Numbers 5 - 6 (25th Feb) - Ivy

Numbers 5

The Purity of the Camp

The Lord speaks to Moses about the purity of his camp.

Verse 2: Command the Israelites to send away from the camp anyone who has an infectious skin disease or a discharge of any kind

I pondered: Is God unmerciful by sending the sick away? However I believe this person may have sinned against the Lord suffered the consequence of the disease and have to be sent away. Purity to the Lord could have been breached. This applies to both men and women.

Restitution for Wrongs

Notice it is a sin to malign others. It is UNFAITHFULNESS to God. Wow….

The Test for an Unfaithful Wife

If a man is unsure but suspects his wife of being unfaithful, he is to prepare a grain of guilt offering. Just in case he ‘malign’ her and cause him to be unfaithful to God. He is to bring the matter up to the priest who will perform a ‘ritual’ to prove of her innocence. If she is pure, she would have no problem ‘taking the curse’. But however if she is unfaithful, she would be barren.

Verse 21: ‘may the LORD cause your people to curse and denounce you when he causes your thigh to waste away and your abdomen to swell. 22 May this water that brings a curse enter your body so that your abdomen swells and your thigh wastes away. “‘Then the woman is to say, " Amen. So be it."

The Lord reminds about committing adultery in the 10 commandments.

Exodus 20:14"You shall not commit adultery.

If any of you knows the issue of Paskistani woman. If only the community practiced this, many innocent women would not lose their life.

Numbers 6

Vow of separation – This involved separation ff consecration for a specific period of special devotion to God. This is not just a vow of discipline; it was an act of toal devotion to the Lord.

The Lord gave rules and precise guidelines as to the dos and don’ts.

The offerings of the Nazarite at the completion of the period of vow were extensive, expensive and expressive of the spirit of total commitment to the Lord during this time of special devotion.
Note:
The Priestly Blessing
22 The LORD said to Moses,
23 "Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:
24 ' "The LORD bless you and keep you;
25 the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
26 the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." '
27 "So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them."

May the Lord bless and keep all in Livingstones, FCBC and the entire body of Christ.
May His face shine upon all of us and be gracious to us. May the Lord’s face turn upon us and give us peace. Bless our people. Thank You Lord, in Jesus name I pray,
Amen.