Leviticus 14 – Leviticus 15

I had to laugh as I read through these chapters, because an image popped into my head. As I sat reading, my mind began painting an interesting picture of what life might have sounded like as Ancient Israel was getting established. Here’s what I mean . . .

Leper’s, once outcast from the community, were required to call out, “Unclean! Unclean!” any time someone approached. What if every instance of uncleanliness that we have been reading about had the same requirement? Can you imagine constantly having to call out “Unclean! Unclean!”?

Ate something you weren’t supposed to . . . “Unclean! Unclean!”
Just had a baby . . . “Unclean! Unclean!”
Found mold in your house . . . “Unclean! Unclean!”
Got a scab . . . “Unclean! Unclean!”
Got a splinter . . . “Unclean! Unclean!”
Stubbed your toe . . . “Unclean! Unclean!”
Visited the funeral home . . . “Unclean! Unclean!”
On your monthly cycle . . . “Unclean! Unclean!”
Made love . . . “Unclean! Unclean!”
Had an ear infection . . . “Unclean! Unclean!”
Got a cold . . . “Unclean! Unclean!”
Just having a bad day . . . “Unclean! Unclean!”

Talk about a babbling bunch of fools! What an image! Now, please realize, most of these “unclean” moments didn’t require making it public knowledge, but what if it did? We’d all be walking around yelling at one another, “Unclean! Unclean!” I guess when you think of it this way, making a ritual sacrifice isn’t quite so bad!

Peace,
Pastor Bailey

Next reading: Leviticus 16 – 18