Ben Avraham
Freshman
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2023
- Messages
- 98
- Reaction score
- 38
- Points
- 18
We are taking a look at Leviticus 12:1-15:33.
There are two topics the Bible addresses in these readings. The first is called“Tazriah,” which talks about when a woman gives childbirth, and “Metsora,” which talks about “Tzara-at,” which most Bibles interpret as “leprosy,” but in actuality, the word “Tzara-at” covers ALL skin afflictions and diseases, including the dreaded disease called leprosy, medically known as “Hanson’s disease.
Leviticus Chapter 12 covers childbirth, and YHVH deems “unclean” a woman after giving birth, and she has to stay isolated, 7 days plus 33 days. Altogether, “40” days. We can often wonder why God set aside this time period for purification. Perhaps it was a time to rest and take care of her baby so that the motherly contact would be deep and meaningful.
She has just given birth, and during birth, there is a "loss of blood" by the mother (perhaps not much), but symbolically, a loss of blood = death, yet at the same time, new life has emerged, which is a time of joy and gladness. Life overcomes death. For the period of isolation, the days given are mentioned in the Book of Jubilees 3:8-10 as well as in this reading portion in Leviticus. Jubilees is a book that was part of the Dead Sea Scrolls, yet was not included in the Bible. If anyone is interested, you can read chapter three: www.sefaria.org/Book_of_Jubilees.3.1?lang=bi.
The child is in the womb for 9 months; this is a protected area, a world in itself. Then the child comes out into the world, a new world, contrary to where it was. It has life both inside the womb and outside the womb, yet the child comes forth with the sin nature, and the sin nature brings death. On the 8th day, a male child is to be taken to be circumcised. We see the example in Yeshua, who was taken to the Temple to be circumcised on the 8th day, and Mary and Joseph gave two turtledoves for an offering, since they were poor.
We need to look at childbirth as the coming forth of a new life, yet it had already started 9 months earlier. Both mother and father have an important role in raising this new child in love and teaching this child Biblical values from the beginning. Mom and Dad are the examples to follow.
A child sees and learns from Mom and Dad. If Mom and Dad say the Bible is a guideline, yet they do the opposite, then confusion enters the mind of the child.
Each and every one of us has entered this life through a birth canal. We are born with a sin nature, yet all of us need the "new birth, which gives us a "New Life" through Yeshua, our Messiah, to live for Him and serve Him on Earth. We are just passing through; this Earth is not our permanent home. Let's look at the "Big Picture" eternity with God.
Chapters 13-15 deal with “Tzara-at” (skin diseases). In most Bibles, the word "leprosy" is used. Mold and mildew on clothing and on house walls were also called "Leprosy" or "Tzara-at" An infected person was called a "Metsora" In ancient times, the person with a skin disease had to be isolated outside the camp until he or she got better, and was “healed” there were probably some ointments available then, probably primitive, the priests were not doctors, but acted as “judges” who would “judge” the person “healed” if the disease was temporary, today we have many kinds of skin ailments, Psoriasis, Eczema, simple rashes caused by allergies, scabies, ringworm, etc., were all based under the word “Tzara-at” when the person was well and the disease was no more, the person would offer a sacrifice and return to the camp. Here again, we see a form of “death” (cast out, rejected) and “rebirth” entering into the body of Israel once again after healing.
It is important to note that the priest was not a doctor and could not "cure" a metsora. He only served to diagnose the disease and to declare the person "clean" once the disease was no more. In Biblical times, the idea was that a skin disease was the "outward" punishment for an "internal" sin such as gossip, tale bearing, slander, evil speech, character assassination, etc... Thus, the title "Metsora" comes from the Hebrew words "Motzi-Ra" (he who speaks evil). and also the words "Lashon Hara" (evil tongue) If this were so today, that skin diseases were a revelation of evil speech and slander, then we would ALL be infected at some time or another. I think that we need to always watch our tongues and be careful with the words coming out of our mouths, lest we start "itching and scratching."
Yeshua himself was called the "Leper Messiah" in the Talmud in Sanhedrin 98b. "Who is the Messiah? What is his name? "Metsora" from the House of Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi, because we read Isaiah 53:4..." yet he bore our diseases/sickness, and our suffering he endured..
Our Messiah accepted and brought upon himself all of our “leprosy” of sinfulness, which affects not only our exterior but also our inner being. He was nailed to the cross “outside” of the city, just as one afflicted with leprosy was cast outside of the city. Then he was made whole once again, arising on the third day. Isaiah 53 says that he bore our grief, carried our sorrows, and was stricken and smitten of God, just as a leper is in the same condition, in a state of sorrow and smitten with a deadly disease that consumes the flesh. We remember that the Roman whips “ate up” the flesh of our Messiah, all for our sakes.
Was not Yeshua from the "House of Judah" and was he not also considered "Sar Shalom" (Prince of Peace), Nasi = Prince too, or leader. In another way, the “Metsora” is US! We have been afflicted with “spiritual leprosy,” being our “sinful nature” at birth. When the pure soul from Heaven is introduced into the human body, it becomes part of it and partakes of the sin nature. Both the body and the soul suffer, the body ages, contracts diseases, etc., and without the “born-again” experience, we are “cast outside” of the city; we are forbidden entrance into the Kingdom of God. When we become members of the family of God through Yeshua, He acts as the “priest” who “heals” us. In ancient times, the priest had to visit the leper to see if the leprosy had left the body, “leprosy” being “any kind of skin disease. The priest had no power to heal, only to observe and pronounce “tahor” (clean) or declare “Tamei” (unclean).
However, Yeshua HAS the power to heal, as Isaiah says, “By His stripes we are healed” of the “Tza-arat Nefesh” (the leprosy of the soul). So, we are the “Metsorat” that are HEALED, and integrated into the body of Messiah, and HIS Kingdom someday soon. This is an eternal promise!
Clothing also had to be checked as well. God knew about the dangers of mold and mildew long before man found out. People had to carefully check the fabric of their clothing, and if there was a red or green discoloration, it was “mold and mildew.” A person’s house could also be affected with “tsara-at” with mold and mildew; if it was, the walls had to be scraped and the affected stones removed and replaced.
How does this affect us spiritually? There is a “spiritual leprosy” that is rebellion against YHVH, living in contradiction to His Word, doing what is “right in our own eyes”, disregarding the commandments as if they were “only for the past”, claiming that “Now we are under grace” and not guided by the Torah. Grace and Torah always co-existed, and they still do! Abraham was saved by grace, and this was before the written Torah. Even though many commandments cannot be followed today, there are still many that CAN BE followed, let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater!
If we were to analyze our spiritual lives and maturity honestly, how many of us would have to cry out “Tamei” (unclean) and go run and hide? Yet there is forgiveness and a new beginning in our Messiah Yeshua, who paid our sin price and penalty on Calvary’s cross once and forever. We can “come into the camp again” when we confess our sins before a Holy God, accept His forgiveness, and accept his inner “healing”.
As a final thought, we should be careful in our speech and speak only positive things about others. If another is in error, go to that person personally and confront them in love, not talk to others about what they are doing wrong. No wonder we have only ONE mouth, yet two EARS. Listen carefully yet speak little.
Have a blessed week.
There are two topics the Bible addresses in these readings. The first is called“Tazriah,” which talks about when a woman gives childbirth, and “Metsora,” which talks about “Tzara-at,” which most Bibles interpret as “leprosy,” but in actuality, the word “Tzara-at” covers ALL skin afflictions and diseases, including the dreaded disease called leprosy, medically known as “Hanson’s disease.
Leviticus Chapter 12 covers childbirth, and YHVH deems “unclean” a woman after giving birth, and she has to stay isolated, 7 days plus 33 days. Altogether, “40” days. We can often wonder why God set aside this time period for purification. Perhaps it was a time to rest and take care of her baby so that the motherly contact would be deep and meaningful.
She has just given birth, and during birth, there is a "loss of blood" by the mother (perhaps not much), but symbolically, a loss of blood = death, yet at the same time, new life has emerged, which is a time of joy and gladness. Life overcomes death. For the period of isolation, the days given are mentioned in the Book of Jubilees 3:8-10 as well as in this reading portion in Leviticus. Jubilees is a book that was part of the Dead Sea Scrolls, yet was not included in the Bible. If anyone is interested, you can read chapter three: www.sefaria.org/Book_of_Jubilees.3.1?lang=bi.
The child is in the womb for 9 months; this is a protected area, a world in itself. Then the child comes out into the world, a new world, contrary to where it was. It has life both inside the womb and outside the womb, yet the child comes forth with the sin nature, and the sin nature brings death. On the 8th day, a male child is to be taken to be circumcised. We see the example in Yeshua, who was taken to the Temple to be circumcised on the 8th day, and Mary and Joseph gave two turtledoves for an offering, since they were poor.
We need to look at childbirth as the coming forth of a new life, yet it had already started 9 months earlier. Both mother and father have an important role in raising this new child in love and teaching this child Biblical values from the beginning. Mom and Dad are the examples to follow.
A child sees and learns from Mom and Dad. If Mom and Dad say the Bible is a guideline, yet they do the opposite, then confusion enters the mind of the child.
Each and every one of us has entered this life through a birth canal. We are born with a sin nature, yet all of us need the "new birth, which gives us a "New Life" through Yeshua, our Messiah, to live for Him and serve Him on Earth. We are just passing through; this Earth is not our permanent home. Let's look at the "Big Picture" eternity with God.
Chapters 13-15 deal with “Tzara-at” (skin diseases). In most Bibles, the word "leprosy" is used. Mold and mildew on clothing and on house walls were also called "Leprosy" or "Tzara-at" An infected person was called a "Metsora" In ancient times, the person with a skin disease had to be isolated outside the camp until he or she got better, and was “healed” there were probably some ointments available then, probably primitive, the priests were not doctors, but acted as “judges” who would “judge” the person “healed” if the disease was temporary, today we have many kinds of skin ailments, Psoriasis, Eczema, simple rashes caused by allergies, scabies, ringworm, etc., were all based under the word “Tzara-at” when the person was well and the disease was no more, the person would offer a sacrifice and return to the camp. Here again, we see a form of “death” (cast out, rejected) and “rebirth” entering into the body of Israel once again after healing.
It is important to note that the priest was not a doctor and could not "cure" a metsora. He only served to diagnose the disease and to declare the person "clean" once the disease was no more. In Biblical times, the idea was that a skin disease was the "outward" punishment for an "internal" sin such as gossip, tale bearing, slander, evil speech, character assassination, etc... Thus, the title "Metsora" comes from the Hebrew words "Motzi-Ra" (he who speaks evil). and also the words "Lashon Hara" (evil tongue) If this were so today, that skin diseases were a revelation of evil speech and slander, then we would ALL be infected at some time or another. I think that we need to always watch our tongues and be careful with the words coming out of our mouths, lest we start "itching and scratching."
Yeshua himself was called the "Leper Messiah" in the Talmud in Sanhedrin 98b. "Who is the Messiah? What is his name? "Metsora" from the House of Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi, because we read Isaiah 53:4..." yet he bore our diseases/sickness, and our suffering he endured..
Our Messiah accepted and brought upon himself all of our “leprosy” of sinfulness, which affects not only our exterior but also our inner being. He was nailed to the cross “outside” of the city, just as one afflicted with leprosy was cast outside of the city. Then he was made whole once again, arising on the third day. Isaiah 53 says that he bore our grief, carried our sorrows, and was stricken and smitten of God, just as a leper is in the same condition, in a state of sorrow and smitten with a deadly disease that consumes the flesh. We remember that the Roman whips “ate up” the flesh of our Messiah, all for our sakes.
Was not Yeshua from the "House of Judah" and was he not also considered "Sar Shalom" (Prince of Peace), Nasi = Prince too, or leader. In another way, the “Metsora” is US! We have been afflicted with “spiritual leprosy,” being our “sinful nature” at birth. When the pure soul from Heaven is introduced into the human body, it becomes part of it and partakes of the sin nature. Both the body and the soul suffer, the body ages, contracts diseases, etc., and without the “born-again” experience, we are “cast outside” of the city; we are forbidden entrance into the Kingdom of God. When we become members of the family of God through Yeshua, He acts as the “priest” who “heals” us. In ancient times, the priest had to visit the leper to see if the leprosy had left the body, “leprosy” being “any kind of skin disease. The priest had no power to heal, only to observe and pronounce “tahor” (clean) or declare “Tamei” (unclean).
However, Yeshua HAS the power to heal, as Isaiah says, “By His stripes we are healed” of the “Tza-arat Nefesh” (the leprosy of the soul). So, we are the “Metsorat” that are HEALED, and integrated into the body of Messiah, and HIS Kingdom someday soon. This is an eternal promise!
Clothing also had to be checked as well. God knew about the dangers of mold and mildew long before man found out. People had to carefully check the fabric of their clothing, and if there was a red or green discoloration, it was “mold and mildew.” A person’s house could also be affected with “tsara-at” with mold and mildew; if it was, the walls had to be scraped and the affected stones removed and replaced.
How does this affect us spiritually? There is a “spiritual leprosy” that is rebellion against YHVH, living in contradiction to His Word, doing what is “right in our own eyes”, disregarding the commandments as if they were “only for the past”, claiming that “Now we are under grace” and not guided by the Torah. Grace and Torah always co-existed, and they still do! Abraham was saved by grace, and this was before the written Torah. Even though many commandments cannot be followed today, there are still many that CAN BE followed, let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater!
If we were to analyze our spiritual lives and maturity honestly, how many of us would have to cry out “Tamei” (unclean) and go run and hide? Yet there is forgiveness and a new beginning in our Messiah Yeshua, who paid our sin price and penalty on Calvary’s cross once and forever. We can “come into the camp again” when we confess our sins before a Holy God, accept His forgiveness, and accept his inner “healing”.
As a final thought, we should be careful in our speech and speak only positive things about others. If another is in error, go to that person personally and confront them in love, not talk to others about what they are doing wrong. No wonder we have only ONE mouth, yet two EARS. Listen carefully yet speak little.
Have a blessed week.