Two solid chapters of the book of Leviticus have been dedicated to the subject of leprosy by God.
Strong’s Hebrew and Greek dictionaries say the Greek word for leprosy is “lepra”, meaning “scaliness” (from G3014). Leprosy is a bacterial infection that attacks the nervous system and the coolest part of the body before enveloping the entire body of the patient. God used leprosy as a type of sin to teach us the debilitating power of sin in our lives.
First of all, let’s see how leprosy works and the effects it has on the patient. After that, we shall relate it to sin, like the leprosy of the soul.
Leprosy has an insignificant beginning. It starts very small, almost unnoticeable and slowly. It attacks the nervous system and other sensitive parts of the body such as the eyes and the nose before showing as an insignificant spot, a bright place, or a mere scale on the skin (Leviticus 13:2). It is difficult to detect the initial development.
Even though the damaging effects of leprosy are on the outside of the body, the real cause of the disease is lying underneath the surface. The sores and the drop of the extremities and other complications are just indications of the disease, but the cause is deeper. Hence Leprosy is an inward disease.
Leprosy maybe with a person unnoticed for a reasonable number of years. Yet, as it continues to grow, its effect will manifest and everyone will know that a particular person has the disease. Hence, leprosy cannot be hidden.
Another attribute of leprosy is that it has the propensity to increase. Leprosy starts slowly, but it increases if not healed. It keeps damaging the body and aggravates the health situation of the patient.
Since leprosy attacks and destroys the nervous system, the skin, and other sensitive organs, the patient is insensitive to pain. The outcome is that all the joints in the later stages contract and the hands, feet, and ankles claw. Leprosy does not only deform the body but also makes it unclean and smelling. You will not like to set your eyes on a leper twice.
The social and spiritual problem associated with leprosy is that it brings about isolation. God gave the Israelites strict laws relating to leprosy. They were to put outside the camp all those who had the disease.
“All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be”. (Leviticus 13:46)
“Command the children of Israel that they put out of the camp every leper...” (Numbers 5: 2)
Not only did leprosy separate loved ones, but also separated the infected person from the presence of God. They were considered ceremonially unclean, which means they were unable to go to the temple to worship. The temple was where God manifested His presence.
It is important and amazing to note that only God could cure leprosy in ancient Israel. The disease was regarded as incurable by human means. They had to depend solely on God for healing. Miriam and Naaman were healed of their leprosy by God. What is impossible with men is possible with God.
Leprosy required atonement. “And the remnant of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall pour upon the head of him that is to be cleansed: and the priest shall make atonement for him before the LORD. And the priest shall offer the sin offering, and make atonement for him that is to be cleansed from his uncleanness, and afterward, he shall kill the burnt offering. And the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the meat offering upon the altar: and the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be clean” (Leviticus14:18-20).
Finally, the garment of a leprous person is burnt in the fire “He shall, therefore, burn that garment, whether warp or woof, in woolen or in linen or anything of skin, wherein the plague is: for it is fretting leprosy; it shall be burnt in the fire.” (Lev 13:52)
This is the law for all manner of plague of leprosy, and scab.
Sin is the leprosy of the soul, the antitype of leprosy and therefore, is in like manner of its type. Sin has an insignificant beginning. Sin begins in the mind, just a corrupt thought. It just begins with an urge, a lust, and an evil desire. Turn to the book of James chapter one, the thirteenth and the fourteenth verses, and it says:
“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.”
We are enticed by our evil desires, lust and thought if not put away. When the evil thought and desire to get a foothold, it alters the mind, the moral fiber and then, changes our deeds and words.
Again, sin starts from the inward part of a man then it begins to show itself in public, we then tend to defend and justify our sins, but it all starts from within just like leprosy.
The Bible tells us that “but those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” (Mat 15:19).
Just like leprosy, sin cannot be hidden before God. Everything is bare before Him even the imagination of our thought. The Bible tells us that God searches the heart
"The heart is more deceitful than anything. It is incurable—who can know it? I am the LORD who searches the heart, who tests the inner depths to give to each person according to what he deserves, according to the fruit of his deeds.” (Jeremiah 17:9-10; ISV)
“Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” (Hebrews 4:13)
Sin has a tendency to increase like leprosy. Small little things we do which are against the law but think are normal leads to bigger ones. One sin leads to another. The more we sin, the more the body likes and desires it, hence the increase.
Sin deforms us spiritually and makes us unclean before God. In a similar way with a leper being viewed as unclean and deformed, when we sin, we are unclean and deformed before God too.
We learned that lepers were cast out from the presence of God by putting them outside the gate of Jerusalem. Sin as the antitype of leprosy also shuts the sinner from the presence of God. Sin puts us at enmity with God, severing our relationship with Him.
Our spiritual leprosy hides God’s face from us. Just as when we see a leper or look at pictures of it, we turn away so, too God wouldn’t like to see the sinner. Leprosy is not a good thing to look at the second time, it is repulsive. Sinners are also disgusting to God.
The Bible informs us that “Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you, that he will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1-2)
Also, we found out that leprosy makes the body of its patient dead so does sin renders the conscience dead. We find it difficult to detect that what we are doing is wrong because sin has taken over the entire body. We become more calloused and hardened to the effects of sin in our lives because we have ignored the initial prick it has given us.
Before the leper is dead, he is already a living dead person. “But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.” (1Timothy 5:6) If we allow sin to live inside of us, we are already dead.
"The wages of sin is death..." (Romans 6: 23)
The book of James says that “when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”
Just as leprosy could not be cured by human means so is the sin. No possible effort of human will or determination has ever availed to free a man from sin. Neither culture nor intelligence or self-righteousness has ever freedman from his sins.
One, therefore, has to depend on God Almighty for healing. Only God can heal us of our spiritual leprosy. There are no other means. We must always adapt to God's method of salvation. We might think that there are better ways of doing things but no. It just leads to frustration and distraction. The only atonement for us in our sins is the atonement that Jesus Christ made.
Just as the leper must come in contact with the sacrifice made for him so must the sinner come in contact with the blood of Jesus for the healing of his spiritual leprosy!
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”. (Romans 5:8)
Like leprous garments are fit only for the fire, so do those who die clothed in sin will burn forever!
“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41)
Conclusion
We are sinners deserving judgment. God being a just God punishes sin. If God were to let sin go unpunished, it would mean that He Himself is unjust. So how could God justify sinners without himself being tainted? He did it by bearing the justice and wrath that sin deserved when the Father sent the Son to die on the cross.As sinners, we cannot find our way back to God, therefore Jesus Christ as the high priest, went forth to seek and save that which was lost (Luke 19: 10; Leviticus. 14:3)
Jesus Christ offered Himself for the atoning of our souls. He died outside the gate of Jerusalem as a ransom for all. For those who have faith in Jesus and do the will of God, their sins will be forgiven because their just punishment was placed upon Christ.
God will judge every sin; He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts. His wrath will either be poured out on the sinner or upon Christ in their place. Would you like your just punishment to be placed on Jesus Christ for free or you pay for it yourself by eternal destruction? This substitution is why God can be both just and the justifier of sinners
We may learn in the book of Matthew that a leper approached Jesus for the healing of his leprosy and indeed Christ healed him. (Matthew 8:1-4) We can also confidently approach Jesus with our spiritual leprosy. When we plead for cleansing and forgiveness, He will not turn us away.
Are you healed and cleansed of your spiritual leprosy, if not what are you waiting for?
“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will let him take the water of life freely.” (Revelation 22:17)
Unless otherwise stated all scriptures are taken from the King James Version (KJV).
You need help? Get in touch with the church of Christ nearest you.
0 Comments