Leviticus 12-15
Maintaining Purity

Exodus 13 tells of how the Israelites were to handle the deadly disease of leprosy in the camp of God. The leprosy spoken of here was a disease of unknown certainty to us, but we do know it was a terrible skin disease that was very contagious.

One who suspected they had contracted leprosy was to be examined by the holy priest of God who would determine the affected area's seriousness. The person was monitored for seven days, and if found to be infected with leprosy, then they were cast out of the camp. Such were the harsh realities in a primitive, nomadic world. As they wandered outside the camp, they were to warn others of their disease by wearing torn clothing, unkempt hair, and crying out "Unclean! Unclean!"

Chapter 14 details how he could be accepted back into the Hebrew encampment once the disease was gone and he had been inspected by the priest. Sacrifices would be made, monitoring would continue, but after seven days, his life would begin to return to normal.

Leprosy is not something we are used to facing, and the reality is we likely won't, so these instructions may seem to mean little to us. But, the disease of sin is one that parallels leprosy today, except is it far more pervasive. Several things noted above about leprosy apply to sin as well.

Sin is a holy pronouncement. God alone determines what is sinful and what is not. Many things may appear acceptable to us, but God is the judge of what is right and what is wrong. We learn of sin only from an examination of scripture (1 John 3:4-sin is acting without law). When God pronounces us unclean because of sin, the consequences are dire.

Second, our sin makes us unclean. We discussed in our last "AGW" that we as Christians are to be holy as priest of God. When we sin, and stand under God's pronouncement as sinners, we are no longer holy-set apart and unique. We are no longer clean before God. And, in some cases, sinners who fail to repent are literally cast out of the family of God (1 Corinthians 5)

Third, our sin can infect others. No man stands as an island to himself. As we have discussed before, the sins of the parents often become the sins of the children. The sins of church leaders have had devastating effects on churches. We would be thoughtful in times of sin to warn others of our true spiritual condition by crying out "Unclean! Unclean!"-but often we are not thoughtful, but arrogant, and others suffer with us.

Finally, (and this is the good news), sinners can be brought back into the family of God. Like leprosy, sin does not have to remain with the sinner forever. When that which defiles us has been removed through God's grace brought about by repentance, we are welcomed back into the fold by God and His people (2 Corinthians 2:5-11).