Worship in the Wilderness #12

Having spent the previous chapter on clean and unclean animals and the uncleanness of dead bodies, this short chapter talks about cleansing after childbirth.  It may seem unnecessary and extremely personal to have such guidelines, but that is in a sense, the point. Cleanness, holiness, has to do with every part of life.  Part of this is a thank offering, as there is no better gift that God can give of a child. The people of Israel were also always awaiting the Child to come, and there is a sense of anticipation here. But childbirth also was a reminder of the curse from Genesis 3 that since the Fall all are born sinners.  This purification ceremony is a reminder of the shedding of blood needed for forgiveness of sin until the One who would make such sacrifice once and for all. 
The Whole Passage: The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If a woman conceives and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days. As at the time of her menstruation, she shall be unclean. 3 And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4 Then she shall continue for thirty-three days in the blood of her purifying. She shall not touch anything holy, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying are completed. 5 But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her menstruation. And she shall continue in the blood of her purifying for sixty-six days.  6 “And when the days of her purifying are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a lamb a year old for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering, 7 and he shall offer it before the Lord and make atonement for her. Then she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, either male or female. 8 And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.”
Thoughts: This offering/ceremony was the same one Mary went through after giving birth to the Christ Child.  Interconnected with this ceremony was circumcision of the sons, which was the identifying mark of the people of Israel. It marked them out as different, set apart, holy to the Lord.   Once again, every part of life comes under the call to holiness.