, where Jesus sent out the 72 disciples to heal the sick and preach the coming Kingdom.

The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." He [Jesus] replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you."

In a country where it was often hot and dry, the power to trample on snakes and scorpions may have been a physical protection the 72 disciples enjoyed, but it was most emphatically a spiritual power given them by Jesus, for demons are spirit beings.

Jesus - Stronger than Satan

As the pictures also illustrate, the Bible teaches that Jesus is stronger than Satan (the serpent). In Luke 11, Jesus has healed a man who was demon possessed. When some in the crowd dared to suggest Jesus drove out the demon by the power of Beelzebub (the prince of demons), Jesus made the observation that a "house divided against itself will fall." Satan would not work against himself to his own destruction. Therefore, someone stronger than Satan had come into the world. Jesus said,

. . . if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up the spoils (Luke 11:20-22).

At this point, we have explored Bible prophecy as it relates to the picture, and the composition of the heavenly picture. We know the identity of the scorpion/serpent, and the identity and strength (or power) of the mighty man. But how does this apply to the Balm of Gilead? To begin with, let's take a closer look at nature's healing balm.

Nature's Evidence: The Balm of Gilead

An article in the Sept./Oct., 1996, issue of Biblical Archaeology Review magazine contains an insightful report on the excavation of En Gedi (in Gilead). It was at the oasis community of En Gedi that the balm of Gilead (balsam oil) referred to in the Bible was manufactured.

Is there no balm in Gilead?

Is there no physician there?

Why then is there no healing

for the wound of my people?

(Jeremiah 8:22)

The healing properties of the balm of Gilead were known throughout the world. Balm is described from antiquity as being a "rare, fragrant, and intoxicating unguent." Its properties to heal wounds bordered on the miraculous, and its fragrance was like an aphrodisiac in its effects. It was extremely valuable and often used for barter. The caravans that carried Joseph to slavery in Egypt were loaded with balm (Gen. 37:25). The value of the balsam oil to the En Gedi community and the ancient world became obvious during the excavation. The tower where it had been distilled was so well fortified that the archaeologist directing the dig remarked, "This place was built like Fort Knox." In addition, the manufacturing or distilling process for the oil was a "trade secret," and the villagers of En Gedi were sworn to secrecy. This warning inscription was uncovered on the village synagogue's (4th century A.D.) mosaic floor:

Whoever reveals the secret of the village to the gentiles, the One whose eyes roam over the entire earth and see what is concealed will uproot this person and his seed from under the sun."

Today, a related strain of the balsam tree is cultivated in the southern Arabian peninsula and Somalia, and the oil is processed for use. Its application remains the same now as it was in biblical days: The balm is used as an antidote for snakebites and scorpion stings.

Jesus is the Spiritual Balm of Gilead

Nature's balm illustrates the spiritual balm in a beautiful and graphic way. Jesus is fragrant -- the fragrance of life (2 Cor. 2:16) and our highly desirable bridegroom (Song of Solomon 1:2). But the most important attribute of the spiritual balm of Gilead is this: Jesus is the antidote for sin and Satan's "sting of death."

When Jesus died, Satan believed he had the victory -- but in reality, he had only stung the heel of the Son of God (1 Cor. 15:54-57). God resurrected Jesus with great power (Romans 1:4). By conquering death's sting, Jesus became the antidote or balm that heals our wounds and protects us. He is the tree of life whose leaves are "for the healing of the nations" (Rev. 22:2).

By the power of God, Jesus became the firstfruits of the resurrection (1 Cor. 15:20). At the end of time, all those who have been led by faith to participate in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ by baptism will also be raised, never to die -- for they are resting in the One who is the antidote for death (Romans 6:3-10). Death is the last enemy to be destroyed (1 Cor. 15:26), and Jesus is the Seed promised since the beginning of time who can do it. He alone has the "treading power" referred to throughout the Bible. On the day of judgment, we will see Jesus complete the final act of victory. Loved and protected, we will stand in amazement, as the God of peace crushes Satan (death) under our feet (Romans 16:20).

With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies. (Psalm 108:13)

Treading down the enemy is not without its hazards. Since Jesus shared in our humanity, his human body received wounds, stripes, and piercings from the battle (Isaiah 53). Recent archaeological evidence shows that some crucifixion victims of this time period actually had their legs turned sideways and nails driven through their heels, not just through their feet. We don't know if Jesus was crucified in this manner, but when we consider this fact and the prophecy about Jesus' heel being stung or bruised, it seems plausible. Once again, the Bible shows the accuracy of its historical settings and demonstrates the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

A Special Anointing

Please read again the story below of a special anointing. I hope you will see a symbolism in it you may never have noticed before. It is a beautiful sketch of faith expressing itself in love -- and a fitting place to reflect on what Jesus, the amazing Balm of Gilead, has done for us. Enjoy the reading.

Then he [Jesus] turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven -- for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace" (Luke 7:36-45).

Endnotes

1. Music by Lowell Mason (w. 1848) based on Handel (w. 1742).
2. Words by Isaac Watts (w. 1719).
3. Scorpio (one of the 12 major constellations).
4. Ophiuchus, a decan (minor constellation) of Scorpio.

by D. W. Belote (1998)

Recommended next: Signs of the Zodiac