Proving Innocence or Guilt

Numbers 5 As we read this section which is lengthy, we wonder why so much room is given to proving the innocence or guilt of the woman but the men are left out! Why doesn’t God hold the man to the same high standard? A verse in Proverbs gives us a bigger picture: “for jealousy kindles a husband’s rage, and he will not show mercy when he takes revenge.”[Prov 6:34] When he brings his wife to the priest to prove his accusations, not only is she put before the righteous judge, the priest, but also before God. He too now stands before the Most Righteous Judge of all, God Himself. It protects the woman and her womb from further accusations if she is righteous and proves her infidelity if she has been unfaithful. Why this is so important is that God holds our vows to marriage as vitally important and should be honored. Listen to Ecclesiastes: “When you make a vow to God, do not delay in paying it. For God takes no pleasure in fools: Pay what you vow!”[Eccl 5:4]

In many ways we see the same standard in John 4 with the Samaritan woman, and later the woman caught in adultery [John 8:10] In neither case is the man present, yet behind the scenes the man is held responsible for using the women for their self-indulgent purposes. Jesus reminded the Pharisees that they brought only the woman and that they had not brought the man too. “Woman, where are your accusers?” One by one the Pharisees slunk out of the gathering as their sin was exposed. Jesus forgave her sin and reminded her to remain pure from then on. Jesus does the same for us. He cleanses us from our sin and reminds us that we are to be pure going forward.

Today consider this chapter in your daily walk.