God, The Great Physician
Elder Prescod
Ex 15:23-26
And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore the name of it was called Marah, and the people murmured against Moses, saying, what shall we drink? And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right is his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statues, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.
Moses a man trained in the best university in Egypt and was familiar with all the remedies of Egypt and so were the children of Israel because they had adapted to the Egyptian ways. They needed to become familiar with the Great Physician Himself. Also in helping to keep Israel healthy, God gave Moses sanitation laws. In Lev. 13:1-3, 46; 14:1-9 Moses is instructed how to sanitize the leper. Leprosy was serious then and it is now. Listen to this statement written by Dr. George Rosen a Professor of Columbia University of Public Health. “In Europe leprosy killed millions; Leprosy cast the greatest blight that threw its shadow over the daily life of medieval humanity. Fear of all other diseases taken together can hardly be compared to the terror spread by leprosy. Not even the black death in the 14th century or the appearance of syphilis toward the end of the 15th century. God knows best so He protected the whole camp of the Israelites from this deadly disease.
God also told Moses how to handle waste materials; there need to be a proper place for it. In Deut. 23: 12-13 “Mark off an area outside the camp for a latrine. Each of you must have a spade as part of your equipment. Whenever you relieve yourself, you must dig a hole with the spade and cover the excrement.” (NLT) Also God told Moses there must be proper hand washing when someone touches a dead body; he must clean according to God’s instructions. Num. 19:11-15.
It is a proven fact dirty hands have contributed too many deadly diseases. Now in almost every hospital and outside every room there is a hand sanitizer. God requires us to practice cleanliness. I read this story some time ago; In Vienna in the 1840’s a famous teaching hospital Allegemine Krakenhaus, in the maternity ward one of every six women died, because the Doctors would examine the dead bodies and then go do regular rounds and examine the living bodies without washing their hands. Finally, through the wisdom of a new hospital director he required that hand washing be done after the examination of each patient , needless to say it was not well received but it was proven to be effective. In the Month of June it was documented one out of every 40 women died, in July one out of every 80 women died.
Friends lets be obedient and follow Gods instructions and stay healthy, no need to pray if we willfully disobey the instructions, what we sow we will reap and a harvest of sickness we do not want. To your health.
Elder Carolyn Prescod |
