Numbers: 5-6

What’s Happening?

The Israelite camp has been arranged around the tabernacle. But now, instead of organizing people around it, God begins telling people to leave it. That’s because only what is ritually clean can remain near God’s holy presence (Num. 5:1–3). If Israel is going to carry Eden through the wilderness and into Canaan, their camp must reflect the holiness of the God who dwells among them.

To preserve that purity, four areas of law are addressed: unclean people, reparation for wrongs, marital fidelity, and voluntary vows of consecration.

First, the ritually unclean—those affected by disease, bodily discharges, or contact with death—are sent outside the camp (Num. 5:2). These are not moral failures, but reminders that death and decay are not part of the holy life of Eden Israel is meant to spread as they carry Eden with them in the tabernacle.

Second, the reparation offering is reiterated. If someone wrongs another and realizes that wrong, they must confess, make restitution, and add a fifth more to repair the damage done (Num. 5:6–7). In a camp where God’s righteousness are meant to be made manifest, broken relationships must be made whole.

Third comes an unusual test for suspected adultery. If a husband believes his wife has been unfaithful, but lacks evidence, the woman drinks a mixture of water and dust from the tabernacle floor (Num. 5:17). Since dust is what Adam was made out of, the woman would miraculously become sick to reveal there was already life within her. But if nothing happened, as would be expected, the woman is declared innocent. The point is not superstition—this was a public and miraculous appeal to the God who knows what is hidden in every heart.

Fourth is the Nazarite vow (Num. 6:1–21). Any man or woman could take this temporary vow to be set apart for God. They would avoid wine, not touch death, and not cut their hair. These visible restrictions marked their deeper spiritual intention—to be wholly devoted to God’s presence.

The purpose behind each of these commands is clear: “The Israelites must not defile their camp, where I dwell among them” (Num. 5:3). Israel is to remain clean so they can carry God’s presence to the nations. Israel’s holiness isn’t just for their own sake. It preserves their mission. Israel’s camp is a mobile Eden. If they are going to displace the darkness of Canaan and replace it with God’s presence, their own camp must be holy first.

Where is the Gospel?

Like Israel, we live near God’s presence today, in the middle of a world filled with uncleanness, hidden sin, and death. This is only possible through the work of Jesus.

We, like Israel, have been unfaithful. But Jesus, our faithful husband, does not treat us as we deserve. When Jesus met a woman caught in the act of adultery, instead of making her drink dust, he wrote in the dust (John 8:3-11). Even though he knew the secrets of her heart, he revealed the sin of everyone’s hearts who stood to accuse her. In Jesus’ mercy, he forgives the adulterous woman instead of condemning her.

Instead of casting others out, Jesus was cast out like the unclean. He took away our uncleanliness, sin, and death, carrying it outside the camp to put them to death on the cross. This way, instead of bringing death into the world, we can put our death bringing sin to death by dying with Jesus. When he rose from the dead, he brought back life in its place (Heb. 13:12). He cleans us and makes us into people who can restores what our sin has broken. Where our wrongs have broken in the world, Jesus remakes us to heal the world and bring restitution to all we’ve harmed.

And Jesus is the true Nazarite. He lived every moment fully set apart for God. He embodies a life of pure, joyful consecration. But unlike the temporary vow, his devotion never ends—and by his Spirit, he now empowers us to live lives set apart as holy, too.

Jesus makes us holy, so we can draw near to God without fear. He keeps us pure, so we can carry his presence. He sustains the camp of his people, so that we—like Israel—can bear Eden’s life into a world still ruled by death.

See for Yourself

I pray that the Holy Spirit would give you eyes to see just how holy and near God is. And that you would see Jesus as the one who removes your uncleanness, restores what’s broken, and sets you apart to carry his presence wherever he leads.