Tazria “Conceived”
Leviticus 12:1–13:59; 14:1-15:33
2 Kings 7:3–20; Malachi:3:4-24
1Corinthians 6-11

Remaining Separate

Just a few short days ago it was Passover, a time which teaches about new beginnings. It is about walking away from a life that was and walking into a new life of freedom and choice. Most have never equated the words freedom and choice together, but they go hand in hand. In a life of slavery and bondage, a person has no choices. It is only when he becomes free that choices come into play. The choices one makes will in the end determine if that person remains free or returns to the life of slavery.

In ancient Israel it seems the Holy One made a way for those who were making the wrong choices to have a visible sign for all to see. It was called leprosy. This word we translate to leprosy has multiple meanings and we are not totally sure of its true meaning. We probably don’t really understand what “leprosy” was in Scripture. We do know however that this disease manifested itself in ways that a person was not able to hide. It was a sign to all who would see that something was just not right in the life or in the home. When the leprosy was revealed the person had a choice whether to come before the leaders and be examined or not. If they chose the former, they were on the road to healing. If they chose the latter they were on the road that would eventually lead out of the camp.

Today we are not plagued with this disease in our modern world. Or are we? Maybe it has simply mutated into a different form we are not willing to recognize and deal with.

I personally believe leprosy is just as alive today as it was in the time of Israel and in the time Paul was writing to the Corinthians. It has just taken on a different form.

Today leprosy takes the form of unruly children in the home, chronic sickness, refusal to obey what The Almighty is speaking to us and many other areas of life. Leprosy is manifesting itself in many different ways right under our noses. Maybe we just don’t take the time to see it for what it is, for we know that when we do, we will have to deal with not only its cure, but also its cause.

It may have been a bit easier for the Hebrews to spot leprosy in their day. It was just not something a person could hide very long. Today however, we can come up with all kinds of names to mask the leprosy we deal with. We can take a pill or blame it on our parents, job or surroundings, but the fact is the leprosy of life is becoming harder and harder to hide today.

I have the opportunity to talk with many people from time to time, in this country and others. It seems that a common theme is arising in many of those conversations. People often tell me that HaShem seems to be looking deeper into their lives and is bringing new things to the surface for them to deal with. I can certainly agree with these statements, for He is doing the same thing in my own life. I see it as a time that the leprosy is being called just what it is. It is a time that the excuses are no longer being tolerated. It is a time we are being told to make a choice of which road we desire to walk, the road to restoration or the road that leads out of the camp.

We can all be thankful for these days of leprosy being revealed. It is just one more sign that you will not see on the daily news, but nevertheless, it is a sure sign that His return is very near. It is a day when, just as with the Hebrews, He is causing us to not only become separate from the world’s system, but also to remain separate from it.