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The Ordeal of Jealousy - Numbers 5
The Ordeal of Jealousy - Numbers 5
Here in Numbers 5 we encounter yet another ‘strange’ law for Israel. If a husband is ‘jealous’ (suspicious that his wife has been unfaithful to their marriage), there was this option for him.
God ordained the marriage concept where the two, a man and a woman, become one. Such was intended to be for life, and in this relationship they would fulfill their needs for intimacy. (read again Gen. 1-3, Matt. 19, 1 Cor. 7).
Marriage became a picture of God’s relationship with His people: in the OT we see Isa. 54:5; 62:4-5; Ezek. 16; Hosea 2. In the NT we see this pictured in Eph. 5:31-33; Rev. 19:7-8; 21:2.
IF the wife was found guilty, there would be major personal consequences for her (Num. 5:27-28). Often, upon reading this, people question how such a test could actually work and the answer is God works. It is like when Naaman was cured of leaprosy; the snake bitten Israelite went and viewed the bronze serpent; the blind man went and washed; or you are baptized in response to Jesus (ok, now go read these events – 2 Kings 5; Numb. 21; John 9; Col. 2:9-12). It is GOD that worked, but He did so in connection to their trust in Him and obeying His instruction.
Note, this ordeal of jealousy was not a substitute for the situation where adulterers were caught ‘red-handed’: in that case they were both to be put to death (Lev. 20:10; Deut. 22:22). Yet, the ultimate goal of both of these laws was to promote faithfulness to their marriage.
One lesson we learn from this that God’s will for us, both under the Old Covenant and under the New, is purity and faithfulness in our marriage. Sexual immorality and unfaithfulness in marriage is not to exist among God’s people. Notice how often this is spoken about in the NT: 1 Cor. 5:9-13; 1 Cor. 6:9-11; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:5; Col. 3:5-6; Heb. 12:15-16; Rev. 21:8; Rev. 22:15; 1 Thess. 4:1-8.
The Hebrew letter admonishes us: “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous” (Heb. 13:4). Such faithfulness begins in your MIND, your very attitude towards God, your mate, and your marriage. How faithful are you?
Hugh DeLong
