Numbers
4 – 6
Verses 4:5 & 6 talks about the care given to temple
objects:
5 When
it’s time to break camp, follow these instructions: Aaron and
his sons shall take down the screen curtain and cover the covenant chest. 6 Over
that, they shall lay a sea-cow skin, and over that, a pure blue cloth.
They shall then slide in the chest’s poles.
This chapter goes through the care of the temple objects. I
find it interesting the procedures put in place to move the temple gear when on
the move. I also question why it’s so critical that only a select few handle the
objects or face death. Is it God raining death onto mankind or mankind killing
those who touch the sacred items? I know there have been instances where God
did destroy those who touch sacred things, but why was this the case?
As I read this yesterday’s reading is sitting in me and
makes me wonder if reading the OT is folly since it points to Jesus, but has a
bunch of stuff like this that does not make sense unless you really dig in and
study to understand. Even when it makes sense it’s difficult to explain to
someone with a basic foundation in the Bible. As I finish the last few months
of this version I am faced with a decision on which way to go, find another
version or focus on Jesus’ message and maybe tie in OT topics. I am sure God
will prompt me when the time comes.
One other thing about the “sea-cow skin”, since the manatee
is the sea-cow and as far as I know is not on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
As you look at other versions we see that is one of those words that never
really came over from the early scriptures since it is a large aquatic mammal.
Just one of those things that makes one wonder what it actually was. Maybe a
“water buffalo”?
Chapter 5 shifts to a list of sins and the punishment that
accompanies these sins. Verse 5:6 is one of those examples:
Tell the Israelites that sinning
against each other is just like abandoning Me. All incur guilt, men and women
alike.
This applies today; the only difference is the grace of
Jesus. One thing we tend to get lost in is the idea Jesus’ grace covers all
sins and therefore we are permitted to sin. This is far from the case and sin
separates us greater knowing we are doing what is wrong than unintentional
sins. I think both OT and NT explain the penalty of sin, but we tend to believe
grace will cover all. This is true to a point, but if we know it’s wrong and
still proceed I wonder what our cost really is?
Verse 6:2 starts a chapter on the Nazirite vow:
Tell the
Israelites that when anyone of them, man or woman, takes the special Nazirite
vow, which distinguishes this Israelite as set apart for Me,
I am interested in the significance of this vow and what it
meant then. The vow described here is a period of one’s life where they honor
this vow. Interestingly there have been those that appear to have a permanent
vow, like Samson, but this has no real foundation in scripture unless someone
deemed the “period” to be a lifelong pursuit. Anyway an interesting vow and
curious about the eternal purpose.
s blood, you Uk|�b�