As of this morning (2/20/2020), the Coronavirus has reached 24 nations; 75,000 people have been infected; 2,118 have died. Cruise ships returning from China are under 14-day quarantines around the world. China has placed 45M people under quarantine—the largest quarantine in history. Hong Kong announced prison sentences for anyone who violates the quarantine. Researchers trace the disease to a market in Wuhan, China. The virus was transmitted from bats to an animal called a pangolin (a Chinese armadillo). Then a human ate a pangolin.
What would the Bible say about such a meal? Does a pangolin have split hooves and chew the cud? No. It is unclean. Had it not been eaten, there may never have been an outbreak. Again, there is a reason behind God’s laws.
Once on an episode of LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, half the town contracted smallpox. Doc Baker put all the patients in the ice cellar to protect those who were still healthy. He hung a sign on the door that struck fear in the hearts of everyone: QUARANTINE.
Where did the notion of a quarantine begin? Leviticus. In chapters 13 and 14 the word “quarantine” is used ELEVEN times. People with questionable skin conditions must be quarantined for 14 days so the priest can determine if the condition is clean (like eczema) or unclean (like leprosy).
Guess what? Quarantines are not just for people. If a Hebrew found mildew in his leather or fabric, that item was quarantined for 14 days to determine whether it was a spreading, harmful mildew. And if he found mildew in his house, the priest would quarantine the house for 14 days.
Once again, we return to Exodus 15:26:
“If you will listen to the voice of the Lord … and keep all His statutes, then I will put NONE OF THESE DISEASES on you...”
God promises His people that if they obey, they will not have the diseases of the pagans. Dietary laws might have prevented this outbreak of the Coronavirus. And for those who may have caught the disease, God created the rule of quarantine to stop the spread. God’s laws may not be exciting reading—but they are amazing when you appreciate the way He took care of His people thousands of years before modern medicine.
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