<\/p>\n
Leviticus 12:1-14:32<\/strong><\/span> Today in Leviticus chapter 13 we read about contagious skin diseases and mildew.\u00a0 Quite a chapter! It does make sense to me that this level of detail is given by God on these topics.\u00a0 These instructions were health instructions for the community of Israel as a whole.\u00a0 The NIV Study Bible notes that \u201cthe ceremonially unclean were excluded from the camp (the area around the tabernacle and courtyard), where the Israelites lived in tents.\u00a0 Later, no unclean persons were allowed in the temple area, where they could mingle with others.\u201d\u00a0 I look at this from the standpoint that they did not have medicines back then to heal people of these contagious diseases \u2013 and as such, the only way to keep the diseases from spreading to the entire population was to isolate the sick.\u00a0 I know this doesn\u2019t sound compassionate on the surface\u2026 but was there a better option at that time?\u00a0 In the New Testament we read about Jesus curing people of leprosy, which was a couple of thousand of years later.\u00a0 It\u2019s obvious that skin diseases were a major issue in Moses\u2019 day and through Jesus\u2019 day \u2013 as was mildew during Israel\u2019s rainy season of October through March \u2013 particularly along the coast and by the Sea of Galilee where it is very humid.\u00a0 Matthew Henry\u2019s Concise Commentary on Leviticus chapter 13 begins <\/span>at this link<\/span> and you\u2019ll see a few \u201cNext Commentary\u201d links at the bottom of each page to take you through the chapter.<\/span><\/p>\n On a side note, leprosy, or Hansen\u2019s disease, is still in existence in our world today, though at much lower incidence rates than ever before.\u00a0 It is a sad disease to learn about\u2026\u00a0 I did a google image search on the word leprosy and was pretty shocked by the pictures.\u00a0 The World Health Organization\u2019s website says this \u2013 \u201cToday, diagnosis and treatment of leprosy is easy. Essential work is being carried out to integrate leprosy services into existing, general health services. This is especially important for communities at risk for leprosy, which are often the poorest of the poor and under-served. Full control of leprosy has eluded mainly in some parts of Angola, Brazil, India, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nepal, and United Republic of Tanzania.\u201d\u00a0 More info on leprosy in our world today is at the World Health Organization\u2019s website <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n All of a sudden now these 3 verses about Jesus and leprosy in Matthew chapter 8 verses 1 through 3 really stand out to me\u2026 \u2013 \u201cWhen Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, \u201cLord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.\u201d\u00a0 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. \u201cI am willing,\u201d he said. \u201cBe clean!\u201d Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video:<\/strong> Today\u2019s readings remind me of the song \u201cLegacy\u201d by Nicole Nordeman:<\/span><\/p>\n
~ Click here to read today\u2019s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~<\/span><\/em>
~ Listen to today\u2019s Scripture with <\/em>The ESV Bible<\/em><\/span> ~<\/p>\n