The Law-08

The Law from God covers a multitude of conditions and warnings, but all for our own good. They are actually a blessing in disguise. But, we don’t like restrictions on anything we really want to do or even believe. Body discharges are not always something that is talked about, but we all know what is meant.

Leviticus 15:1  The LORD also spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 15:2  "Speak to the sons of Israel, and say to them, 'When any man has a discharge from his body, his discharge is unclean. 15:3  'This, moreover, shall be his uncleanness in his discharge: it is his uncleanness whether his body allows its discharge to flow or whether his body obstructs its discharge. 

What does this warning include or cover? A few unpleasant conditions do come to mind. The stomach flu, intestinal flu, food poisoning, etc. all would be included.

15:4  'Every bed on which the person with the discharge lies becomes unclean, and everything on which he sits becomes unclean. 15:5  'Anyone, moreover, who touches his bed shall wash his clothes and bathe in water and be unclean until evening; 15:6  and whoever sits on the thing on which the man with the discharge has been sitting, shall wash his clothes and bathe in water and be unclean until evening. 15:7  'Also whoever touches the person with the discharge shall wash his clothes and bathe in water and be unclean until evening. 15:8  'Or if the man with the discharge spits on one who is clean, he too shall wash his clothes and bathe in water and be unclean until evening.

We all know what kind of cleanup is often required after one of these illnesses. Of course, we have indoor plumbing, showers and bathtubs, and toilets, none of which were available to the Israelites some 3000+ years ago.

15:9  'Every saddle on which the person with the discharge rides becomes unclean. 15:10  'Whoever then touches any of the things which were under him shall be unclean until evening, and he who carries them shall wash his clothes and bathe in water and be unclean until evening. 15:11  'Likewise, whomever the one with the discharge touches without having rinsed his hands in water shall wash his clothes and bathe in water and be unclean until evening. 

To give a very visible example of the need to wash everything is seen in hospitals every day. Hospitals have also been guilty of missing some of these precautions and infections spread quickly throughout the hospital. We expect everyone involved to take every precaution today.

15:12  'However, an earthenware vessel which the person with the discharge touches shall be broken, and every wooden vessel shall be rinsed in water. 

Pottery is porous and therefore can harbor unseen pathogens. Most of our diseases come from small transfers of disease and bacteria. God did not leave any room for disease in jars.

15:13  'Now when the man with the discharge becomes cleansed from his discharge, then he shall count off for himself seven days for his cleansing; he shall then wash his clothes and bathe his body in running water and will become clean. 15:14  'Then on the eighth day he shall take for himself two turtledoves or two young pigeons, and come before the LORD to the doorway of the tent of meeting and give them to the priest; 15:15  and the priest shall offer them, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. So the priest shall make atonement on his behalf before the LORD because of his discharge. 

This is hard to make perfect sense or understanding from in regards to a sin offering. We all know that God punishes people with diseases due to their disobedience. This is very similar to the offering required for a leper.

Jeremiah 14:12  "When they fast, I am not going to listen to their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I am not going to accept them. Rather I am going to make an end of them by the sword, famine and pestilence."

God repeated this warning thru Jeremiah some 9 times, but they would not listen.

So God does use disease as both a warning and a judgment. Therefore, a sin sacrifice in these examples is required. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

More next Saturday.