How does Numbers 5:15 emphasize the importance of following God's specific instructions? “Then he is to bring his wife to the priest and present an offering on her behalf: a tenth of an ephah of barley flour. He is not to pour oil on it or put incense on it, because it is a grain offering for jealousy, a reminder offering to draw attention to guilt.” Zooming in on the Details • “He is to bring his wife” – the husband himself must act; the duty isn’t delegated. • “A tenth of an ephah of barley flour” – the exact quantity and the specific grain are fixed. • “No oil… no incense” – two normal additives for grain offerings are deliberately withheld. • “Grain offering for jealousy… reminder offering” – God labels the purpose so there’s no confusion. Every clause limits personal improvisation. The offerer doesn’t decide the size, the priest doesn’t adjust the recipe, and no one reinterprets the rite. God’s word governs every step. Why the Precision? • Protection from human manipulation – Deuteronomy 12:32: “Everything that I command you, you must be careful to observe; you shall not add to it or take away from it.” • Assurance of justice – Psalm 19:9: “The judgments of the LORD are true, being altogether righteous.” Exact procedures guarantee fairness for the accused wife and jealous husband alike. • Distinction between regular worship and sin investigation – By withholding oil and incense, the Lord marks this as a solemn probe into guilt, not a sweet-smelling freewill offering (compare Leviticus 2:1-2). What This Teaches About Obedience • Obedience means doing the right thing in the right way (Genesis 6:22; Exodus 40:16). • God reserves the right to define how He is approached (Hebrews 12:28). • Partial obedience is disobedience (1 Samuel 15:22-23). Oil and incense may seem harmless, yet adding them would nullify the rite. • Love expresses itself by careful adherence to Jesus’ words (John 14:15). Everyday Takeaways • When Scripture specifies, we obey without editing—whether it concerns worship, ethics, or relationships. • Details reveal God’s character: holy, orderly, and just. • Precision in God’s commands is a blessing; it removes guesswork and anchors our faith in His revealed will. |
    |