In 1952 Hank Williams warned country music listeners that “your cheatin’ heart will tell on you.” 🎸🎶
In the case of the ancient Israelites, it was a swollen abdomen after drinking conditionally cursed water.
We haven’t quite made it to this verse in Numbers yet, but this is basically the OT version of Hank Williams’ song:
“But if you fail to keep your word, then you will have sinned against the Lord, and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.”
Numbers 32:23 NLT
I’ll be honest, this is not the most pleasant chapter. It’s one of the portions of scripture that critics point to as proof of misogyny and oppression of women. Because – well – what’s a woman to do if she suspects her man is cheating on her? There is no equivalent test for the husband’s faithfulness. Only the woman’s. And it honestly feels unfair.
We cannot ignore these passages. Texts like this are THE reason some of your coworkers and family refuse to trust the Bible.
I’m no expert. But here are some things I found that may help if you ever find yourself in a conversation and someone brings up this passage.
- Here’s the punishment for adultery:
- “If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.”
Leviticus 20:10 ESV (see also Deut. 22:22) - The man isn’t allowed to cheat on his wife any more than the woman is allowed to cheat on her husband. Both are equally condemned.
- “If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.”
- This test is more focused on dealing with a husband’s jealousy than a wife’s faithfulness or lack thereof.
- This test protects a woman from a paranoid husband bringing a false accusation that could get her executed.
God knows the truth of the matter and this is a supernatural test. There’s nothing toxic in this water. It’s not a potion. If the contents of this cup were poisonous, every woman would have swelling, not just the guilty ones.
If the woman is innocent and hubby just needs to cool it, she will drink a mug of water with a pinch of grit in it and be fine. She will be publicly vindicated and her husband will get a big reality check from God Almighty. Check your jealousy, Bro.
If she is guilty, however, then the same mug of water with a pinch of grit will – by supernatural means – have a visible, physical effect on her. The Hebrew words here seem to indicate an effect on her reproductive organs rather than it being something gastrointestinal or skeletal. It’s likely that her womb will swell and her generative parts will “fall away” (perhaps speaking of prolapse?) or fail in some way. Or, it may literally mean her thigh. The Hebrew can mean either.
This test – odd though it may be to us – protected the innocent woman and exposed the guilty.
But what about the man?! What’s a woman to do if her husband is cheating?
Well, he’s either dallying with a married woman or an unmarried woman. Let’s look at the laws for each situation:
CHEATIN’ with an UNMARRIED woman:
“If a man seduces a virgin who is not betrothed and lies with her, he shall give the bride-price for her and make her his wife. If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money equal to the bride-price for virgins.” Exodus 22:16-17 ESV
“If he takes another wife to himself, he shall not diminish her food, her clothing, or her marital rights.” Exodus 21:10 ESV
The Point: This is extremely expensive. 💰
Bear in mind that as we discussed back in Exodus, the above texts are not an allowance for seduction or polygamy. They are laws to protect the women who find themselves in such a situation.
CHEATIN’ with an MARRIED woman:
If a married man is cheating on his wife with a married woman, that’s called adultery and we already read the punishment for that. The stakes were MUCH higher then than now. Also, the married woman he’s sleeping with has a husband. And maybe he starts getting jealous… So he takes his wife to the priest and they do the drink with the dust in it. Then she has this physical resection that exposes her sin. You don’t think the husband isn’t going to demand to know who she’s been with? Or, knowing she’s probably going to be stoned, the adulteress would likely name her partner. She’s not going to let him get off the hook while she bears all the guilt. Either way, I think the truth comes out.
And maybe the guy who got cheated on marries the widow of the executed adulterer and they live happily ever after. Aww. 🥰 I’ve probably watched too many rom-coms.
The Old Covenant Laws were perfect and yet imperfect and were for an imperfect people.
“For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second. For He finds fault with them when he says: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah…”
Hebrews 8:7-8 ESV
And it’s a law that is placed within our hearts by the Holy Spirit. The New Covenant Church is governed by a new law – the law of Love.
“Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”
Romans 13:10 ESV
Love is faithful and loyal. A cheatin’ heart is a selfish heart. And love isn’t selfish.
And just like a cheatin’ heart will tell on you, a heart of love tells something too:
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:35 ESV
❤️
In the next chapter, we get the rules about Nazarite vows that will shine light on future narratives from Judges to the book of Acts. And I expect an appearance from Leonard Nimoy (he played Spock in Star Trek).
🖖🏼 Live long and prosper.
See you then.
To The Reader 