Numbers 5:11-6:27

Numbers 5:11-6:27

The remainder of Numbers 5 looks at a case study over adultery. The process used in such instances (which involved sacrifices and cleansing water) is outdated, but it shows how serious God took cases of adultery. When a woman was found to be practicing adultery, there was a serious set of consequences for her. First, the sin was revealed (for she had been found out). Secondly, several knew of the instance, such as her husband and the priests. Finally, she would no longer be allowed to conceive children. God had made child bearing a blessing among His people, so to not be allowed to have children was seen as a curse on that person. This explains why women such as Sarah or Martha (John the Baptist’s mom) wanted children so desperately. Although they had done nothing wrong to prevent them from having children, they had remained barren. In their culture, they would have been looked down upon as a result. So not being allowed to have children was a serious consequence for women of this time. We all need something to grab our attention such as this. Sin has consequences, and if we are aware of the serious consequences that could come as a result of our sin, then I feel we would be much more careful in how we live our lives each day.

The Nazirite Vow is discussed in Numbers 6. This is the vow that Samson took in Judges, the reason why his hair was so long. Not shaving their heads was just one of the stipulations for those who took the Nazirite Vow. These men were another separation of the people of Israel who were committed to living a holy life before God. They were to be even more careful in how they lived their lives, for they had made such a strong commitment to God. They were to abstain from some practices that the ordinary people around them could do (such as not shaving their hair and not drinking any drink that came from grapes). While these two actions were not condemned in Israel, they were off limits for the Nazirites.

One similarity I see between this vow and our culture is that of fasting. In essence, these extra commandments were a form of fasting. By not being involved in these various practices, they were spending that time to focus more on the Lord. When we commit to a fast, such as abstaining from food, some type of drink, facebook, or anything else we find enjoyable in life (that is not sinful) for a set amount of days, we are separating ourselves from those different parts of our lives in an effort to spend more time in prayer and in His Word. Although we do not have anything similar to the Nazirite Vow, fasting is one way that we can express a similar type of commitment to God.

I will close this section with the closing verses of Numbers 6:

“The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”

Matt