The Whole Story: A Life in God's Kingdom, Part FourSample

Family Devotional:

The next section of Leviticus speaks to how Israel was to care for those with leprosy – severe skin diseases that plagued much of Israel. The Torah Portions begin this study as follows:

The twenty-eighth reading from the Torah is Metzora (מצורע), a word that means "leper." The word appears in the second verse of the reading, which says, "This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing" (Leviticus 14:2). Leviticus 14 spells out the complex purification rituals for the cleansing of a leper and a leprous home. Leviticus 15 briefly covers the laws regarding ritual unfitness stemming from bodily emissions. Except in biblical calendar leap years, Metzora is read together with the previous Torah portion, Tazria, on the same Sabbath.

Daily Demonstration:

It is all too easy for those with a physical ailment to feel as though they are outcasts in society. The line between caring for them and ensuring the safety of others is a delicate line to balance. No matter the case, there are ways in which all people can feel loved and cared for. Think about someone in your life who has some type of physical ailment. Consider reaching out to them today and offering love and support.

Additional Resources:

• The Naked Bible Podcast, Michael Heiser, Leviticus
• Torah Portions, Messianic Reading Plan, (Website: https://torahportions.ffoz.org/#horizontalTab2)