Leviticus chapter 13-14

A Little info from watching Day of Discovery. Leprosy is still a major problem today in some parts of the world. It is characterized by a lack of pain sensation. Many of the sores associated with lepers are simply damage and infections from wounds caused by not knowing your hurt. Hot pots don’t burn. Getting a cut doesn’t bother as much and the eyes are particularly damaged because the victims don’t know there is a problem until the damage is done. The idea that parts of the body fall off was debunked when it was realized that they were dealing with a rat problem. Victims can’t feel the bite and with no reaction to being bitten rats feel free to make a meal. The Missionaries profiled on the program made great strides in improvi8ng life for India's lepers with a key roll given to pet cats that protect them from rats.

God’s message to me: God is making it clear that He knows the problems we face and how to deal with them.

Promises: I can be forgiven and made clean. There is very little in the bible that could not be forgiven and resulted in the death penalty. several things that could result in a death sentence could be forgiven by victims or relatives of victims with atonement resulting in forgiveness.

The ceremonial cleansing for lepers looks a lot like the cleansing of priests and, we will later see a very similar description of cleansing those who take oaths of service to God. To me, this shows God can clean anyone and the cleansing process is the same for everyone. Contrary to the politically correct view there is only one way for God and other paths are no better than the profane fire offered by Aaron’s sons.

Commands: BE REASONABLE. There are those who would take the idea of God’s protection to extremes. The Lord gave the job of handling the lepers to the priests who held special protection from God. For everyone else He set rules in place regarding quarantine and sanitation to protect the “average Joe”.

For those called to help the sick and those with a heart to bring them comfort we trust God for our protection and take the reasonable precautions he has provided. I certainly had little fear of illness from treating patients when I was in the Ambulance Service. I knew God wouldn’t send me into a situation and not protect me. On the other hand, I didn’t hesitate to wear protective clothing, latex gloves and even masks and eye protection when appropriate. I knew, when I didn’t have these things available, I could count on God’s protection while treating patients but I also knew that I had protective gear for a reason.

Timeless principles: The first time I read this section the problem with mold in houses was just starting to make a lot of headlines. It struck me, that the bible was describing the exact same problem and the solution. We have built an extensive and expensive industry on containment and removal of this hazardous mold which we often take to extremes when it isn’t warranted. The bibles plan was perfectly reasonable. Wash and disinfect. If that doesn’t kill it cut it out and get rid of it. If it appears elsewhere the entire clothing article, piece of furniture or house or whatever should be gotten rid of.

It seems extreme but, it’s the same thing experts do today with the exception of the first steps. To often we skip the easy solutions and move to the extreme out of fear.

How can I apply what I’ve learned: This is a lesson that applies to all of life. Problems will arise in all things. Try the simple solutions first and give them time to work. If they fail you can move on to the more extreme measures but, there is no point in rushing to the extreme until you know it is necessary.

more to learn for in-depth study: Leprosy, today, is a specific diagnosis of a specific disease. Leprosy in the bible, based on the variety of symptoms mentioned, appears to refer to a number of contagious illnesses as well as to mold infestations in the case of clothing, materials and buildings with leprous plagues. God provided the priests with several basic diagnostic tests in addition to His direct connection with them in the temple to help the priests decide who might or might not be contagious. This also marks an early form of Quarantine which extended to having the lepers removed from the camp after diagnosis. They could still remain with their people but lived away from them and warned anyone coming near them by crying “Unclean” so that the spread of disease would be minimized.

The cleansing and sacrifices for lepers who had healed made perfect sense under the circumstances. God promised to protect his people from the common diseases of the land. Obedience to His command would result in health and vitality without concern for the major illnesses. As a result, leprosy and other major illnesses could be legitimately seen as a curse from God for something they had done. Indeed, Moses sister would be cursed with leprosy for a time after attacking Moses choice in wives later in the story.

Today, we rarely blame illness on a curse from God. I say rarely because some churches do claim that is the cause. Remember that the promise was made to the children of Israel when conquering a land filled with people doing things that were an abomination to God. They were going to see the results of God’s anger on these people and God promised not to curse them as he had cursed the people living in Canaan. Indeed, this fact could be seen to show some plagues are God’s reminder to people in rebellion against Him even in the modern era.

Tomorrows assignment: Leviticus chapter 15-17