Leviticus 15:16-18 (ESV)
“If a man has an emission of semen, he shall bathe his whole body in water and be unclean until the evening. And every garment and every skin on which the semen comes shall be washed with water and be unclean until the evening. If a man lies with a woman and has an emission of semen, both of them shall bathe themselves in water and be unclean until the evening.
The topic of fluids in Leviticus is hard for most of us to understand. We understand what Moses is talking about when he refers to them, but not why he is talking about fluids and/or what it has to do with modern day Christians. It is important to note that in this section there are two types of fluids mentioned:
1. Those fluids that flow naturally from the body as they should (men concerning semen during intercourse and women blood during their menstrual cycle).
2. Those fluids that flow because of unnatural conditions of the body due to diseases and/or dysfunction of the body.
Because, in Moses’ day, it was not as easily to identify the difference between these two types, at times, the priest was often called in to make sure all was well. The people were instructed as to how to handle each. Remember, there are no hospitals in the wilderness (where the nation of Israel was). God wants to make sure four things are true:
1. His people are informed.
2. His people are pure for worship.
3. His people treat life differently than the world.
4. His people are healthy.
This is why we have parts of Leviticus. God wants His people to be cared for during their wilderness wanderings. There were diseases in the world that they needed to be protected from. These instructions are further evidence of God’s character and love for His people.
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