14:1-7
We now come to a chapter that deals with the cleansing of those who had defiling skin diseases, and then cleansing of houses with mildew. For a person who had a skin disease they first had to meet the priest outside the camp. If the person was indeed healed then a series of sacrifices was made over an eight day period. First of all two birds are taken, one is killed, and the other dipped in its blood and then released into the open to fly away. Later on we will learn of the scapegoat, where there are some similarities. The second bird, presumably, represents the uncleanness leaving the man.
14:8-20
The person is then to wash themselves and shave. The shaving is probably to demonstrate that the person is indeed clear of the skin disease. A series of sacrifices are offered on the eighth day. I have to admit that my initial thoughts are “what a rigmarole!”. However, let’s look at the situation. The person would be visibly infected with the skin disease, it would be obvious to the person, and to anyone else who saw them. Once healed, the person themselves would want to be sure they were cured, and those who met them would want to be sure that they weren’t infected any longer. The washing and shaving would demonstrate this. This is looking at things from a human perspective. What about God’s perspective? The person has been affected by a disease, and all disease is a result of sin, but not necessarily a direct result of the sin of the individual, more a general result. So sickness is associated with sin. The sin needs to be atoned for. So how can we transfer this to the gospel? For the person who is saved by faith in Christ, all their sin is atoned for. Also we will be completely transformed. This is not brought to completion until Christ returns, but the end result is that there will be no vestiges of sin nor its effects left in our lives on that day. In the present we receive in part, so now we are moving in the right direction, the Holy Spirit is working in our lives.
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