Read Leviticus 12:1-8
Continuing in our discussion about clean and unclean, we have the discussion on what happens after a baby is born. If you’ve ever been around someone giving birth, it’s messy, yet very sterile if you happen to be in a hospital setting. The people first hearing these words would not have had any idea what a hospital was, but it doesn’t matter. Being unclean starts with birth but lasts for days with the purification process lasting for more than a month.
Childbirth is a beautiful part of life. Yet, in those days, there was a lot of pressure to be ritually cleansed so you’d be ready to be around people, attend church, etc. Can you imagine? While we have maternity leave from work these days, the focus is getting accustomed to the new human entering your family. Caring for the child’s every need consumes the parent’s time in that very delicate time. Imagine having to add the realities of being unclean to that mix!
What I can’t fathom is how people would have felt after having a baby in those days. Would they feel unwelcome by being set apart for such a long time? In our day, it seems everybody is anxious to see a new baby. Even strangers on the street have been known to stop and coo and ahh at infants passing by.
Perhaps it makes sense in this way. Those first months of life are precious as familial bonds are created. The separation that happens due to being unclean would force families to stay closer. The result was a bond that was made stronger by being contained with loved ones for a time.
Were you surprised that the difference in the length of time you’d be unclean depends on whether you have a boy or a girl? I’m not sure what I think about that, other than I’m not surprised. The ancient culture would have been very male focused. Having a girl would not be “preferred,” so these time periods could almost be considered a penalty for birthing a female. Tragic. But then I grew up in a society that had worked hard to move women forward in terms of respectability in public.
After birth is another instance when sacrifices were appropriately used. If God’s forgiveness requires a burnt offering, then seeking to be purified and readied for service from a cleansing sacrifice makes sense. Again, this is just not a practice we do, so it seems foreign to us.
What did you take from this reading? Did the Holy Spirit reveal a special message for you?
Let’s pray. Father, Son, and Spirit, thank you for always being at my side and giving me access to come before you. Help me to keep my eyes focused only on you. I know I stumble every day, and for that, I am sorry and ask for your forgiveness. Purify my heart and make me stronger and more fit for service. If anything I do or say is not pleasing to you, I am sorry. Help me to do better tomorrow. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
