Is the Bible a message from a God I can’t see? A law ahead of its time Part 1

A law ahead of its time Law thousands of years ahead of its time –Community health –Civil law Law of Moses

A law ahead of its time 1847 – First British Medical Officer of Health –Community medicine –Guidance on food –Disposal of waste –Control of disease The Bible ahead of its time

Bible good food guide Fruit or vegetables not restricted Flesh of animals severely restricted Experience and Science agree

Bible good food guide – meat Among the animals, whatever divides the hoof, having cloven hooves and chewing the cud – that you may eat. Leviticus 11 v 3

Bible good food guide – meat Sheep, cows and deer all permitted All meat-eating animals not allowed Among the animals, whatever divides the hoof, having cloven hooves and chewing the cud – that you may eat. Leviticus 11 v 3 Excluding pigs, same rules today

Bible good food guide – meat Protection from pig tape worm and roundworm Cause blindness, paralysis, epilepsy or death Among the animals, whatever divides the hoof, having cloven hooves and chewing the cud – that you may eat. Leviticus 11 v 3 3,500 years ago unwise to eat pig meat

Bible good food guide – fish These you may eat of all that are in the water: whatever in the water has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers – that you may eat. But all in the seas or in the rivers that do not have fins and scales … they are an abomination to you. Leviticus 11 v 9 and 10

Bible good food guide – fish Fish with fins and scales permitted All other aquatic animals forbidden These you may eat of all that are in the water: whatever in the water has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers – that you may eat. But all in the seas or in the rivers that do not have fins and scales … they are an abomination to you. Leviticus 11 v 9 and 10

Bible good food guide – fish Shell fish can cause food poisoning 3,500 years ago wiser not to eat shellfish These you may eat of all that are in the water: whatever in the water has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers – that you may eat. But all in the seas or in the rivers that do not have fins and scales … they are an abomination to you. Leviticus 11 v 9 and 10

Bible good food guide – fish Crabs can give parasites These you may eat of all that are in the water: whatever in the water has fins and scales, whether in the seas or in the rivers – that you may eat. But all in the seas or in the rivers that do not have fins and scales … they are an abomination to you. Leviticus 11 v 9 and 10 Again the Bible gives good advice

Bible good food guide – fat Speak to the children of Israel, saying: “You shall not eat any fat, of ox or sheep or goat” Leviticus 7 v 23

Bible good food guide – fat Animal fat restrictedSpeak to the children of Israel, saying: “You shall not eat any fat, of ox or sheep or goat” Leviticus 7 v 23 Modern medical advice agrees

Bible guide to water supplies Any earthen vessel into which any of them (dead animal) falls you shall break; and whatever is in it shall be unclean … any drink that may be drunk from it becomes unclean … Nevertheless a spring or a cistern, in which there is plenty of water, shall be clean, but whatever touches any such carcass becomes unclean. Leviticus 11 v 32 to 36

Bible guide to water supplies Flowing water is OK Don’t drink water in container contaminated with anything dead Earthen vessel must be smashed when a dead animal found in it However, wooden vessels simply to be washed –Wood now known to have anti- bacterial properties Bible was 3,000 years ahead of its time Drinking stagnant water forbidden

Bible guide to sewage disposal The Bible was 3,000 years ahead of its time Designate a place outside the camp where you can go to relieve yourself. As part of your equipment have something to dig with, and when you relieve yourself, dig a hole and cover up your excrement. Deuteronomy 23 v 12 and 13

Bible guide to disease control Whoever touches the dead body of anyone will be unclean for seven days. He must purify himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then he will be clean. Numbers 19 v 11 and 12 a) Washing after handling dead bodies

Bible guide to disease control Whoever touches the dead body of anyone will be unclean for seven days. He must purify himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then he will be clean. Numbers 19 v 11 and 12 a) Washing after handling dead bodies Surgeons used to handle the dead and then do operations without washing Many patients died They might have lived if the Bible’s advice had been followed

Bible guide to disease control Whoever touches the dead body of anyone will be unclean for seven days. He must purify himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then he will be clean. Numbers 19 v 11 and 12 a) Washing after handling dead bodies Healthcare workers now aware of risks Washing a vital part of modern procedures

Bible guide to disease control Now the leper on whom the sore is, his clothes shall be torn and his head bare … He is unclean, and he shall dwell alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp Leviticus 13 v 45 and 46 b) Isolation of infectious diseases

Bible guide to disease control Derived directly from the Jews Now the leper on whom the sore is, his clothes shall be torn and his head bare … He is unclean, and he shall dwell alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp Leviticus 13 v 45 and 46 Modern isolation ward symbol b) Isolation of infectious diseases

Bible guide to disease control Quarantine … the priest shall isolate the one who has the sore seven days. And the priest shall examine him on the seventh day; and indeed if the sore appears to be as it was, and the sore has not spread on the skin, then the priest shall isolate him another seven days. Then the priest shall examine him again on the seventh day Leviticus 13 v 4 to 6 b) Isolation of infectious diseases

Bible guide to disease control Quarantine … the priest shall isolate the one who has the sore seven days. And the priest shall examine him on the seventh day; and indeed if the sore appears to be as it was, and the sore has not spread on the skin, then the priest shall isolate him another seven days. Then the priest shall examine him again on the seventh day Leviticus 13 v 4 to 6 b) Isolation of infectious diseases The Bible’s recommendations for “quarantine” are part of modern medical practice

Summary Recommendations –Fruit and vegetables not restricted –Restrictions on fat, unsafe meat and seafood Safe water supply Safe disposal of sewage Washing to avoid cross infection Isolation of infectious diseases The Bible was ahead of its time in community health

The Challenge How did the writers of the Bible make such remarkable recommendations about community health? It took the rest of the world 3,500 years to catch up with the community health regulations

The Challenge Where else can you find similar evidence of a power greater and wiser than us? There is much more evidence that the Bible is an accurate and reliable source of information You can trust the Bible when it gives advice about your life