Quarantined!

Daily Reading: Leviticus 13

Scripture Focus: The priest shall shut up the diseased person for seven days... (Leviticus 13.4b)

Devotional Thought: In two days I'm leaving for South Carolina for the arrival of my new grandson! I'm almost ready to go, but I need help loading something on my truck. My friend Matt has agreed to help me, but there is flu in his house! I really appreciate Matt, but I think I'll get someone else to help me...

At times we misread the instructions about leprous diseases, and we think that God is somehow malicious in his intent toward the unfortunate sufferer. Nothing could be further from the truth. God's heart is moved with pity for the one who is sick. His instructions are to help them on the road to recovery.

Part of that recovery included the instructions to "shut up the diseased person for seven days." In the process of diagnosing and treating the disease, the priests were to remove them from the normal interactions of life. What grace! These seven day sabbaticals served two purposes, both redemptive:

• This period served as a time of rest. Shut up this way, the sick person was given time to recover. He or she was not bound to complete their regular duties. Others would step in and help. I know how thankful I am for the people who stand in the gap when I am sick.

• This period served as a means of protection for the rest of the people. God didn't want people to be rejected in fear. Instead, he protected both the community and the afflicted by setting them aside for a week. In this way, their disease - if it was serious - would not spread. Also, there was a means of returning them into the culture.

Thanks be to God for his grace!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your concern for the smallest details of our lives. When I am sick or others around me are sick, help us to rest in you and to regain our strength and place in the family and community. Amen.

Psalm of the Day: 13 But they soon forgot his works; they did not wait for his counsel. 14 But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness, and put God to the test in the desert; 15 he gave them what they asked, but sent a wasting disease among them. 16 When men in the camp were jealous of Moses and Aaron, the holy one of the LORD, 17 the earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram. 18 Fire also broke out in their company; the flame burned up the wicked. (Psalms 106:13-18)