“There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.” I John 4:18
How often do we think of fear being the concept of losing control? In our sinful state, loss of control means loss of power or control. Sometimes fear is obvious due to an immediate threat to our lives. But at other times, fear is directed by past events or emotions that have caused us to put up walls to control who we identify ourselves to be. Either type of fear can spill over to how we react or communicate with others as well as ourselves.
When Israel left Egypt, I imagine there would have been a lot of fear. Everything known to them was taken away. Even if conditions were terrible while serving as slaves, at the least the “expected” was known. They knew how to be a slave. They knew the boundaries that kept them alive. They knew what could or couldn’t be done.
It was through Yah’s great mercy and love that the “slave” began to change. Time and time again, Yah was willing to show His Hand of protection, to help the slave become a free man. Though to free His people, Yah didn’t just protect but allowed trials to challenge faith and personal growth.
Similarly, we have had to learn how not to be a slave. But it isn’t always easy. I can recall learning to let go of customs such as Christmas many years ago. It honestly disturbed me, for if we didn’t have Christmas, what would we do? At another time, I lost a very important job. It was a job that I knew well and the thought of doing something else gave me a sense of losing control over who I had become. My problems were relatively small. Imagine the legitimate fear of no retirement or not being able to buy groceries due to financial markets collapsing. Imagine the stress many are facing due to their nation falling apart, when they had always placed their confidence in government.
Having a belief system challenged is traumatic. An example of having a belief system challenged is given in Scripture, Act. 7:57-58. In this text we see the Jewish Council gnashing their teeth and tearing their clothes upon hearing the testimony of Stephen. To maintain control over their structure, they called for his immediate death by stoning; they couldn’t bear to hear something that challenged their personal views of the Torah and authority.
This week’s study is entitled Tazria or “leprosy.” The disease of leprosy works itself into a body, then slowly causes decay, deformity, and death. It starts small, but if left untreated it can expand to something out of control and even horrific. Leviticus 13 takes a great deal of time describing how to test for this disease and how to go about inspecting a person.
Leprosy is a far more common health condition than people might think. In 2018, there were 208,619 cases worldwide. So yes, it’s still an occurring disease, though now it is called Hansen’s disease. It comes from a particular slow-growing bacterium called Mycobacterium leprae. It is not easily transmitted but can be spread if in close/intimate contact with an infectious person for a long period.
Since Hansen’s disease affects the nerves, loss of feeling can occur. When loss of sensation occurs, injuries such as burns may go unnoticed. Advanced leprosy can cripple hands and feet, cause blindness, and create facial disfigurements. It can even shorten fingers or toes, making them completely useless.
In 2 Kings chapter 5, where we find a captain in the Syrian Army by the name of Naaman who had leprosy. He was a great man, highly respected, and was responsible for the Syrian victory. It was during a Syrian band attack that a little Israeli girl was taken into captivity and ended up working for the Naaman household. It was this girl who shared information about how a prophet of YHWH could heal Naaman.
Naaman eventually goes to see the prophet Elisha. He is told to wash in the Jordan River seven times. He stubbornly argues about it but is convinced to do it anyway. He is healed and wants to reward Elisha with great gifts. Elisha declines the gifts, but his servant Gehazi goes behind Elisha’s back and takes a portion of the gifts from Naaman for his benefit. Elisha finds out and states that Naaman’s leprosy will cleave onto Gehazi and his descendants.
In Mark 1:40-45, a leper pleads with Yeshua to be healed. Yeshua has compassion and heals him, but warns the man not to tell anyone. The man, of course, is so overwhelmed with joy from being healed that he tells everyone. In doing so, this man limits Yeshua’s ministry to teaching in the countryside.
I was drawn to a response given to the disciples of John the Baptist when they asked the Messiah if He was the Chosen One. Yeshua acknowledges the question by stating, “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor receive the gospel.” (Matt. 11:4-5)
Though what the Messiah says next is astounding, He states, “. . . blessed is he who keeps from stumbling over Me.” (Matt. 11:6) Why would Yeshua say this? Why does He expect people to stumble over His ministry? Could it be due to expectations? Could it be due to the selfish thought of thinking they (as well as us) are the only ones capable of interpreting Scripture and deciding “who” Messiah must be?
“Stumbling over” means to take offense. In a paraphrase, we could read, “Blessed is he who keeps from taking offense over Me.” Is it possible for us to take offense towards the Messiah, and if so, what are the possible outcomes?
Scripture mentions stumbling blocks several times. Here are just a few:
“Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind.
Leviticus 19:14
Yeshua speaking to Peter states, “Get behind me satan, you are a stumbling block to me, for you are not setting your mind on Yah’s interests, but on mans. Matthew 16:23
Paul speaks to the Corinthians, “. . . we preach Messiah crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness.”
I Corinthians 1:23
Yeshua gives a warning to those who cause children to stumble:
“Woe to the world because of its stumbling blocks! For it is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to the man through whom the stumbling block comes. Matthew 18:5-8
Paul advises those who find freedom in the Gospel:
“Take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 1 Corinthians 8:9
So how do these examples of leprosy, fear, and stumbling blocks relate to the Biblical stories of inspection and healing found in Tazria?
Let’s think about Naaman’s servant girl. She could have easily held offense towards her captor or blamed Yah for her captivity. But instead, she leans on her faith rather than her circumstance.
Elisha could have taken offense to a Syrian asking to be healed. The idea that Naaman did not belong to the chosen house of Yahweh, could have caused Him to listen to Yah’s voice.
Naaman is told to bathe in the dirty waters of Jordan. Being a great leader, he takes offense to having to bathe in the dirty Jordan. But, upon listening to counsel, he bathes and is healed.
Gehazi (the one who should know the ways of Yah) stumbles at the thought that Naaman’s gift is not received and proceeds to claim it for himself through a lie. Consequently, Naaman’s leprosy “cleaved to him and his descendants.”
Yeshua would seem to have known in advance that religious leaders would take offense to Him. He had to be aware that His healing abilities and the concept of Him being a sacrificial offering could cause many leaders to stumble, due to their expectations of who or what the Messiah should be like. But, He proceeds to heal lepers anyway, allowing a stumbling block.
Where does this leave us? Let’s first start with the idea that we should go to The High Priest to be inspected for our leprosy before we move forward to correct others in action, deed, or any declaration. Yeshua was in direct dialogue with His Father and therefore did the “works of His Father.” We, on the other hand, need to honestly evaluate our motives in holding onto beliefs that keep us in control due to fear. “His Ways are not our ways.” Therefore, be willing to address the roots of your fear, before it overtakes you.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to gnash my teeth when being confronted or challenged in my beliefs.
We are called to love our neighbor as ourselves. In doing so, let’s take the time to evaluate our true motives so that healing is shouted from the rooftops. Let the true High Priest, Yeshua our Messiah inspect our spirit, soul, and body whenever we struggle. Otherwise, an infection of leprosy could occur in yourself and the family of Yah.
Stay the course and win the race,
Rollyn