Separate Yourself from the Unclean Things

The Lord said to Moses, 2“Command the Israelites to send away from the camp anyone who has a defiling skin disease or a discharge of any kind, or who is ceremonially unclean because of a dead body

Numbers 5:1-2

We have now come to Numbers chapter 5 where God’s primary goal is to remind the Israelites that he is Holy and nothing unclean can approach Him.

In Numbers 5:1-4, God expresses His displeasure for sin by commanding the removal of the unclean from the camp of Israel. This passage serves as a reminder of the importance of holiness and purity in God’s sight.

The three sources of uncleanness mentioned in this passage—those who are unclean by reason of contact with a dead body, those who have a discharge, and lepers—serve as analogies of humanity’s sin nature. Just as a leper does not choose leprosy but receives it, so too our sin nature is not chosen but inherited from Adam. While we may choose individual acts of sin, our sin nature is something we have received.

However, the good news is that through the finished work of Jesus Christ, we are set free from the power of sin and death. His sacrifice on the cross provides the ultimate cleansing for our sin-stained hearts, offering forgiveness and redemption to all who believe in Him.

Yet, while we have been cleansed from the penalty of sin through Christ, we still have a responsibility to separate ourselves from the things that defile and pollute our lives. Just as the Israelites were commanded to remove the unclean from their midst, so too are we called to cleanse ourselves from all unrighteousness and walk in holiness before God.

This requires a continual commitment to surrendering our lives to God, allowing His Spirit to sanctify us and transform us into His image. It involves making daily choices to turn away from sin and pursue righteousness, to guard our hearts and minds against the influences of the world, and to seek after the things that are pleasing to God.

As we walk in holiness and purity before God, we can enjoy His presence continuously and experience the fullness of His blessings in our lives. Let us, therefore, strive to live lives that are pleasing to God, separating ourselves from sin and pursuing righteousness with all our hearts.

PRAYER

Thank you God for the cleansing power of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, which sets me free from the bondage of sin and death. Help me to walk in holiness and purity before you, separating myself from the things that defile and pollute my life. Grant me the strength and wisdom to make daily choices that honor you and bring glory to your name. May I experience the fullness of your blessings as I live a life that is pleasing in your sight, in Jesus’ name.