Not My Fault, Still My Problem

"And the LORD spake ...When any man hath a running issue out of his flesh, because of his issue he is unclean ... and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD for his issue" - Leviticus 15:1-2, 14-15

Yuck! Old Testament laws can be very graphic but if one believes, as the early Christians,¹ that even Old Testament law has application today, then what do these verses tell us?

They show that even unintended uncleanness is still uncleanness. Having a boil, lesion, or zit is certainly not the intention or even the fault of the individual, it's the way we all are - the human condition.

Yet it still needed cleansing and sacrifice.

We are, all, born with various problems, tendencies, and orientations. Whether our fault or not they are still unclean and need the forgiveness and cleansing of Christ.²

- fritz

^{1 - 1st Corinthians 9:9-10
2 - 1st Corinthians 6:9-12}

Ear Lobe, Thumb, and Big Toe - Part 2

"The priest is to pour some of the oil ... and ... put [it] on the same places he put the blood of the guilt offering—on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot. - Leviticus 14:25-29

Early Jewish Christians believed the Old Testament, with all its sundry laws and ceremonies, actually pointed to Christ and godly living.¹

So, why would God specify in the law, the priest was to apply oil, not just anywhere but only on top of the blood that was, first, placed on the ear lobe, thumb, and big toe?

Here's what I think.

Oil represents God's Holy Spirit which brings joy,² healing,³ enlightenment,⁴ and endurance.⁵ The ear lobe represents the mind and what we allow into it. The thumb indicates the action of our hands and what we do with them. The big toe represents what we do with our feet - where we go.⁶

Gods blessings upon our lives through the Holy Spirit follow the applied forgiveness of Christ, not before. This also indicates God's desire for us is not just forgiveness but life!

- fritz

1 - Written for our sakes, 1st Corinthians 9:9-10
2 - Oil of Gladness, Hebrews 1:9
3 - Elders anointing with oil, James 5:14
4 - He leads into all truth - John 16:13, Anointing teaches us all things, 1st john 2:27
5 - Wise and foolish vergins, Matthew 25:3-4
6 - Ear Lobe, Thumb, and Big Toe - Part 1, February 26, 2010

Ear Lobe, Thumb, and Big Toe - Part 1

"[T]ake some of its blood and put it on the lobe of the right ear ... on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot. - Leviticus 14:25

God was very specific about where to put the sacrifical blood!

We know the early followers of Christ believed the Old Testament, with all its ceremonial laws, pointed to Christ and godly living.¹ So what is the significance of the ear lobe, the thumb, and the big toe?

Simple! Salvation is to impact everything we think and listen to (ear lobe), everything we do (the thumb), and everywhere we go! (the big toe).

- fritz

^{1 - 1st Corinthians 9:9-10}