Numbers 5:5-10 – Ensuring right relationship with God and with men

Sin is essentially any reprehensible action a person had committed against God’s moral law. Simply put, it is missing the mark of the moral standard that God requires of us. In Numbers 5:1-4 sin is seen as a defilement. Like leprosy, discharges from a person, or touching a dead body, sin defiles a person and makes a person odious and unfit to be in God’s presence. In Numbers 5:5-10, we see a different facet of sin. Here we see sin as an act of transgression. In its simplest definition, transgression is overstepping the line. Transgression often has two aspects - against God and against man. It is breaking faith with God and the person one has offended. Here we see God’s given instruction on how to deal with transgression. Regardless of gender, a person who transgressed, he or she must make it right.

Numbers 5:5-10 show the two things a person must do to make amends for a transgression committed. The first is confession and the second is restitution. One is the acknowledgment of one’s wrong and the second is taking action to make good by doing what is right. So long as a person refuses to admit and recognize his or her wrong, it will be hard to deal with the transgression. When a person has transgressed, the right thing to do then is to admit and be responsible for the offense committed. To own up to the wrong, the person must first make a confession. It presupposes the person is repentant.

 These verses also suggest that the confession must be made to God. In these verses, the involvement of the priest suggests that any offense a person commits is always against God first although the wrong is done to a fellow man. David knew it well so in Psalm 51: 3-4 he said, “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you (God), you only have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.” So in confession, one agrees with God that what one has done is wrong. Notice that verse 9 talks about the atonement of a ram is to be made. For us believers, any forgiveness granted us is on the basis of Christ being our atoning sacrifice.     

The second step that had to be taken is to make restitution or making right for the offense one had committed. In making the restitution one must compensate the person whom one had offended. If that person was no longer alive, the compensation would go to the next of kin. If the person did not have a next of kin, then it would go to the priest.

In living right, we must not only take care of our vertical relationship with God but also our horizontal relationship with our fellow men. That’s why we not only need to be right with God but also right with men. One principle that Jesus has laid down for us regarding all these is found in Matthew 5:23-24. He says, “…if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First, be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Meaningful relationship means harmonious living with God as well as with men.  So Be sure to be right with God and also with fellowmen!