Childbirth

Leviticus 12:1-8

Purification After Childbirth

1The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Say to the Israelites: ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period. 3 On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised. 4 Then the woman must wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her purification are over. 5 If she gives birth to a daughter, for two weeks the woman will be unclean, as during her period. Then she must wait sixty-six days to be purified from her bleeding.6 “‘When the days of her purification for a son or daughter are over, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering. 7 He shall offer them before the Lord to make atonement for her, and then she will be ceremonially clean from her flow of blood. “‘These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl. 8 But if she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way, the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.’”

This chapter reminds me of the day when I gave birth to my son and daughter. They are the unforgettable memories of my life, as they are very special moments that I had never had before. I shed my tears as well as bleeding a lot at that time. My son was the first and my daughter was the second, so I had more difficulties when I gave birth to my son. Even my doctor told my husband that he was the luckiest man, as he could have died in my womb because my baby didn't breathe for some time. In my daughter case, she easily came out, but I shed my tears with happiness.

I was the only daughter among 4 brothers in my house before marriage, and I was eager to have a girl, and finally I gave birth to a daughter, so I was so happy that I even shed my tears of thanks to God. After childbirth, I had to care for myself well, but I couldn't do because my husband and I were ignorant of it, so I had to endure almost 10 years' pain. Reading this bible verses, I feel like my Father's special care that my parents couldn't do for me, as they were not aware of how to do afterbirth care.

Without bleeding and pain, there is no life. That's the reason why lives of all creatures are so important that we have to take good care of them. I guess that uncleanness does not mean dirtiness, but rather it is a bit close to holiness, so we'd better not be closer to them or eat them. The concept of holiness is too hard to perceive, so God used the word, clean or unclean, considering the intellectual level of human beings. Whatever they are, I believe that giving birth to a life is an amazing work to both God and to a human being and that's the most creative work that no one could ever do, without the Lord's hands.

This morning, I am deep in thought about the meaning of lives of all creatures that were made by God. How would God wish them to be all safe and to have an enjoyable life in peace, as I wish that my children would do live like that? However, at even this moment, a lot of lives are dying from wars, terror, hunger, violence, and sickness and so on. How would God, my Father, feel so sad and painful that He would not want to see them all. Nevertheless, I believe that He is keeping an eye on them, in particular, who have been suffering from ignorance of God, who is their Father, and the Creator, who knows everything when they were in their mother's womb.

Father, thanks for giving me this wonderful life. I am also thankful that I could give births to my precious children, though it was a hard work. Without bleeding, I couldn't have thought of the love of my Father and His intention for that, I mean, without pain, there is no life. Every lives are so precious that let me care and love without any favoritism or prejudices as well. Let my hearts go to the poor and weak, and the orphans, who have no parents and do not know the fact that they have a majestic and life-giving Father. I pray for them all at this time, in Jesus name, which gave me the eternal life, amen.