Holiness Takes on Many Forms
This is the law for him who has a discharge and for him who has an emission of semen, becoming unclean thereby; also for her who is unwell with her menstrual impurity, that is, for anyone, male or female, who has a discharge, and for the man who lies with a woman who is unclean.
The above passage is a summary statement for all that Moses has stated in this section. This particular section is about natural and unnatural discharges that come from a man or woman. Bodily functions happen and God was concerned about how the nation of Israel lived their lives. We have to realize that this is a Biblical time. This was over two-million people living in tents and traveling by foot. God has supplied their need for food and their need for water. We even know that God made sure their clothes did not wear out.
But to this day the LORD has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear. I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn off your feet.
But, God was also concerned about their physical well-being and that they were a reflection of His holiness. The above word for “law” is the Hebrew word, “Torah.” This is not a suggestion for the nation. It was a “law” for them to observe. The summary includes both natural and unnatural happenings. There are a number of reasons God was concerned about this area of their lives, but here are three:
1. God was concerned about diseases that might spread throughout the rustic camp. They didn’t always have the best living conditions. But, God, in His sovereign care wanted to make sure they had the best possible living conditions. To assure God’s plan would be affective, however, they had to obey,
2. God is holy. This is the theological reason for this law. God was dwelling with the people. Anything He is in contact with must also be holy. We can not understate them. We might recall the woman in Mark 5 that had the issue of blood. When she even touched the garment of Jesus she was made whole. God is holy and cannot be touched by that which is unholy.
3. God wants the nation to fully represent them to the surrounding nations. Their purity was their testimony. God demands that we are holy, even as He is holy. We are to be a peculiar people for God (1 Peter 2:9).
The nation of Israel will, of course, over the years, violate these laws. They neither protected their own, kept God’s people holy or demonstrated holiness to the world around them. But, that was because they failed to follow in obedient faith. Not because the law (Torah) was ineffective.
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