Leviticus 14:33-35 states that “When you come into the land of Canaan, which I give you for a possession, and I put a case of leprous disease in a house in the land of your possession, then he who owns the house shall come and tell the priest, ‘There seems to me to be some case of the disease in my house.”

The word mold or mildew in the above passage translates to “leprosy.” The Almighty wanted his children to reside in healthy and mold-free environments, showing his concern for the people.

Quarantine of the Home

Leviticus 14:36-42 professes that “Then the priest shall command that they empty the house before the priest goes to examine the disease, lest all that is in the house be declared unclean. And afterward, the priest shall go in to see the house. And he shall examine the disease. And if the disease is in the walls of the house with greenish or reddish spots, and if it is deeper than the surface, then the priest shall go out of the house to the door of the house and shut up the house seven days. And the priest shall come again on the seventh day and look. If the disease has spread in the walls of the house, then the priest shall command that they take out the stones in which is the disease and throw them into an unclean place outside the city. And he shall have the inside of the house scraped all around, and the plaster that they scrape off they shall pour out in an unclean place outside the city. Then they shall take other stones and put them in the place of those stones, and he shall take other plaster and plaster the house”.

Here, the question arises “why is it crucial to diagnose the sickness or plague?

Besides physical health, scriptures discuss mold in the house as a representation of sin. Like leprosy, mold in a house is unclean and destructive. According to the Old Testament Law, mold has a debilitating impact on a person’s home. Like transgression, it would spread and if left unchecked it would cause chaos.

Mold has been present in homes since biblical times. In Leviticus 14:33-45, the Lord told Moses and Aaron how to rid a house of mold. The inspection, scraping, and cleaning are what humans follow to date, except we do not involve a priest!

In her article “Haunted by Mold” in the New York Times Magazine published August 12, 2001, Lisa Belkin indicates that molds are relatively harmless and most people are not allergic. However, exposure to toxic mold may cause allergic reactions.

The Curse

Leviticus 14:34-35 states that “When you enter the land of Canaan that I give you as a possession, and I inflict an eruptive plague upon a house in the land you possess, and the owner of the house shall come and tell the priest something like a plague has appeared upon my house.”

The people believed that if they were in harmony with the Lord, the Lord would preserve them, their spirits and bodies, and their homes. Whenever one of them sinned, he would face discoloration of the skin, clothes, and then the house. This indicated that the Lord had departed from their humble abode.

In the earlier times, it was deduced that the plague in the form of mold was sent by the Lord himself. A home afflicted by mold represented the loss of social values from the family residing there.

Moses, Son of Maimon states that “He who indulges in evil talk finds that the walls of his house change color” (Mishneh Torah, N’gaim 12:5).

What is your job?

In today’s times, what are the plagues in our homes? Other than the literal meaning of mold, how should you interpret the meaning of plague?

Could it mean that the children of the Lord have wavered from the path of righteousness that has led to the moral decay of their homes? In such a situation, how would you purify your home?

Deuteronomy 22:8 states “When you build a new house, you shall make a parapet for your roof, so that you do not bring bloodguilt on your house if anyone should fall from it.” How can you address the modern-day afflictions in your homes?

Since biblical times, mold has represented the poison homes have developed owing to greed, sabotage, and jealousy. Home or house also defines the wider community of people.

Mold in its sense has infected our homes and made them inhabitable. Our moral duty is to clean our homes of this plague and acknowledge the responsibility for the mistakes we have made in the literal and biblical sense. This is so we can restore harmony and happiness within our homes and the wider community.

Let’s Talk Present

What you just read was the biblical version of the mold. Now, we must acknowledge the black spots in the corner of your shower cubicle.

All mold needs to thrive in your home is the correct temperature, a constant food source, and moisture. The development of mold is not entirely dependent on damp surfaces. It could even grow in houses without these issues.

In most homes, mold could develop in the following spaces:

• Around bathtubs and showers.
• In the crawlspace.
• Near gutters and drains (near dripping water).
• Under the carpeting.
• Near the vents

And even more spaces!!!

Prevention is better than cure

The best way to keep your house mold-free is to start from the basics:

• You must keep ALL surfaces always clean.
• Try to increase natural ventilation in your homes.
• If natural ventilation is not possible for all spaces, use an exhaust.
• You must ensure than HVAC vents are always unblocked.
• Mold thrives in humidity. You could install a dehumidifier to keep a check on that.
• Ensure that the dryer vents are also clean.
• Try to refrain from installing carpeting in areas that are prone to moisture.
• You could invest in testing the quality of air in your home and get professional advice.

How to eliminate mold from your home?

You want to nip this mold thing right in the bud! Mold only keeps on spreading if not kept in check at the right time. Before cleaning mold, always wear old clothes or protective clothing and waterproof gloves.

You could use an antimicrobial spray or a mild detergent with a combination of water and vinegar. So, let’s look at the steps:

Step 1 Remove and dispose of the unwanted material from the surface. This could include rotted wood, drywall, wallpaper, etc.

Step 2 Mist the surface with clean water to prevent the mold spores from being released into the air.

Step 3 Spray the surface with the antimicrobial spray or the detergent mixture.

Step 4 Rub off the surface with a sponge to remove the mold. Remember to keep on changing the water and the sponge frequently as reusing them could redeposit the spores on the surface.

Step 5 Let the surface dry for a day or two before you put it to use again.

And there you have it! The real-life version of the disease in your home. If left unchecked, mold could spread day by day and even cause health problems. Any part of your home that could be prone to the growth of mold needs to be always kept clean and dry.

Even after preliminary treatment, the mold might regrow, but now you know how to keep it in check without the need of a holy priest!