Tuesday – Pentateuch

Reading – Numbers 5-6

Highlight Verses:

“If her husband becomes jealous and is suspicious of his wife and needs to know whether or not she has defiled herself, the husband must bring his wife to the priest. He must also bring an offering of two quarts of barley flour to be presented on her behalf. Do not mix it with olive oil or frankincense, for it is a jealousy offering—an offering to prove whether or not she is guilty.”
‭‭Numbers‬ ‭5‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

It is easy to look at this passage and call it barbaric.

It is one sided and employs an unhealthy methodology.

But, as I’ve urged before, look at the context.

At that time in that region, if a man suspected his wife of unfaithfulness, he could beat her or kill her, and no one would openly question it.

This law required him to bring the matter before the priests – something he would be very unlikely to do without just cause.

As far as it being one-sided, in that society, men did not need protection against women.

As far as being unhealthy, it was. But God could and did protect the innocent.

In the context of modern western society, I don’t believe that God would suggest this sort of method.

But, He still calls us all to be faithful to our spouses.

I believe God also calls us to stand up for the abused, those wrongly accused, and the victims of unfaithfulness.

How do you see this passage?
How can you help the various types of victims of unfaithfulness and jealously?