devotional post # 2274

Numbers 5:5-10

Num 5:5 And Yahveh spoke to Moses, and this is what he said,
Num 5:6 “Speak to the people of Israel, When a man or woman makes any of the mistakes that people make by breaking faith with Yahveh, and that person realizes his guilt,
Num 5:7 he will confess his mistake that he has committed. And he will make full restitution for his wrong, adding a fifth to it and giving it to him to whom he did the wrong.
Num 5:8 But if the man has no next of kin to whom restitution may be made for the wrong, the restitution for wrong will go to Yahveh for the priest, in addition to the ram of atonement with which atonement is made for him.
Num 5:9 And every contribution, all the holy donations of the people of Israel, which they bring to the priest, will be his.
Num 5:10 Each one will keep his holy donations: whatever anyone gives to the priest will be his.”

making things right

Wrongs against other people are transgressions against God’s law and therefore sins against him. The LORD demanded that his people make full compensation for the mistakes they have made agaist others — even if the people they have wronged are no longer alive. The mistake results in disorder in the camp, and God does not want to live in disorder. Full compensation must be paid, either to the victim, his family, or God himself.

LORD, make us into a people who make it our business to make things right if we have wronged anyone, to bring order out of chaos.