These four chapters are a mixed bag of commands and accountings.
Right off the bat, know that you can skim much of Numbers 7. Once it gets going, each day’s offerings are pretty much identical. Reading it over and over again can give you a headache. Once you get the idea, skip to the totals at the end, and be amazed at the dedicatory offerings they were able to amass!
In Numbers 5, we find a troubling passage, one that almost sounds as if the Bible justifies a husband’s vague sense of jealousy (v. 14), and certainly seems chauvinistic, by modern standards. Try reading these verses as a protection for the wife from a husband’s unfounded accusations. Taking his wife to the priest (v. 15), for example, is a far better solution than taking matters into his own hands. As for the bitter water (a mixture of water and dust from the Tabernacle floor), God prescribed it as a spiritual, psychological and physical test. But apart from God’s guiding hand, it sounds strange.
Numbers 6 describes the requirements for a special period of devotion in the life of an Israelite; called a Nazirite vow. Nazir means “to separate.” Any man or woman could “separate themselves to the Lord” in this way. For the period of this vow, they would abstain from fermented and unfermented grape juice or even grapes, as well as haircuts or shaving of any kind. There was also a process for re-entry after the period of separation was complete. John the Baptist, it appears, might have been a life-time member of the Nazirite club! (Luke 1:13-15)
Speaking of being “set apart,” the Levites are separated from Israel for the special works to which they were called (Numbers 8). And one of those works was to bless the people. God back to the blessing the priestly Levites were use: Numbers 6:22-27. It’s famous and wonderful, especially so to me; for with these words I blessed my sons each night as they were growing up.
Until tomorrow,
Pastor Gary
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