Who Knew There Was Mold in the Bible?
Remember: the Israelites associated certain things with death, including skin diseases and mold.
So, to teach the people that his presence is life, the Lord gave the Israelites strict rules around both things. Hence today’s reading.
Neither skin diseases nor mold were considered sinful—rather they were just a form of being unfit to come into the Lord’s presence in the tabernacle. So, after having a skin condition or being in a place with mold, before you could draw near to the Lord there was a process you needed to undergo.
By the way, you know what part I loved about today’s reading? The part about how even the poor man who can’t afford a sacrifice has a way to the come to the Lord. I love that about our God—how he has a heart for the poor and needy.
21 “But if he is poor and cannot afford so much, then he shall take one male lamb for a guilt offering to be waved, to make atonement for him, and a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, and a log of oil; 22 also two turtledoves or two pigeons, whichever he can afford. The one shall be a sin offering and the other a burnt offering. [14:21-22]
