In this episode we continue studying the book of Numbers. In this episode Moses is commanded to put out of the camp all lepers, and everyone with an issue and whoever was defiled by a dead body; so their camps wouldn't be defiled and because, the Lord dwelt in their midst.

There were laws for lepers, noted in Leviticus chapter 13 and there was a cleansing process noted in Leviticus chapter 14. The cleansing process, took 8 days, and involved a sin offering, a trespass offering and a burnt offer.

There was a cleansing process for anyone with an issue.

There was a cleansing process if someone came contact with a dead body.

So perhaps they weren’t being put out just because they were unclean but because they were refusing to be made clean.

All they had to do was go to the priest with the appropriate sacrifice to make atonement for their uncleanness, then they were made clean, and could return to the camp.

By being put outside the camp, God was compelling them to do something about their uncleanness.

They did not have to be that way, they did not have to stay unclean.

In an act of mercy God was stirring them up to do something about their problem. Not only for their well being but for the well being of all the camps. He did not want them infecting other people.

In the Old Testament people were put outside the camp when they were unclean. In the New Testament Paul used the same model for the church. Unclean people were put out until they were made unclean by repenting of their sins. They were not to come in contact with other members.

In 1 Corinthians chapter 5, Paul confronts the leaders in the church because they had a man in the congregation, committing fornication with his father’s wife.He was sleeping with his step mother.

When Paul heard about it, he wrote them saying they should be ashamed of themselves, even heathen’s didn’t do things like that.

Then he said, they were puffed up about it, they were haughty, vain and arrogant about it.

The leaders in the church should have rebuked him. But since they did not it appeared as if they were in favor of it. Since they were bearing with this type of sin, it seemed as if his behavior was acceptable and condoned by the church.

And since he had the gall to sin in such a manner and revel in it before the congregation. He was to be rebuked before the congregation then expelled until he repented. If he repented he could return.

Then he told them to tell the congregation, that none of them should have fellowship with that wicked man and not even eat with him.

In 2 Thessalonians chapter 3 verses 6 through 15, Paul rebuked some for being idle, they were refusing to work and were disorderly. Because they weren't working, they had plenty of time to walk around and act unseemly.

Paul told the congregation not to keep company with them, so those refusing to work, would be ashamed of themselves, but then he said, don’t count them as an enemy but admonish them as a brother.

So the process of separating clean from unclean started in the Old Testament and continued in the New Testament with the final separation occurring after Christ judges the living and the dead.

The clean will remain inside the camp of God’s kingdom.

But Jesus said, the unclean, will be put out the camp.

Here's the text:

Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Revelation 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Revelation 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.