Dealing With Dirt!

Numbers 5 contains and amazing portion of the Old Testament law. In it, a man who had grown suspicious of his wife's behaviour could bring her to the house of God to determine if she had been faithful to him or not. How far removed we are from such a day - for which we all should be thankful. Today we have more civilized means to deal with the questions of marital fidelity & infidelity and we have counsellors who can talks us through our problems.

Nevertheless, God's law contained these unique instructions for determining whether or not the bride in question had been faithful to her spouse or not. Brought before the priest, she would be asked to drink a unique cup of "home brewed holy water." She would also swear her innocence knowing that if she was guilty of infidelity, the holy water would cause her to fall into sickness and render her infertile for the rest of her life.

One of the ingredients in this concoction the woman was required to consume was dirt from the floor of the Tabernacle. (And the priest shall take holy water in an earthenware vessel and take some of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle and put it into the water. Verse 17) She was required to consume dirt from the house of God! If her heart was pure, she would have no adverse reaction to this beverage. If, however, she had an unfaithful heart and an impure life, she would react violently to this water of bitterness.

There is a powerful parallel to each of us today. Let's be honest. There is dirt in the house of God. If you think that you are exempt, you are sadly mistaken. If you think that your church is "dirt free" you have not opened your eyes very wide in the last few visits.

The reality is, none of us live in a perfect world, and none of us are a part of a perfect church. Not only is there dirt in God's house, but every now and then we all have to taste it. The test is always how we react when we are put to that test.

Will the exposure to the mess and dirt of God's house produce bitterness in you? How many have walked away from the church, from the truths of the Gospel, because of how they reacted to the a mess that took place in their church. While I offer no excuse for the sins that so often create the dirt, I am a realist to acknowledge that the dirt is there and always will be.

One of the blessings contained in this story is that should the bride pass the test and refuse to become bitter after being exposed to the dirt of God's house, she would walk away and have children. (But if the woman has not defiled herself and is clean, then she shall be free and shall conceive children. Verse 28.)

God does put His church through the fires of purification. He often puts her to the test to determine the purity of her heart and motives. Let us not allow the roots of bitterness, that consumed many on the journey from Egypt to the land of Promise, to form in us.

On the pathway to revival, we will be asked to consume the waters containing dirt from God's house. Don't allow your heart to develop bitterness when exposed to these situations. If you can maintain your faith and your virtue, God will surely pour out His Spirit upon you!!