Randy and I decided to walk 3-5 miles daily to strengthen our heart’s ability to keep us alive and well.  If the weather is nice, we walk the paths through our neighborhood.  (Praying over the neighborhoods is good, too) If the weather is not as nice, we walk indoors on a path the width of our home, which isn’t that long so it takes many laps to accomplish our goal.  After diligently doing this for a couple of years, we invested in a small treadmill, to help us reach our goal more efficiently. 

Walking was a unified decision on our part.  The decision made was influenced by considering what quality of life we preferred.  Did we want to live a sedentary life on the couch that leads to diminished energy levels; or did we want to remain as active as possible with our energy levels consistently renewed daily?  We also love to serve—not to be served so the later alternative fit us.  These decisions are indeed a lifestyle choice.  We chose walking with some stretches added so our bodies in this season of life can be at their best.

If we learned anything at all during Covid; we were clearly made aware that clean health practices matter to the quality of life we desire!  We must be cleansed from the diseases that enter our world daily.  So, we do our part to cleanse ourselves daily.  Our personal hygiene affects the health of those we live with and those we encounter daily. 

God who created the working of our bodies, is now teaching His beloved people who are walking through the wilderness on their journey to the promised land with how to handle bodily fluids because of childbirth, a women’s cycle, and the circumcision of male babies on the “eighth day” which makes it easier to keep boys clean and healthy. To us now, it all makes sense.  God made a way for purification.  To be declared “clean” promoted good health among His people. 

Leviticus 12

Purification After Childbirth

The Lord said to Moses, ² “Say to the Israelites: ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period. ³ On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised. ⁴ Then the woman must wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her purification are over. ⁵ If she gives birth to a daughter, for two weeks the woman will be unclean, as during her period. Then she must wait sixty-six days to be purified from her bleeding.

⁶ “‘When the days of her purification for a son or daughter are over, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering. ⁷ He shall offer them before the Lord to make atonement for her, and then she will be ceremonially clean from her flow of blood.

“‘These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl. ⁸ But if she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.’”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

I gave birth to three children in my lifetime. Every mom develops rituals to protect the cleanliness and health of their newborns.  Our goal is to keep our beloved infant alive and well!  It’s “inborn” to care for our offspring.  We also understand the care we must take of our own bodies as new moms.

Nothing in Leviticus 12 should be interpreted to teach that human sexuality is “dirty,” that pregnancy is defiling, or that babies are impure. God created humans “male and female” (Genesis 1:27), and when God declared His creation to be “very good” (Genesis 1:31), that declaration included sex and reproduction. He commanded our first parents to “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28). Scripture presents children as blessings from God.  Jesus blessed babies and children when he walked the earth!

Therefore, the theme of this chapter is not personal holiness but ritual purification for the mother, without which she could not return to normal life in her home and in the camp. So, God set forth his laws for purity. These laws included food, childbirth, skin diseases, and bodily fluids for their own protection.  While following God’s laws did provide good hygienic results, they also separated the pure and clean from the impure and unclean. Israel was to be distinct from the pagan nations surrounding them who did not.

Today, we make decisions daily that may not be popular but may be proper.  Do what is right even when no one is looking over your shoulder may not be popular for instance, but it is what God is asking for us to achieve.  The silly “five second rule” for instance, is not a rule to follow when food falls on the dirty floor or ground.  Our goal is good health with less disease.  We all must be taught what is pure as well as holy.  God still teaches us to do what is right today through His Holy Spirit!

God’s Holy Spirit is our guide to wisdom when making decisions.  Many in the world make decisions based on the blowing of the winds of opinion and popularity. But we learn when we follow God that the majority is not always right. If the majority had ruled, the children of Israel never would have left Egypt. They would have voted to stay in bondage. If the majority had ruled, David never would have fought Goliath. His brothers would have voted for him to stay with the sheep.

What’s the point? We must listen to God’s Holy Spirit within us who guides us to all that is true and right.  God says we’re on your way to becoming His disciple when you can keep a clear head and a pure heart before Him.

If we do all that is right, will we escape sickness, heart disease, cancer and other health issues that can lead to our passing?  No, but we can follow a regimen that leads to a better quality of life before God takes us home in His time.  We know our days are numbered.  Walking with Him here prepares us for walking with Him forever!  And when we do what is right and good, God remembers. 

So, in the meantime, we’ll keep walking!  Peace comes from knowing God and doing what He says.

The End Game—Is only the beginning!

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” –Jesus, John 14:1-3

Lord,

May we always look beyond what we see if front us to what lies ahead with expectant hope.  Help us to look beyond Moses to Jesus Christ, the Great Physician, who was wounded that we might be healed as the prophet Isaiah wrote. To you be the glory for teaching, healing, leading, and guiding us to all the is true and right for our good.  Thank you, thank you, thank you! Make us holy as you purify our hearts, minds, and souls.

In Jesus Name, Amen