Sometimes reading sections like this are difficult because of repetition and lack of cultural relevance. But there is still something that we need to learn. Check this out:
Proof.
Finally I have discovered proof in the Bible that boys are better than girls. I can’t wait to tell all my friends. (the male ones).
Of course I am talking about the fact that women were to be considered “unclean” twice as long after giving birth to a girl compared to a boy. What could this possibly mean, except that girls aren’t as good as boys?
On the other hand…maybe I’ve had too much coffee today. (already!). Let me try to be a little more serious here. Yes, for those of you skimming the rambling sentences…I was only kidding, calm down.
It brings up a point however. Is it wrong to eat pork? Today we eat many of the animals that were considered unclean, have we offended God by doing this? No. I reference Jesus’ discussion with Peter on the subject, found in
Acts 10:9-16. Jesus is telling Peter that the requirement to steer clear of animals once considered “unclean” has been removed. Further, Peter is being shown that the Jews aren’t the only ones that Jesus died for. The Gentiles were considered “unclean” by the Jews. It was unthinkable to them that Jesus, who was a Jew, would offer Himself as a sacrifice for Gentiles. That’s why the accounts of the Good Samaritan and the Woman at the Well
are so scandalous. This sort of thing just wasn’t done. Jesus is changing the law. What!? Okay, He isn’t actually changing the Law, He’s fulfilling it. And that brings us to the point of what this whole passage is about.
Mankind needed to recognize that some things are contaminated, and some are not. The contaminated things are considered unclean, and cannot be mingled with the clean things. These crazy sounding requirements about what animals can and can’t be eaten are pointing to the difference between things approved of by God and things not approved.
When I read this passage today, I understand that Jesus isn’t talking about animals or people, but about thoughts and attitudes and actions that are not “clean”. Thousands of years of practice in sacrifice laid the foundation for that all important lesson.
It all points to the fact that Jesus is the pure, sacred sacrifice for our sins. He is the one who is able to make people who are unclean, clean again. It’s no accident that the people had to go to the priest in order to receive a confirmation of cleanliness. We go to Jesus, our High Priest, who pronounces us “clean”.
I suppose there is a similar lesson to be taken from the discussion about different skin rashes and the types of mold. You will notice that in this passage God says “when I send a mold…”. The spreading, dangerous mold came from God…it could have been a way for the Lord to exercise punishment, or to teach a lesson in some way. For instance, when God sent this kind of mold, the people would have to follow certain instructions. Their obedience would please God, and if they disobeyed there would be consequences. The same can be said of our sinful condition! God doesn’t send sin into our lives, but He does make provision for how to eradicate it. If we follow His commands then we are blessed, and if we don’t – there are consequences.
And on top of that all important lesson, these requirements probably had some immediate practical element as well. The food choices could have prevented illness or disease, just like the avoidance of mold. God is keeping them safe and at the same time teaching all of us that there is a difference between what we are, and what we are to become.
Sacrifice is the solution, and holiness is the goal.
Faithfully,
PR