Contemplative Bible Reading

Numbers 35:33 (New Living Translation)

This will ensure that the land where you live will not be polluted, for murder pollutes the land. And no sacrifice except the execution of the murderer can purify the land from murder.

Murder reaches farther than the death of one person. As this verse tells us, it pollutes the land.

What does that mean? A polluted land

• is ugly
• doesn’t produce crops well
• isn’t good for livestock
• has bad drinking water
• is ripe for the spread of disease
• spreads discouragement among the population

I could go on. I am sure the readers could add to the list as well. A murder is more than the death of one person. It is a drain on all persons. It truly pollutes the land.

Now consider a few other sins. Let’s just consider some simple ones, like those found in the Ten Commandments.

• Dishonoring parents
• Dishonoring God
• Dishonoring your spouse
• Stealing possessions
• Lying

It seems that these sins spread farther than a single person as well. They pollute the land as well.

God didn’t give us these “commands” to kill our fun. He gave them to us so we could live happy lives in a pleasant land. We “break” the commands at our own peril, but we seem to break them over and over.