A Very, VERY Difficult Topic

Scripture: No man who has any defect may come near: no man who is blind or lame, disfigured or deformed; no man with a crippled foot or hand, or who is a hunchback or a dwarf, or who has any eye defect, or who has festering or running sores or damaged testicles. No descendant of Aaron the priest who has any defect is to come near to present the food offerings to the Lord. He has a defect; he must not come near to offer the food of his God. Leviticus 21:18-21

Observation: As the Lord is giving instructions for the priest - not for all Israel, nor for the Levites, but for the lineage of Aaron who truly serves as priests that present the sacrifices and stand before the Lord - he declares that anyone with a defect may not perform these functions. He goes on to define "defect". This term is about physical issues, listed in general but many of which could be caused by either injury or birth. They include crippled limbs, dwarfism, hunched backs, eye maladies, damaged reproductive systems, and wounds or sores. The Lord clarifies that such people are made holy by the Lord (v23) but may not perform the priestly functions that involve standing before the Lord.

This is a very difficult topic. The Lord is declaring that certain conditions are "defects" and that they make a person disqualified from certain functions that are the most holy acts performed by a very select group of leaders. It is a harsh judgment, and all the more so when applied to a condition one is born with instead of a temporary injury. There are many who would define such an attitude as unjust, oppressive, and discriminatory. However, knowing that the Lord is none of those things ... there are two other ways of thinking about these instructions.

1) The Lord is in control of how people are born (in other sections he declares curses on whether or not couples will be barren). Therefore, the Lord COULD just ensure that no descendants of Aaron are ever born with defects. He does not and will not do that. He allows defects, because even these conditions and the people with them are still completely holy and worthy.

2) The Lord actively declares that, while people with defects cannot serve before him, they receive full benefits of being priests. He therefore is giving them less responsibility and work due to their likely hardships, while giving them no less benefits and honor. This declaration is not judgment, but mercy.

Application: We live in a time when people would come unglued over the very attitude and topic of this section. The declaration of some personal condition as a "defect" makes people irrationally angry.

I don't know God as well as I wish I did, but I know two things about him. First, if he wanted us all to be born into perfect health, he could make that happen ... yet he doesn't. Instead, he allows us to have issues and hardships and 'defects', some in small measure, some in large. Second, the Lord cares for everyone in whatever condition they find themselves, and loves us all.

I choose to understand this passage as saying that, those with hardships - be they temporary or permanent, injuries or birth conditions - will be excused from service and will still receive full provision and blessing. The Lord loves us all as individuals.

I also understand this passage to say that ... the Lord could remove hardships from our lives, and has very actively, explicitly, and intentionally chosen not to. The Lord loves us all as his created people, despite our freewill choice to keep distance between ourselves and him here on earth.

Prayer: Lord, may my heart resemble yours every day. I desire to see others as you see them, and love others as you love them, regardless of their situation, and regardless of how they found themselves in their situations, by birth or choice. Amen.