The laws about clean and unclean food relate to man's curse in the Garden to toil by the sweat of his brow for food. Next, the Lord gave regulations concerning purification after childbirth. This delicate topic addresses God's curse on the woman in the Garden regarding pains in child-bearing.

Firstly, a woman should set herself apart for a certain amount of time to be purified of her bleeding after childbirth. She was to remain apart from her husband and away from the sanctuary. This could become a time to meditate on God's grace to bear children and to place her hope in God for the child.

Secondly, out of thankfulness for God's mercy to bear children and to pass through the curse of all its pains and life-threatening risks, a mother should bring a lamb for a burnt offering. She should also bring a dove or pigeon for a sin offering for her atonement. In a cursed world, original sin was passed through her to the next generation, and there must be atonement. If she could not afford a lamb, she could bring a pair of doves. The offering was not as important as the woman's heart of thanksgiving, joy and hope in God, who blessed her to bear children and entrusted her with their lives.


Application: Father, thank you for your blessing of childbearing. Help mothers to realize your mercy, joy, and hope through childbearing.
One Word: God's mercy through childbearing