Good day dear friends. We thank the Lord for answered prayers in so many lives!
Here is our study guide for today as we continue to address the myth: Science is in conflict with the Christian faith.
Tuesday: Also in the Old Testament we find scientific examinations being done by the priests, who had the power to declare someone as “unclean.” Please find and read Leviticus 13:1-17. While not a very pleasant read, this deals with skin diseases and how God sets up a “test” to verify if someone had indeed contracted this serious disease, and how also these men of God could also declare one “clean.” What are your thoughts on this?
Here is that passage from Leviticus 13:1 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 2 "When anyone has a swelling or a rash or a bright spot on his skin that may become an infectious skin disease, he must be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons who is a priest. 3 The priest is to examine the sore on his skin, and if the hair in the sore has turned white and the sore appears to be more than skin deep, it is an infectious skin disease. When the priest examines him, he shall pronounce him ceremonially unclean. 4 If the spot on his skin is white but does not appear to be more than skin deep and the hair in it has not turned white, the priest is to put the infected person in isolation for seven days. 5 On the seventh day the priest is to examine him, and if he sees that the sore is unchanged and has not spread in the skin, he is to keep him in isolation another seven days. 6 On the seventh day the priest is to examine him again, and if the sore has faded and has not spread in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean; it is only a rash. The man must wash his clothes, and he will be clean. 7 But if the rash does spread in his skin after he has shown himself to the priest to be pronounced clean, he must appear before the priest again. 8 The priest is to examine him, and if the rash has spread in the skin, he shall pronounce him unclean; it is an infectious disease. 9 "When anyone has an infectious skin disease, he must be brought to the priest. 10 The priest is to examine him, and if there is a white swelling in the skin that has turned the hair white and if there is raw flesh in the swelling, 11 it is a chronic skin disease and the priest shall pronounce him unclean. He is not to put him in isolation, because he is already unclean. 12 "If the disease breaks out all over his skin and, so far as the priest can see, it covers all the skin of the infected person from head to foot, 13 the priest is to examine him, and if the disease has covered his whole body, he shall pronounce that person clean. Since it has all turned white, he is clean. 14 But whenever raw flesh appears on him, he will be unclean. 15 When the priest sees the raw flesh, he shall pronounce him unclean. The raw flesh is unclean; he has an infectious disease. 16 Should the raw flesh change and turn white, he must go to the priest. 17 The priest is to examine him, and if the sores have turned white, the priest shall pronounce the infected person clean; then he will be clean.
Okay, not the best topic for breakfast reading. But it is interesting to note that in Scripture, the ancient Israelites had almost all of the major diseases covered by God's word to them. This particular passage is one about leprosy. The priests had this written word on how to "diagnose" it and what to do about it. Those found to be ill with leprosy were declared "unclean" and had to leave the community. Even in Jesus' day, the lepers were forced to live away from the living and even among the dead. One of the reasons was that it was believed to be a contagious disease and those who did not have it did not want to be around it. The other is that leprosy is a disfiguring disease and people did not want to be around those whose faces and bodies were being eaten away.
This is a very scientific area. True, none of the reasons behind the disease are not divulged nor how to treat or even cure the disease, but measures taken were considered very scientific for those times. It is interesting to note that this passage includes what priests are to do for those who find themselves cured. This came in very handy during Jesus' day for He healed many. Of the ten, you will remember, Jesus sent them to the priests for them to be declared clean and welcome to rejoin the living. Of the ten, it was only one, and he not even a Jew, that returned to thank Jesus for what He had done for him.
Again, we affirm that science is not in conflict with Christianity. If anything, the two go hand in hand in trying to explain God's big picture for all of life.
PRAYER: God we sometimes think we know so much and other times we realize we don't know enough. But help us know that You are here for us and that we should be here for You. Speak to our hearts today and all days, the wonder of Your love. In the name of He who heals even today, Jesus the Lord, amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
