Leviticus
chapter 13 is an amazing chapter because it describes the role of the
priest in diagnosing leprosy. This diagnosis was not left up to
chance, but was given only after careful examination, a period of
isolation then noting changes to the condition of the skin. Leprosy
is a horrible, progressive “rotting” of the skin. Leprosy
was considered to be a living death, incurable and 100% fatal. There
is no evidence that leprosy existed in the Hebrew nation prior to
their captivity in Egypt, and the Hebrew priests were the first to
recognize the signs and isolate the leper from society. The chapter
begins, “When
anyone has a swelling of a rash, or a bright spot… he must be
brought to Aaron the priest… the priest is to examine the
skin….“.
The
process would then require a seven-day waiting period in isolation
before he was reexamined. The skin would be examined for change and
would be pronounced clean or unclean. Even if the “patient”
is pronounced clean, his clothes must be washed to eliminate and
suspicion. Once a diagnosis was confirmed, “The
person… must wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkempt, cover the
lower part of the face and cry out, “Unclean, unclean!”…
He must live alone and must live outside the camp“.
It is clear that this disease was dealt with immediately and
radically. A leper lost everything, business, family, friends and
any comfort. He was immediately humbled, not arguing his cleanness
but accepted the pronouncement of unclean. It was a deadly serious
pronouncement.
In
Jesus day, leprosy was considered to be a judgment from God as a
consequence of the sin in the life of the man. Even today, people
tend to think when something bad happens, God is judging them for
wrongdoing. Conversely, people believe when they are prospering,
that God is endorsing their life as acceptable. How tragic. GOD
DOES NOT BLESS US (nor curse us) ACCORDING TO OUR LEVEL OF
RIGHTEOUSNESS. “There
are none righteous, no not one”
(Romans 3:10). Do not be deceived; death and disease entered the
world because of the sin of Adam. Because we are all his
descendants, we inherited his sin nature. The consequences of this
sin nature are designed to prove our need for salvation. John 9:2,
the disciples ask Jesus, “Who
sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?”
They missed the point as well, but Jesus explains to them, “Neither
this man sinned, nor his parents, but it was in order that the works
of God may be displayed in him“.
Sin entered the world through man’s rebellion, but God uses it to
lead ALL to restoration. A careful look at the book of Job reveals
that God not only allows Satan to torment Job, but it was even God’s
suggestion, “Have
you considered my servant Job?”
(Job 1:8). Each of his friends accuse him of sinning against God,
even his wife tells him to “curse
God and die“.
God uses Job to teach us, He is sovereign over all things. Job
questions God, but never doubts God’s word. In the end Job’s friends
are saves through Job’s faith, and when Job prays for his friends,
“The
Lord restored the fortunes of Job… and the Lord increased all that
Job had twofold“.
Leviticus
chapter 13 ends with a discussion of contaminated clothing. “If
it is unclean, burn it with fire“.
We see that leprosy was not tolerated or ignored. We see they
recognized the innocent spot can spread rapidly and destroy the body.
Because of modern sanitation, drugs and treatments, leprosy is
almost unknown in the western world. But leprosy is a symbol of how
we need to deal with sin in our lives. We cannot be casual in
dealing with sin in our own life, the innocent sin can rapidly grow
and spread and destroy our witness to those around us. We are not
condemned when we blow it, but like the woman caught in adultery,
Jesus tells you and I, “Neither
do I condemn you; go your way and sin no more”
(John 8:11). When others see the forgiveness we have not earned,
they too will be drawn to our Merciful God.