I previously posted Whiter than Snow, but realized that there were some questions left unanswered in the initial posting. Precisely when doing a bible search of those words—they presented mostly in reference to Christ; however, what was I to do with the two times that it referred to leprousy occurring as a result of sin in the lives of Gehazi and Miriam? Where did this idea fit within the framework of the chapter in the which my desire was to show that God takes our sin and transforms us. “Though your sin be as scarlet it shall be white as snow.” I prayed earnestly for God to tell explain this to me and I kept studying this portion again. He did and that was so amazing that I must share the re-write of this section.
Whiter Than Snow
“though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18
Throughout my life one of those things that I have most struggled with is my own sense of failure and guilt. This becomes even more prevalent when facing a trial. What did I do this time to deserve this punishment? Guilt and self-disdain quickly become utter despair. Then that despair at times led to a paralyzing depression which blocked my ability to accomplish anything or to feel love. In the center of this disdaining despair, I found that I could not feel God’s presence; even though I know He was there. Everything appeared as though the world was crashing in around me and I was certain in that moment it must have been my fault. In those moments I became acutely aware of the fact that I would never be good enough to earn God’s love by my own efforts. Though this is a struggle I have battled with during each valley; I have learned that guilt is actually Satan’s trap. Momentarily my testimony for Christ becomes nonexistent. In fact, anger builds within as I battle against guilt and hatred of myself. In those moments I have found myself plummeting downward farther and farther. That anger results in my snapping harsh words to those around me which then drives me ever deeper into despair. So, how can I or you be released from a sense of guilt and failure? The answer is to lay it forever at the cross of Christ and remember the fact that God has already paid for that sin. There are some direct consequences of sin which may result in trials; but God is not punishing you. For example, if I were to steal; then I might be in jail or if I decide to be promiscuous; then HIV may be a direct consequence of that decision. Yet, because Christ has covered my sins from the moment I accepted Him as my Savior; He can and will make something beautiful from even my failures when I bring them to the cross. Salvation is available by Grace and Grace alone. Although God may allow the consequences of my sin to occur; He is not standing up in heaven looking down waiting to swat me with some gigantic flyswatter. Instead, He looks down with great sorrow and tears over my failure to understand that His plan for me is the best. He knows that my failures are a result of my inability to fully comprehend His love and the price He paid for me.
My struggle with guilt and self-disdain has been my greatest thorn in the flesh. Even in childhood, I worked constantly striving toward perfection in hopes to be liked by those around me. I was an overweight little girl with a speech impediment; so, I worked hard toward pleasing the teachers and being a good student. I remember an incident in first grade. There was a little boy that I admired and he had used his crayons to color inside his desk. Since I thought his desk was so pretty, I decided to color inside mine. When the teacher angrily asked me who had colored my desk, I became frightened and said, “I don’t know.” Consequently, she paddled me and made me stay in during recess to clean my desk. This should have been the end of the story; but I carried around the guilt for the act and the lie for years. The remainder of that year, my eyes faced the floor whenever I had to go up front to answer a question or talk to the teacher. Inside, I felt I was a failure; despite my graduating first grade as #1 in my class. Three years later, I remember some adult just as conversation said, “You gotten spanked at school, yet?” Then quickly my little voice said “No.” I was too ashamed to tell the truth; yet, I worried over that lie for many years to come. I somehow believed that God was going to reach down and strike me with a bolt of lightning. I have struggled with that same sense of fear and guilt throughout my life and even more so when a valley comes. Remember God’s answer to Paul regarding his thorn in the flesh? God said, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” 2 Corinthians 12:9. His Grace is sufficient to cover my failures, my sins and my guilt. He has gently reminded me of this truth each step of my journey. So, if you find yourself as a Christian burdened down by guilt; please take this journey with me. If you have never accepted Christ as your Savior, then also take this journey so as to find the only way to have your sin guilt removed.
When I first began my Master’s program in late 1997, I would stay with my 104 year old Grandfather. He was essentially blind from macular degeneration and nearly deaf; yet, he lived alone and cared for himself. This patriarch of the faith spent every day in prayer and Bible study. He had special earphones and a taped Bible that he continued to study daily. I often joked that if I needed anything of God- I just needed to ask my Grandfather because I was certain he had a telephone to God, a direct hotline that never had any static. One of the times I was there he began to expound on Isaiah 1:18 “though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” He would tell me, as a reminder, that after accepting Christ, one’s soul could no longer sin. The soul is made Whiter than snow. He would explain that our flesh could sin, but our soul could not sin. Our soul had been washed in the blood of Christ and would remain sinless from the moment we accepted Christ and throughout eternity.
Though I understood what this great Christian patriarch was saying, I failed to fully grasp the depth of those words or to accept the full gravity of the meanings. I understood with my intellect; yet, my own guilt would at times block this truth from my heart. The truth that we are made “whiter than snow” has such a depth of meaning and is the true expression of Grace demonstrated by God. Why do I fail to be able to claim this truth? It is in those dark hours of despair that He has led me to look once more at this truth. I began to search the scripture about “white as snow”. That review led me to find the other uses of “whiter than snow” or white as wool.” That search led me to discover that those words were used in two separate references. It was used in referring to the leprosy of Miriam, Naaman, and Ghehazi. Then it was used in reference to Christ. At first there was some question in my mind as to how could the leprosy be used and at first I thought this had to be a mistake. Yet, God never makes a mistake; therefore I researched the references a little farther and then I found within the law an answer which I hope I might convey without causing any confusion. When looking at the law regarding leprosy we find in Leviticus 13: 12And if a leprosy break out abroad in the skin, and the leprosy cover all the skin of him that hath the plague from his head even to his foot, wheresoever the priest looketh; 13Then the priest shall consider: and, behold, if the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: it is all turned white: he is clean. 14But when raw flesh appeareth in him, he shall be unclean. 15And the priest shall see the raw flesh, and pronounce him to be unclean: for the raw flesh is unclean: it is leprosy.” So, if the flesh were all covered and had become all white (covering the diseased flesh); then the leper was declared clean. This is much like our sin being covered by the blood of Christ until the flesh below the surface of the white righteousness of Christ cannot be seen again in the eyes of God.
Now let’s take a look at the scriptures about leprosy where “whiter than snow” were used.
Numbers 12
“1And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.
2And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it.
3(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)
4And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out.
5And the LORD came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth.
6And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.
7My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.
8With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?
9And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed.
10And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.
11And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned.
12Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother’s womb.
13And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.
14And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again.
15And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again”
Miriam had sinned against God; yet when she was cursed with leprosy at the same time she was covered from head to toe. She was sent to separation from the group for seven days. She was aware of her sin and her leprous flesh; yet, He covered her white as snow which by the law would declare her clean. A perfect picture of Grace in that sinful flesh was covered white as snow by God’s gracious hand. Before a person accepts the atonement for sin they must understand that they are a sinner and are in a sense “leprous with sin.” Much like leprosy which destroys one’s ability to feel pain; sin destroys overtime our ability to even feel any weight for our sins. One lie leads to bigger lies to full corruption sometimes with no remorse, etcetera.
The second example in which leprosy was used in the Bible with the words “whiter than snow” was very similar and as follows.
2 Kings 5: 20But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.
21So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?
22And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.
23And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.
24And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.
25But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.
26And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?
27The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.”
Again though Gehazi’s sin was displayed in the leprous flesh; God’s Grace was displayed again by covering the entire flesh as white as snow—proclaiming Gehazi clean under the law. In both cases Miriam and Gehazi, lived out their days covered with this white flesh as a constant reminder of God’s grace which can be a perfect illustration of our own exchange of our sin for Christ’s righteousness. We must ever be reminded of who we really are (leprous sinners) saved by Grace and now covered with Christ’s white robe of righteousness. Remembrance of our sins should not be as a result of “guilt” anymore; rather our clothing of righteousness should draw us ever more diligently in love to desire to display the righteousness in which we are clothed and not to demonstrate the flesh below. And we know that Gehazi was not retired from his service to God as one might note in 2 Kings 8: 4 where he is referred to as “Gehazi the servant of the man of God” That is Grace demonstrated.
The remainder of the incidences in which God has used the expression of “whiter than snow” or “white as wool” are in reference to Christ Himself.
In Daniel 7:9 it is written “And the Ancient of days did sit whose garment was white as snow and hair of his head like the pure wool.” Again in Matthew 28:3 when speaking of Jesus as he ascended from the grave “ His countenance was like lightening and his raiment white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool.” Furthermore it is found in Matthew 28:3 when speaking of Jesus as he ascended from the grave “His countenance was like lightening and his raiment white as snow.” It is amazing to me that there is even a greater significance than merely Grace to save us found in these references (For the grace that saves us is already so much more than we deserve. Yet in the remainder of the references to “white as snow or in reference to wool, refers to the countenance of Christ, which represents the significance of these words, whiter than snow when referring to the believer. That though our sins are like “scarlet” when washed in the blood of Christ our souls take on “His image” and we become, as He is – sinless and blameless before God.
I also found this reference in Mark 9:3 as Peter, James and John transcended a high mountain “He was transfigured before them. And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow, so as no fuller on earth can white them.” Christ’s raiment was “whiter than snow” is also referred to in Revelations 1: 13-14 “ And in the midst of the candlesticks one like unto the Son of man his head and his hair were while like wool, as white as snow.”
Wow, when He says, “though your sins be as scarlet they shall be white as snow” He is referring to a transformation of our sins to being spotless like Jesus. Covered in His blood we are accounted as having perfection and become clothed with his white garment of righteousness. This is through faith and grace. Paul refers to Abraham in Romans 4:3, by saying “Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” Our faith and belief are counted for righteousness. “Though your sins be as scarlet”- refers to blood guiltiness. There are some who would try to say, “But I try to live a good life-I haven’t done anything that bad.” But as is noted in Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” None of us through works of our own can find righteousness or wash away our sin nature- we remain red as scarlet. Only the blood of Christ can make our garments “white as snow” “But we are an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities like the wind, have taken us away.” Isaiah 63:
Now Crimson is a red colorfast dye of the scarlet worm-it is a stain very difficult to eradicate. Therefore, the symbolic removal of this stain and turning it to white as wool represents something so difficult that man could not himself remove. It is a picture of the life changing Grace of God that delivers us from our sins. Our sins a deep stain impossible to remove is made white as wool by the precious blood of Christ.
This is truly of Grace and grace alone. “For by Grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves it is the Gift of God-Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:7-9 It is through faith that grace abounds unto righteousness. “even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. 19For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” Romans 5: 18-19
This righteousness that is accounted to each who believes in Jesus Christ by faith is not based on works. Therefore, it cannot be a source of neither pride nor guilt. Our works cannot alter it. The soul is free from all sin-past, present and future. The soul can no longer sin. “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” I John 3:9. This perfection of the soul, this covering of our sins is forever due to the sacrifice of Christ. “But this man, after he had offered the one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he has perfected forever them that are sanctified.” Hebrews 10: 12-14
It is difficult for us to recognize the magnitude of His Grace; but truly He has taken our scarlet stains of sin and washed them whiter than snow. He has made us sons-joint heirs of His kingdom. “But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law. To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying Abba Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” Galatians 4:4-7 Being covered by the blood of Christ, we are seen by the Father as “whiter than snow-like wool” just as He has described His Son. He is about the business of perfecting that transformation; yet, God always sees the finished product. “For whom He did foreknow He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son” Romans 8:29
At the point of accepting Christ as our Savior, we are forgiven of our sins. Additionally we are given Christ’s righteousness-placed in our account. Being accounted righteous means we are no longer captives of neither guilt nor sin’s hold. It has been my experience that when I get buried in my own guilt, I am more likely to keep falling into the same sin. Therefore, guilt does not release me from sin’s hold on my life. Only grace and faith can do that. Besides, guilt is a very prideful thing when confronted with scripture. It is saying, “God, Christ may have died for my sin; but my sin is too big for You to forgive.” When we are guilt-laden we are focused on our self and our sin rather than the blood of Christ. We do not become justified by wallowing in our guilt; we are justified by Christ. The truth of that sets you free from both sin and the guilt thereof. When you are condemning yourself, you are focused on you, not on God. 2 Corinthians 3: 17-18 says, “17Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” So I urge you and myself to take our eyes off of our failures and look deep into the face of Christ.
Many fear to teach the truth concerning Grace. They fear that people will utilize this as a license to sin more. The truth gives too much liberty they think. Despite the inability of our soul to sin once saved- our flesh remains filled with the sin nature as is so clearly stated by Paul the apostle. “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not, for that which I would, that do I not, what I hate that I do. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing for to will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not but the evil which I would not, that I do. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil, is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man But I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into the captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.” Romans 7: 15-25.
Our flesh, our sinful nature still sins: however the Holy Spirit which dwells in us draws us toward the likeness of Christ. “There is therefore no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1-4. Once we take our focus off of our guilt and ourselves to place that focus on Jesus; we actually sin less. The reason being when we are focused on Christ, we see sin for what it really is-a barrier to demonstrating the praise to Christ that would bring Him the Glory we desire to bring Him. The more we focus on Christ, the more we love Him. The more we love Him, the more we want to bring smiles to His face rather than tears of sorrow. We become compelled by love to please Him, not out of fear.
My belated husband suffered greatly from a bipolar disorder which tormented him day and night. That spilled over at times to his becoming very abusive. The early years of my marriage led me to obey him out of fear. I remained frustrated, victimized, and doomed to fail over and over. There came a moment in which the eyes of my heart began to see him clearly as this tormented soul. Suddenly, my reason for trying to please him came out of love instead of fear. I wanted to ease his discomfort. No longer was I a victim. I was now empowered to love. I know in some ways this may be a poor illustration; yet, God used those years to teach me about unconditional love. He allowed me, this imperfect human, to demonstrate unconditional love. There I began to understand God’s unconditional love for me which was greater than anything I could display. God does not have a bipolar abusive personality; but when we walk around with guilt and fear of His punishment, we are acting as though He does. Instead, He is looking at us with unconditional love which only wants the best for us.
What possibly can all this really mean to us? It means we have liberty and freedom from both guilt and worry concerning our Christian walk. It means that when I fall face down into the mud, God does not gleefully look down and rub my face in it. There in that pit of mud I may keep my head down as I pitifully cry out to God of my failure. At that very moment, God reaches down, takes my hand, and with gentle voice says as He looks through the blood of Christ; “What sin my child? I don’t see any. Come. Take my hand. We have work that needs to be done. The fields are white with harvest.” He gently pulls me up, dusts me off, kisses my cheek and off we go together. Such love and grace He displays. Remember this salvation and this walk with God is dependent on faith and faith only. We are free from the bondage of the law. Let loose the chains that weigh you down. Accept God’s full grace—knowing that once saved—your soul has been washed “whiter than snow”. Let go of your chains of guilt and worry—allow the Holy Spirit to perform His work through you. Allow God’s righteous work to be performed in your body by the Spirit. Take that deep breath of fresh air that fills your body and soul, that breath that comes from the freedom of walking in Grace. Oh, what Amazing and magnificent Grace that God hath poured forth on us.
Let us Pray
“Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for your Grace that has covered all my sins. Thank you for the sacrifice of your Son that I might be freed forever from the bondage of sin, guilt and worry—that my soul might be “whiter than snow”. My God thou art truly an awesome God, full of Mercy and Grace. Guide me with thy Spirit, direct my life. Let your righteousness Shine forth through me. Help me when I am weak and fail to claim this truth in my own life. Be my faith when I can no longer believe. Thank you for this love you have so freely given and thank you for your unconditional love even when I fail to love myself. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
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