This whole idea of being unclean seems a little foreign to us today. It would be easy to say being unclean is when people need a shower or forget their deodorant. We may even picture a vagrant on the street who hasn’t changed their clothes in weeks. But in Biblical terms, being unclean was a state of being “unworthy” of being in God’s presence due to some circumstance, action, or lack of action, etc. When you were unclean, you were not allowed access to God and often shunned by the community.
It was interesting to see the different things that Moses declared deemed you unclean. Eunuchs, illegitimate children (and their descendants), Ammonites and Moabites (and their descendants), and men having wet dreams. This was the short list. Clearance and exclusion from this list were the Edomites and Egyptians. But the Ammonites and Moabites were also distant relatives of the Israelites, being from the family of Lot (Abraham’s nephew). But the promise to be God’s people was given to Jacob, several generations beyond.
This whole idea of being clean or unclean was abolished when Jesus came. As Peter declares in Acts 10, “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” The idea of being unclean because of heritage no longer exists. God welcomes us all. Hallelujah!
We know that the purpose of Moses’ declarations to the people was to hear the voice of God. It was God’s intention that his people be set apart as holy. He wanted the best for them. He wanted evil to be eradicated. That was his purpose in setting out all of the laws we have been reading about. Some of the laws may seem ludicrous to us today, in some ways, but it is helpful to dig deeper to glean the wisdom and intent.
Jesus didn’t come to abolish the law, but to give it new meaning in a context that would make sense for us going forward. Jesus came to give us all access to God the Father in a new, welcoming way. Paul says in Romans 10:4, “For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.” The people hearing Moses’ words were fearful of God. They didn’t see him as the loving, redeeming God that we see. It would serve us well to have a little of that fear inside us in the form of being awestruck.
Unfortunately, evil does exist in this world. If every single person would have obeyed, been mindful of God’s warnings and instructions from the get-go, we would be seeing a whole different reality. What we do see is the result of sin in the world. It’s running rampant. Is it out of control? Is there any chance we’ll ever see the splendor God intended for us?
Yes! In eternity–when the kingdom of God is finally revealed. We will at last walk together with God in the happily ever after. We will experience that triumph! Jesus has given us access to that hope, that assurance of life with the Father. Forever.
Let’s pray … Lord, I come to you today in awe of what you have planned for me. I can see how you laid the groundwork all those years ago. Forgive me for anything I have done that gives evil more power. Help me to see those areas of my life that need to be cleansed. May I trust you more each day to lead my life in ways that will help others draw closer to you. Use me God to be your light in this dark world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
