Wandering: A Study In Numbersنموونە

What does it say?

God gave Moses directions on what to do with unclean people in the camp, people who sinned in general, and husbands who suspect their wives of being unfaithful.

What does it mean?

One theme that runs through all three sections of this chapter is purity. God’s ideal is that His people should be pure in every way. If there were physical diseases that might spread throughout the camp, the people with those diseases were to be separated from the others until they were physically pure, so they could return. If someone sinned against their neighbors, they were to make amends, so there would be no bitterness spread throughout the camp. If there were unfaithful wives, they were to be confronted and punished, so that marital unfaithfulness would not spread throughout the camp.

How should I respond?

The Bible tells us that “all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory” (Rom. 3:23), and if anyone says they have no sin, they are deceiving themselves (1 John 1:8). How can we who are impure live in the presence of the perfectly pure God? “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, and will purify us from all impurity” (1 John 1:9). We get cleaned up, so to speak, by humbly recognizing our impurity, asking God for forgiveness, and trusting in God’s promise of forgiveness. All of that is only possible because Jesus was punished in our place. Have you asked God for forgiveness?