Comfort Through Touch
by Dan Jones, M.D.
Leviticus 14:1-3,14,18
The LORD said to Moses, "These are the regulations for the diseased person at the time of his ceremonial cleansing, when he is brought to the priest: The priest is to go outside the camp and examine him. If the person has been healed of his infectious skin disease....The priest is to take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot.....The rest of the oil in his palm the priest shall put on the head of the one to be cleansed and make atonement for him before the LORD .
This Old Testament scripture from Leviticus likely seems strange as a devotional thought. But, as we examine what the scriptures have to say about touch to health professionals working today, there are valuable lessons for us.
These instructions were given to describe the responsibilities of the health professional in the time of Moses - the priest. Of course, the very roots of the health professions arise from the priesthood. Our predecessors in Moses' time were given these clear instructions on dealing with the sick.
As a means of isolation to avoid transmission to others, the sick were sent outside the camp. As a first step in the process of certifying the person as being well, the priests were instructed to leave the safety of the camp to go out among the sick for the first part of the examination. This was done for the safety of those inside the camp. It was the responsibility of the health professional (priest) to take on risk when performing this vital service to the camp and to God. Sound familiar? In the days of HIV and hepatitis C and a multitude of other risks, God calls on his health professionals today to assume risk for the sake of others.
Next, note the priest was instructed to take the oil from the sacrifice and touch the person in four places: the ear, the thumb, the toe, and the head. This touch presented an opportunity for the health professional (priest) to confirm some things about the health of the person beyond what could be perceived by sight alone (not a bad lesson for modern health professionals tempted to make clinical decisions without an adequate physical examination!). An added benefit to the touching in four places was that it gave reassurance to the patient and the rest of the camp that it was now safe to welcome this person back into their community without fear.
God still provides opportunities for health professionals to serve Him and others through touch. There are many ways health professionals serve God by the risk of human touch.
Lord, thank you for the gift of touch through the practice of the healing arts. Help me to be your hands today.
Dan Jones, M.D., MACP, FAHA, a board-certified Internist, a former medical missionary to Korea, professor of medicine at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Dean of the School of Medicine, and Chancellor of the University of Mississippi until 2015. Dr. Dan Jones is a member of CMDA.
Dr. Jones welcomes any comments or questions about what he has written and can be reached at - djones@umc.edu
Rounds with the Master, Spiritual Pearls from the Great Physician Devotionals are released every Monday and Thursday.
Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash
