Be Clean - Leviticus 13-15

Leviticus 15:19-24 (ESV)

“When a woman has a discharge, and the discharge in her body is blood, she shall be in her menstrual impurity for seven days, and whoever touches her shall be unclean until the evening. And everything on which she lies during her menstrual impurity shall be unclean. Everything also on which she sits shall be unclean. And whoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening. And whoever touches anything on which she sits shall wash his clothes and bathe himself in water and be unclean until the evening. Whether it is the bed or anything on which she sits, when he touches it he shall be unclean until the evening. And if any man lies with her and her menstrual impurity comes upon him, he shall be unclean seven days, and every bed on which he lies shall be unclean.

It is amazing that the above subject is addressed in the Bible, let alone in the book of Leviticus, since it is a book of instructions for the priest.  But cleanliness and impurity were all part of the priestly duty for the nation of Israel. Remember, there were no med-centers available in those days.  There were no official doctor offices. The priest was all that to over one million people leaving in tents and wandering in the wilderness.   The reason for the above rules and laws was to keep everyone clean.  Illness would travel fast in this setting and God’s goal was to keep the nation alive to be a witness for Him.   An interesting story about this law protected  Rachel from her uncle searching for his idols among her things.  He was dissuaded about being unclean due to her menstrual cycle.  

Genesis 31:34-35 (ESV)

Now Rachel had taken the household gods and put them in the camel’s saddle and sat on them. Laban felt all about the tent, but did not find them. And she said to her father, “Let not my lord be angry that I cannot rise before you, for the way of women is upon me.” So he searched but did not find the household gods.

God is concerned with all aspects of our lives.  He is concerned about our cleanliness and heath.  Nothing falls out of the domain of His love for us.