Thursday, February 13, 2025

Numbers 6



 In the Old Testament and in the New we see that some people choose to make a special vow to God. The Nazarites in the Old Testament went the extra mile of commitment choosing to give up family connections if it would mean that it would make them unclean. The Nazarites choose to avoid not just drunkenness, but anything closely associated with it (all grapes products).  They chose to give up trying to look presentable by styling their hair or beards, but just let them grow uncut.  In the New Testament, they chose to follow God and give up what isn't sin but what is culturally expected. 

The two things we need to consider today are not to expect others to live up to our calling (if it is beyond Scripture) and not to condemn those who choose to go further than you as being like Pharisees, holier-than-thou, or other insults. Respect those who go further than you and respect those who do not feel God is calling them to a level of commitment that is beyond what is required for Christians in the Word of God.

As this chapter ends, God tells the priest that they are to put God's name on the Israelites so they will be blessed. A reminder to those in ministry that God's calling to spiritual leaders is not to bless people but to put God's name in them so they can be blessed by Him. Numbers 6:17 


Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

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