Leprosy is a very graphic illustration of sin and its effects on humanity: it is contagious and needs to be quarantined; it is invasive, deforming, debilitating; it is terminal. During Bible times, nobody recovered from it except through a direct miracle of God.
In the first part of Leviticus 13, God gave guidelines for determining if a person had contracted leprosy. Toward the end of the chapter, He describes what to do if a garment appeared to have a similar problem. These guidelines applied to any type of cloth or leather article – clothing, vessel, or instrument – and are referring to some type of mold or mildew. If the owner noticed that there was an unusual color – greenish (pale green) or reddish – he was to notify a Priest to have the article evaluated. The priest would initially examine it and quarantine it 7 days. If the discoloration had spread within that time, it was considered a corroding plague and the article was burned. If it had not spread, it was washed and quarantined 7 more days. If, after washing, the color of the plague was unchanged, though it had not spread, it was burned. If it had changed color darker, that part was taken out. If, after removal, it still persisted, it was burned. If washing seemed to cure the problem, it was washed again and was then considered clean.
1. suspicion
2. evaluation
3. quarantined 7 days
4. inspection
A. if spread, it was UNCLEAN and was burned
B. if not spread, it was laundered and quarantined 7 days
5. inspection
A. if no change in color, it was UNCLEAN and burned
B. if changed to a darker color, that part was torn out and the garment quarantined again
6. inspection
A. if still present, it was UNCLEAN and burned
B. if disappeared, it was CLEAN and laundered and useable
This protocol involves some interesting symbolism revealing how and why God has dealt with sin in the way He has. When sin first appeared in humanity (Adam and Eve), He quarantined them from the rest of the universe’s inhabitants.
And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. Genesis 3:22-24
When sin developed to an alarming level in the earth, He first “laundered” it with a flood.
And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. Genesis 6:5-7
When sin and rebellion reoccurred after the flood, He separated the people.
And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Genesis 11:5-8
Because sin has persisted, the earth and its sinful inhabitants will finally be burned.
When the article was evaluated after the first quarantine, if it was not condemned outright as unclean, it was washed and re-evaluated. If it was determined to be clean after other inspections, it was washed again before it could be used normally. God’s people are initially washed (baptism), then given time for development, then evaluated again.
Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. Isaiah 1:16-20
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, Revelation 1:5
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Matthew 16:27
After a lifetime of character development, many receive a special baptism to bring them to completeness – the baptism of suffering.
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Matthew 3:11
But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: Mark 10:38, 39
Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 1 Peter 4:1
The season of distress and anguish before us will require a faith that can endure weariness, delay, and hunger – a faith that will not faint though severely tried. The period of probation is granted to all to prepare for that time. Jacob prevailed because he was persevering and determined. His victory is an evidence of the power of importunate prayer. All who will lay hold of God’s promises, as he did, and be as earnest and persevering as he was, will succeed as he succeeded. Those who are unwilling to deny self, to agonize before God, to pray long and earnestly for His blessing, will not obtain it. Wrestling with God – how few know what it is! How few have ever had their souls drawn out after God with intensity of desire until every power is on the stretch. When waves of despair which no language can express sweep over the suppliant, how few cling with unyielding faith to the promises of God. The Great Controversy, p. 621
In relation to all this symbolism, the questions come to mind (and are answered):
Why are we still here?
Why has sin been allowed to go on for so long?
God is allowing time to observe developments. Wherever sin persists, does not change, or gets worse, He will destroy. Where there is a change for the better, He will cleanse and save.
These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. Revelation 17:14
In considering the protocol that God gave for dealing with leprosy, one of the thoughts that occurred to me was that the Priest did not go out on patrol looking for the leprosy so he could condemn the person or house or garment wherever he discovered it. The individual came to the Priest with the suspected problem and then the Priest took appropriate action. God is omnipresent (everywhere at once); He is omniscient (knows everything); He is omnipotent (all-powerful). He has the ability to find and eliminate sin wherever it occurs by merely exercising those powers, but He allows us the opportunity to come to Him so He can work with us in a cooperative way to take care of the problem. He does not go against our will until the time of final judgment when He speaks those fateful words:
. . . the time is at hand. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. Revelation 22:10, 11
We need to invite our Priest to examine us and deal with the sin that we are aware of and to reveal what we may not be aware of yet. He is the faithful and true Witness (Rev. 3:14); we can trust His evaluation.
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalm 139:23, 24