Medicine and Public Health
“If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God…I will put none of these diseases upon these…” Exod.15:26
These laws given to Moses are modern twentieth century medicine and public health guidelines. God told His people not to eat “unclean” animals and this is still applicable today. The pig and hare are exceptions, but modern medicine tells us that these two animals have parasitic infections that cause diseases if not cooked well, something which was very difficult to do as the people journeyed in the desert! God also forbade eating flesh of any animal that had died a natural death, advice which is still enforced in most civilized countries today.
The principle of quarantine was also unknown until recently, yet God explained it to Moses nearly 3500 years ago. This ensured that contagious diseases which were spreading amongst other people, who did not have God’s laws, were perfectly controlled amongst the people of God.
The subjects of water supply and sewage disposal are today considered to be of extreme importance for public health and prevention of diseases. Moses, however, thousands of years ago, was using the principles of bacteriology. He forbade the drinking of water from small or stagnant pools, or water contaminated by coming in contact with animals or meat (Lev.11:29-36). Directions for disposal of sanitary sewage by burial (Duet. 23:12-14) and regulations concerning personal hygiene were far ahead of practices even in the civilized countries until the past century. Indeed “the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine” (Ps.33:18-19).
Excerpt taken from the book “And God Said….Science Confirms the Authority of the Bible” written By Dr. Farid Abou Rahme Ph.D., published by GLS Publishing.
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