Day 27 of 49
Isolation
Leviticus 13 explains the rules for leprosy. Today, when we hear leprosy, we think of the skin eating disease. However, according to the descriptions given, measles, chicken pox, small pox, all diseases of the skin were a leprosy.
The passage contains instructions on dealing with a leprosy. A person would go into isolation for seven days, then be inspected by the priest. If it had not improved, another seven days, then another inspection.
While the person was unclean, they had to wear torn clothes, let their hair hang loose, cover their upper lip and cry out to all, “Unclean, unclean”. Whoever had the disease had to live outside the community alone.
Once declared clean by the priests, they washed their clothes and were able to return to the community.
We are still dealing with Covid. Two years ago, isolation and separation became the normal way of life. Many people died alone, or with a considerate nurse in attendance, the disease so contagious that it threatened all who came in contact with it.
We all covered our upper lip and stayed six feet away from others. A cough was the same as saying “unclean” and brought a barrage of dirty looks. A diagnosis of Covid meant ten days of isolation.
We discovered that people do not do well in isolation. Even though we have great technology that allow us to keep in touch, it does not replace the person to person contact that we need for survival.
I wanted to add to yesterday’s devotional. The nurses, doctors, EMTs, and police deserve many thanks for the times they entered into the fearful situations of Covid, sat by the side of the lonely and fought for the health of those who were sick, at times separating themselves from their own families to help other families.
And with them, we can thank the teachers, grocery store and department store stockers and clerks, truck drivers, and restaurant employees, who weathered the risk mostly for minimum wage jobs, so that we could continue to have what we needed while in shutdown.
So lepers in the first century dealt with loneliness fueled by hostile separation from those who feared the disease. And all this was added on top of a debilitating disease, a miserable existence. Leprosy not only affects the skin, but also affects all relationships, mental health, and one’s moral.
And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”
3 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
4 And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”
Matthew 8:2–4
The man said to Jesus, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean”. Jesus reached out his hand and touched him…touched him…and made him clean.
And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance
13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”
14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed.
15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice;
16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.
17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?
18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”
19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”
Luke 17:12–19
Ten lepers asked for mercy and received healing, only one came back in gratitude.
As the disciples missionary journeys two by two, one of their commands was to heal the lepers (Matt 10:8). God desires restoration.
As we look at the people around us, are we aware of those suffering effects from their experience with Covid? It could be a lost loved one, and the sorrow of not being able to say good bye. It could be a fear of infection that continues, and they remain in isolation. It could be a pulling back from any social contact, they got comfortable doing church in their pajamas.
Isolation is not good for any of us. God does not want us to be alone.
Lord, give me the eyes to see those who are hurting in isolation. Give me courage to reach out, again and again, if necessary.
TRICIA LATHROP 