The people of Israel were to rest one day in seven and one year in seven (Lev. 23 and 25). In addition to this there

were special Sabbaths, feasts and convocations which ensured that physical strain was always avoidable. The rush

and strain of modern days was impossible under the law of God.

Not only was adequate rest and change given, but the laws of sanitation were most comprehensive and even

superior to our modern ideas. There were constant injunctions for the priest to wash himself and his clothes (e.g.

Num. 19:5-8). When Israel went to war there were strict regulations concerning latrine disposal (Deut. 23:9-14).

Here is a testimony of a Christian doctor:

`Water-borne and fly-borne diseases, such as dysentery and enteric fever, have been the scourge of armies in the

field even more than of stationary populations. In the South African War the loss of life from these diseases was

greater than from wounds. It was not until the Great War of 1914-18 that effectual precautions were put into

practice. Yet all through the centuries the remedy was at hand if the generals had troubled to read their Bibles,

and observe the directions given for the disposal of excreta by burial' (Modern Discovery and the Bible p. 122 by

Dr. A. Rendle Short).

With regard to the eating of meat, certain offerings were to be eaten on the day they were sacrificed. In other

offerings the meat could be eaten the second day, but after this it must be burned (Lev. 7:15-18; 19:5-7). This was

essential in a hot climate where meat would putrefy rapidly.

Coming into a tent where there was a dead body rendered the person unclean for a week and every uncovered

vessel in the tent was likewise unclean. Touching a dead body had the same effect and the remedy was the ashes of

a burnt heifer plus running water (not stagnant water in a vessel), and this was applied on the third and seventh days

and in addition the unclean person must wash both his clothes and his person (Num. 19:14-21) on the seventh day.

Modern laws of hygiene are not stricter than this!

Thus, in many ways, some of which have been mentioned here, the wonderful wisdom of God the Ruler,

legislated for the joy and well-being of His earthly subjects.

In the law of God given through Moses, a divine expression was given of His earthly kingdom, first of all from

the spiritual side reflected in the ten commandments, then in the sacrificial law which dealt with sin resulting from

infringement of that law. This section of the Mosaic law was highly prophetic, for it declared in type and shadow

that `without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness (remission)' (Heb. 9:22). Death resulted from sin

entering the world (Rom. 5:12) and this penalty must be borne if ever there was to be forgiveness and sins cancelled

and put away. There was no intrinsic value in the sacrifice of any animal, for `it is not possible that the blood of

bulls and of goats should take away sins' (Heb. 10:4). Their only value was in the prophetic foreshadowing of THE

`Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world' (John 1:29) by His atoning death on Calvary's cross.

The third section concerned the daily life and health of the people of Israel which we have just considered.

Bearing in mind the plan of God to bring in His righteous kingdom all over the earth through human intermediaries,

we can now understand why Israel takes such an important role in the Bible. We first of all have the expression of

that kingdom in Israel's divine economy with the final intention of their spreading the good news of it over the earth,

so that the knowledge of the Lord and His redemption will `cover the earth as the waters cover the sea'.

It was for this reason alone that God made clear through Moses that Israel was to be the principal nation of the

earth. It was certainly not because of any innate goodness or ability that they were chosen for this great role. In

Exodus 19:5,6 God had said:

`Now therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto

Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine: And ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation'.

We find this reiterated in the book of Deuteronomy:

`... thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they

shall not reign over thee' (Deut. 15:6).