Numbers 5 - The Price of Impurity

God tells us from the first chapter of Genesis on that not only is He our Creator and has all authority to direct our lives, He is also Holy and He expects His people to be pure and to shun sin. Sin can take so many forms in our lives and none is guiltless or we would not be in such desperate need if a Savior. This chapter outlines ways we can defile ourselves and the treatment of each. 

Physically

If we have potentially contagious ailments (this chapter holds up skin disease) we should separate ourselves out of compassion for the rest of the camp. We should not want to intentionally infect others with our afflictions. I write this during cold and flu season so you know who you are. Separate yourselves, wash your hands and cover your mouth. Those who were defiled were to leave the camp until they could be pronounced clean. 

Wrongful Acts

If we have wronged someone restitution is insufficient. We are called to add to the restitution 20%. We can't undo our poor behavior but we can ensure that the relationships remain intact. When that person is not available to make things right, you should go to next of kin and then to priests to confess your wrong and be right with that other person. 

Note in Num 6:6, "when a man or woman wrongs another in any way and so is unfaithful to The Lord..."  We demonstrate our faithfulness to The Lord in how we treat others. If we are unkind, we have not only wronged that person, we have also wronged God. We tarnish God's name if we call ourselves Christian and behave badly. There is more at stake than the harm done to another. God's reputation is on the line wherever we go. 

Sexual Sin

Our faithfulness with our sexual drives is also an indication of our faithfulness to God. In the chapter God outlines marital infidelity and the means by which He would bring a curse on the unfaithful. We live in an age that permits almost anything two consenting adults would allow. Even teens are deemed to be consenting and their parents not notified if their child is engaged in unholy conduct. 

Sex outside the covenant of marriage is a sin. Marriage was to be between a man and a woman. Beyond those boundaries we are coming into conflict with God's plan for sexual conduct. When we are outside God's plan for us we frequently encounter suffering and if we maintain our hard stance against God, there are eternal consequences. 

God longs for us to embrace holy living and call sin what He calls it. Confess it and repent. God is a loving and forgiving God, but we must agree with Him regarding the sin in our lives and we must come to Him in His way. 

If you are feeling convicted of some unholy act in your life, call it by its name before God and ask for His forgiveness. Also go to the person wronged and make amends. Keep your relationships free from all types of violations of trust. "If we will confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 Jn 1;9). 

May God richly bless you as you seek Him and as you serve Him.