Answers to Questions - The Bible and Science

What are some examples of scientific insights relating to medicine?

A few dietary books have actually been written on this subject, which make a case for a healthy diet based on biblical dietary recommendations. Some of the most obvious medical practices today-thoroughly outlined in the Bible - were not "discovered" by man until recently. In about 1500 B.C., the Hebrews, led by Moses, left Egypt and faced the rugged challenge of surviving away from a well-developed civilization. Aside from merely surviving, they needed to become strong enough to conquer a new land. God promised that by following His laws, the Hebrews would avoid the diseases of the Egyptians (Exodus 15:26). The Bible's ancient laws have tremendous medical insights not known until the germ research of the late 1800's.

Principles of Quarantine, Waste Disposal and Sterilization
When the Black Plague was killing much of Europe prior to the Renaissance, desperate nations turned to the church for guidance. Returning to the Old Testament Laws of Moses, they instituted principles practiced by the Israelites for dealing with diseases like leprosy, for handling of the dead. and for waste disposal. Quarantine is well understood today as a means of controlling infectious disease. In the days of Moses and in the days of the Black Plague, however, God's command (Leviticus 13) had to be obeyed without people knowing why. The entire chapter of Leviticus 13 discusses diseases and illness, and means of diagnosis and cure.

"The person with such an infectious disease must wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of his face and cry out, 'Unclean! Unclean!' As long as he has the infection he remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp." This is what we have adapted even today: covering our mouths so as not to spread germs!

"If any clothing is contaminated with mildew--any woolen or linen clothing, ...The priest is to examine the mildew and isolate the affected article for seven days. ... On the seventh day he is to examine it, and if the mildew has spread in the clothing ...it is a destructive mildew; the article is unclean. He must burn up the clothing..."
Leviticus 13:45-ff

Sound familiar ? Of course we now realize that clothes must destroyed in order to prevent the spreading of germs. But civilizations, centuries ago, followed the Bible practices without having a clue as to why they did so, other than seeing the results. Another biblical insight not understood until the late 1800's is the principle of sterilization ( washing of hand and clothing). Guidelines for washing are outlined in the handling of the dead (Numbers 19). Further information on these amazing Biblical insights can be read in Leviticus 15, Leviticus 12, 13. This further validates the scripture as the divine revelation of God to mankind.

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