（利13）麻疯病与傲慢病 (Leviticus 13) Leprosy and pride

(ChatGPT translation from Chinese, edited by Mijiale, 中文在后面）

In Leviticus 13, it talks about leprosy, and there are some requirements for those who have this disease that may seem embarrassing in normal standards. They are required to (Leviticus 13:45-46) proclaim their uncleanness, stay away from others, have disheveled hair, tear their clothes, and cover their mouths. In 2 Chronicles 26, it mentions that the Creator can use leprosy to deal with human arrogance, striking a Jewish king who was considered successful in the eyes of the people. Even a highly respected prophetess was disciplined by the Creator with leprosy (Numbers 12).

In recent years, the global pandemic of COVID-19 has also taught modern people to be humble. People find that the superior democratic system was more difficult to control the spread of the virus. When the virus becomes uncontrollable, even authoritarian regimes have to loosen their grip. Initially, people hoped that vaccines developed by scientists could eradicate COVID-19, but later became disappointed. Below is a letter written by someone with similar beliefs in the autumn of 2021, when he applied not to receive the vaccine for religious reasons, in which he mentioned his understanding of some relevant Bible verses(which may not be all correct):

“Dear Vaccine Exception Reviewers: …

I believe in the Creator and His personal guidance and that the Bible is His words. I believe that the COVID is not out of the scope of the Bible. I believe COVID belongs to the biblically-termed “plagues”. Who could believe, anyone from just two years ago, that in grocery stores all over the nation, people all wear masks and stand apart? I believe COVID is the Creator’s blow to the pride of human beings. Who could believe that the most technologically advanced nation suffers the most damage?

Bible study convinced me, biblical plagues are often associated with the spiritual disease of pride. Israel was punished with a plague due to King David’s pride in counting the soldiers (2Sam.24). Moses’ sister was punished with a contagious disease, and it was also related to pride, as is alluded to by a neighboring bible verse (Num.12:3) implying that she was not as humble as her brother Moses.

Biblical cleansing of contagious diseases involves humbling. A neighboring bible verse alludes to this by likening this with spitting on the face (Num.12:14). Moses’s sister, although in a high position of a prophetess, had to be humbled by being driven outside of the camp and social-distanced for seven days, just like any other afflicted person, and it was an open chastisement: all the nation was announced about her punishment and waited for her for seven days! (Num.12:15)

I believe the best way of solving COVID is humbleness and repentance(2Sam24:17), in front of our Creator, instead of using vaccination in any defiant way, pretending that we can win, which I believe would either fail or lead to new problems.

Aside from the spiritual dimension of humbleness and repentance, the Bible did also allude to the physical dimension of combatting contagious diseases: face covering(Lev.13:45), social distancing(Lev.13:46), plus cleansing(Lev 14:8). I believe these biblical methods are better than vaccination. I believe if all the nation repent and social-distance for two weeks (or even for one week if they sincerely repent), the COVID would be completely gone…”

May humanity overcome arrogance, humble themselves before the Creator, and know that all good things come from Him, and everything should follow His will.

（利13）麻疯病与傲慢病

利未记13章的经文中，讲到麻疯病，并对麻疯病人有一些按通常标准看有失脸面的要求（利13:45-46），要他们自己宣称不洁净，不能靠近别人，要披头散发，撕裂衣服，遮住嘴唇。圣经后历代志下26章讲到，造物主可以用麻疯病来对付人类的傲慢，击打一位在通常人眼中相当成功的犹太国王。即使是很受人尊敬的一位女先知，也曾受造物主的管教得过麻疯病（民数记12）。

近年来席卷全球的新冠病毒，也教导现代人要谦卑。人们认为优越的民主体制反而更难控制病毒的蔓延，而专政体制到了病毒无法控制时也只好放开。起初盼望科学家发明的疫苗能消灭新冠的人，后来也对之失望。以下是一个持类似信仰的人在2021年秋写的一封信，当时他申请以信仰原因不打疫苗，里面提到他对某些相关圣经经文的理解（不一定都对）：

“亲爱的疫苗例外审查者：…

我相信造物主及其对个人的指引，相信圣经是祂的话语。我相信COVID不超出圣经的范围。我相信COVID属于圣经中称为“瘟疫”的范畴。就在两年前，谁能相信，全国各地的杂货店里，人们会都戴着口罩、相互保持距离？我相信COVID是造物主对人类傲慢的打击。谁能相信，技术最先进的国家遭受的损失最严重？

圣经研究使我相信，圣经中的瘟疫通常与傲慢这属灵疾病有关。以色列人因大卫王数算士兵人数而受到惩罚而遭受瘟疫（撒下24）。摩西的姐姐得麻疯病，这可能也与傲慢有关，正如附近的一节经文所暗示的那样（民数记12:3），暗示她不像她的兄弟摩西那样谦卑。圣经中对于麻疯病的洁净涉及谦卑。一节相邻的经文通过比喻将这与吐唾沫在脸上联系起来（民数记12:14）。摩西的妹妹，尽管身居先知的高位，也必须搬出营地并进行社交隔离七天，就像任何其他的麻疯病人一样，这是公开的责备：整个民族都得知她所受的惩罚，并等待她七天！（民数记12:15）

我相信解决COVID的最佳方式是在我们的创造者面前谦卑和悔改（撒下24:17），而不是以任何挑衅的方式使用疫苗，假装我们可以获胜，我相信这要么失败，要么导致新问题。

除了谦卑和悔改这些心灵方面的调整，圣经还提到了对抗传染病的身体方面的调整：脸部遮盖（利未记13:45），社交隔离（利未记13:46），以及洁净（利未记14:8）。我相信这些圣经中的方法比接种疫苗更好。我相信如果全国人民悔改并进行社交隔离两周（或者如果他们真诚悔改，甚至只要一周），COVID将完全消失。…”

愿人类克服傲慢，在造物主面前谦卑下来，知道一切好处都来自祂，万有都当行祂的旨意。