This rhetorical question asked by
Jeremiah addresses the sufficiency of God’s healing ability. Jeremiah asked: “Is
there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has not the health of the daughter of my people
been restored?” Jer. 8:22.
The prophet was devastated that
the condition of his people had moved from bad to worst; a critical condition
which requires generous application of balm. Balm is a natural aromatic
substance extracted from certain resinous plants and utilized for healing and
soothing. So the question of the availability of balm was addressed to Gilead
because in biblical or early times, Gilead was rich in spices and aromatic gums
and provided export to Egypt,
Tyre and Israel. Remember, Joseph was sold
by his brothers to a caravan of Ishmaelite traders who were transporting a
cargo that included balm (Gen. 37:23-28). However, upon settlement, Gilead on the Westside of Jordan became a part of the
Promised Land and the tribe of Gad settled there and continued the balm trade
(Ezk. 27:17).
People had sought the balm of
Gilead to help their illnesses for centuries. So Jeremiah’s question is, “How
can a people who traded in balm be so sick? The physical maladies and brokenness
to which a medicinal balm is needed for a cure can easily be seen from the
point of this reflection as spiritual brokenness and maladies caused by sins,
idolatry and abandonment of our divine calling.
To bring the point home,
questions could be asked: How can a country so rich in human and natural
resources like Nigeria
have citizens who are so poor and deprived? Perhaps there may be balm but the
medicinal effect on the people remains to be seen. May be, just may be; the
balm has been contaminated by sin, lack of due process, indiscipline; general
state of brokenness and disregard to the ethos of life: civil and religious.
Until we generously apply this balm adhering to the prescriptions given, we
cannot but continue to ask: is there no balm in Gilead?
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