Devotion:
At the core of all of the Bible story is relationships: our relationship with God and our relationships with people. All of the commandments and rules and guidance really boil down to doing what is necessary to maintain good relationships. We were made by a God OF relationship (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) FOR relationship. As God says in one of the creation stories “It is not good for the man to be alone.” (Genesis 2:18)
This passage in Numbers is from just over a year after God brought the Children of Israel out of Egypt. God is in the midst of instructing Moses on how the people are to order their life together. This particular section deals with what is to be done when someone wrongs another person. Notice that when we do that, we are “unfaithful to the Lord…” It is one of the many times in the Bible that emphasizes that our relationship with people is connected to our relationship with God.
In order to right the wrong, two things are required. First of all, confession must be made. The person has to admit to what they did. Second, they are required to make “full restitution” for it, plus add a fifth of the value. It is obvious that a high priority is being placed on restoring the relationship. It will be costly, but it is worth the cost.
When God’s people are at our best, we will do whatever is necessary to restore relationships with anyone we have wronged. It is the way God made us to begin with. It is still who God seeks to create.
Personal Worship Option:
One of my favorite hymns was written by Fred Kaan in 1974. Here are two verses of it.
Help us accept each other as Christ accepted us;
teach us as sister, brother, each person to embrace.
Be present, Lord, among us, and bring us to believe
we are ourselves accepted and meant to love and live.
Let your acceptance change us, so that we may be moved
in living situations to do the truth in love;
to practice your acceptance, until we know by heart
The table of forgiveness and laughter’s healing art.
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