My dear readers,

Quarantine in Biblical Times

The people of God in Old Testament times witnessed for Christ as a nation. They suffered from all kinds of diseases like all the nations around them. One of these diseases was leprosy. It was an infectious disease. Once an Israelite was suspected to have this disease he was supposed to go to the priest to ascertain if it was leprosy or just a mild skin condition. This was a voluntary decision that was needful to protect his loved ones and the rest of Israel from this deadly disease. If he did not do so, then others who saw him with a skin condition had to urge him to go, or they would have to report him to the priests. This action was needed to protect the people of God.

Once the person was brought before the priest he would be examined by the priest. The priest’s examination was very crucial for the sick person’s life and future depended on it. He could either be a free man and go home and back to society or be ostracised for the rest of his life to live without loved ones and as an outcast from society. An example of this process of examination is taught in Leviticus 13:1-17:

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The priest is given much power by the Lord with the Word of God to guide them. Note the sequence of 7 days plus 7 days to ascertain rightly if he had leprosy. If he was declared clean, then he could return to his loved ones and society. However, if it was established that he had leprosy, he would be declared by the priest who examined him as unclean. The consequence would be separation from loved ones and society till he died. Only the LORD could cure him. Leviticus 13:43-46: “ Then the priest shall look upon it: and, behold, if the rising of the sore be white reddish in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, as the leprosy appeareth in the skin of the flesh; He is a leprous man, he is unclean: the priest shall pronounce him utterly unclean; his plague is in his head. And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean. 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.”

What we often miss in this account is the safety of the priests while examining the Israelite with leprosy. He wore no protective gear like today’s healthcare workers. These priests trusted in their LORD who called them to this duty for their protection. Their safety was in the LORD alone. They could not shy away from this grave and needful responsibility.

We thank God for all the healthcare workers who take care of the sick with contagious diseases like Covid-19. But for all who are God’s children, we need to pray for their safety and witness unto the LORD in times like this. We pray that they will trust in the Lord for their safety even as they take all precautions. We need to pray for ourselves that our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ is not only real in times of good health but more so in times of impending dangers to our health like being afflicted with Covid-19. Like the priests in Old Testament times the protection is always and will always be in the LORD alone. Be strong and very courageous in the Lord. This promise of the LORD to Joshua as he began his ministry as the new leader of Israel to face the Canaanites is also applicable for us today. Joshua 1:7-9: “ Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”