Anciently, when the world was given over to idolatry and had reached a state of apparent hopelessness, God called a people out of Egypt, away from the prevailing habits and practices of the Egyptians, and organized them into a church. For forty years God, through Moses, instructed and trained them in the wilderness in regard to laws which had to do with their physical and spiritual wellbeing. It was His desire to make Israel a well-trained company to evangelize the world, emphasizing medical missionary principles.
Upon the priests primarily was laid the responsibility of training and educating the people. In studying the statutes and judgments they taught, one is impressed with their wisdom. Knowledge pertaining to the germ theory, which enables us to arrest diseases which a century ago proved so disastrous in civilized lands, is regarded as of modern origin. And yet the children of Israel were instructed quite fully in regard to the communicability of diseases. Mold growing upon the walls of a dwelling was considered dangerous to the health of its inmates, and had to have attention.
When a disease appeared, the patient was examined by a priest to ascertain whether it was of a communicable nature. If it was, the patient was separated from the people, and iwlated. Those who had associated with the sick one were kept under observation for a stated number of days to determine whether an infection had occurred. In this way that great company of people, numbering more than three million, was kept free from the epidemic diseases which prevailed among the Egyptians. Detailed instruction was also given the people in regard to the need of sanitation. No refuse which would breed flies and other insects capable of conveying germs of disease, was permitted around their encampment. Cleanliness was one of the essentials enforced.
Not merely did they give attention to public hygiene, but more important still, they considered the laws that pertain to personal hygiene. Clean blood and sound, healthy tissue were regarded as of even greater value than clean surroundings, and hence knowledge was imparted to them regarding drink and food. It was God's purpose to demonstrate to the heathen world through His church the blessings that would be theirs by becoming His worshipers. His people were to be an object lesson in health.
In the wilderness, He withheld from them the food of their choice—the foods which had become their daily dietary while they dwelt among the Egyptians. He gave them, in place of meats and fish, foods prepared miraculously, and in place of the drink derived from "poisonful herbs," He gave them water from the smitten rock to quench their thirst. By following such a regime it was possible for Him to fulfill to them His promise to make of them a healthy and a holy people.
It was God's purpose that as His people entered the land of Canaan, they should communicate to the inhabitants these wise laws and statutes. They were to enter the land of Canaan as a "kingdom of priests." They were not to destroy, but save the people who were living in ignorance of these statutes, and suffering from diseases of every type as a consequence. This was God's purpose. His people were to be a medical missionary people. They were to be the salt of the earth. It was to these wise regulations that Moses referred when he said:
"Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them ; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who bath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon Him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day ? Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life : but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons."
God was disappointed—His own people, the hope of the world, were unwilling to remain a separate and distinct people. They were dissatisfied with the food He provided for them, and lusted after evil things. Then God gave them their desire, but disease and leanness of soul followed. They still claimed to be the favored people of God, but their influence for good was gone. Instead of being welcomed by the heathen, they were despised by them. The salt had lost its savor. It had lost its preserving properties, and was good for nothing but to be cast out and trodden underfoot of men.
They compassed land and sea to make proselytes and converts, but were a curse to the world instead of the blessing that God intended them to be. They were strict in certain observances, becoming worshipers of the temple and of the Sabbath day, instead of worshipers of the God of the temple and the God of the Sabbath. Temple worship and Sabbath observance became a curse instead of a blessing to mankind. The sick and suffering were neglected. Priest and Levite passed them by.
Instead of appealing to them for help, the people flocked around such false healers as Simon, the sorcerer, or resorted to lifeless objects which were supposed to possess healing virtues.
When Christ, the true medical missionary, entered upon His work of ministry, the people were lying around the pool of Bethesda waiting for the waters to be troubled. There was a superstition among them that at certain intervals an angel came down and troubled the waters, and whosoever first stepped in was cured of his malady. There was no hope for the helpless. The most needy could not reach the pool for the press of the throng. Jesus came to the pool and looked for the most needy. He healed the man who had lain there for a long time with no one to help him to the pool. As He went from place to place, the sick and distressed came from all parts, appealing to Him for help. His heart was moved with compassion as He beheld them, for they were exhausted and lay down "as sheep without a shepherd." He did that which priest and Levite should have been doing. He carried forward the double ministry, ministering to both their physical and their spiritual needs.
When Christ left this world, in addressing His disciples, He said, "He that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall he do also." He purposed to carry out the plan He had for ancient Israel, and make of the remnant church a medical missionary organization. The work of God in this world will never be finished until this is brought about. The gospel of the kingdom which He preached is to be preached in all the world as a witness unto all nations before the end can come. Teaching and healing will be combined in the true church, as they were in the days of Christ and the apostles, when the church went forth conquering and to conquer, and when in a brief period the gospel was preached to all the world.
