The Laws Of
Quarantine In The Bible
Today, approximately 3 out of 7.8 billion people in the world are
observing some forms of quarantine to reduce the risk of
getting sick or getting others sick in a global pandemic.
In the midst of bad news from the world, we have good news from the
Word. What does the Bible teach about quarantine?
The Word of God gives us good guidelines and clear instructions
concerning this matter. The principles and procedures about
cleanliness, health and quarantine are properly instructed by the
Lord.
Every law of God is a law of love. It reveals His heart of love for
all of us. He desires that we love not only ourselves but also our
neighbors. In doing so, we preserve the life of one another!
1 John 5:3
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.
And His commandments are not burdensome.
Since ancient times, harmful plagues and contagious diseases have
inflicted mankind. God taught His people wisdom and knowledge how to
best deal with them through quarantine and isolation.
Among the 613 laws that the
LORD gave to His people, there are the
laws of quarantine, health and cleanliness:
- Laws concerning contagious skin diseases (Leviticus 13:1-46)
- Laws concerning mildew (Leviticus 13:47-59)
- Purification after having skin diseases (Leviticus 14:1-32)
- Regulations about houses affected by mildew (Leviticus 14:33-57)
- Laws about unclean bodily discharges (Leviticus 15:1-33)
- Laws about isolating unclean people (Numbers 5:1-4)
- Laws about having contact with a dead person (Numbers 19:11-22)
- Laws about handling and clearing excrement (Deuteronomy 23:12-14)
In all these real life situations, God's agape love is clearly
revealed in every single law that He gave. Most of the general
procedures and quarantine laws are still applicable today even
without the priestly details and requirements.
The most basic rule of quarantine is when we have symptoms,
we ought to quarantine ourselves or be quarantined to protect others. But if
there are no symptoms, there is no need for quarantine. However,
in unusually dangerous circumstances or very contagious global viral
infections, it is better to be safe than sorry. Staying home is
therefore recommended for all people.
During a plague or pandemic, self-quarantine or staying at home
means isolating ourselves and family members from public exposure to
avoid becoming ill or passing the illness to others. We are exhorted
to go into our houses, shut the door behind us, hiding ourselves for
a little while until the pandemic is over.
Isaiah 26:20
Come, my people,
enter your chambers,
And shut your doors behind you;
Hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment,
Until the indignation is past.
We are now living in unprecedented times when things have become
totally unpredictable beyond our control. All of our normal daily routines
have drastically been changed and disrupted.
We can either fill our days
with mindless activities such as chasing the latest news to increase
our fears in the unknown, or we can open our Bibles to find comforting words of
truth and
courage to increase our faith in God!
The choice is ours. Christ must increase, but the coronavirus must
decrease in our hearts and minds!
One thing we can be sure is that with Christ in our life, we can
have perfect peace in the storms as He leads us safely through them! The
storms will surely pass. Thus, let us be strong and very courageous
in the Lord! Trust and obey for there is no other way!
Joshua 1:7-9
7 Only
be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according
to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do
not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you
may prosper wherever you go.
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth,
but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to
do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make
your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good
courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your
God is with you wherever you go.”
Written on: 7 April 2020