Numbers 5:1-10: a reflection

1The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2“Command the children of Israel that they put out of the camp every leper, everyone who has a discharge, and whoever is unclean by a corpse. 3You shall put both male and female outside of the camp so that they don’t defile their camp, in the midst of which I dwell.” 4The children of Israel did so, and put them outside of the camp; as the LORD spoke to Moses, so the children of Israel did. 5The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 6“Speak to the children of Israel: ‘When a man or woman commits any sin that men commit, so as to trespass against the LORD, and that soul is guilty, 7then he shall confess his sin which he has done; and he shall make restitution for his guilt in full, add to it the fifth part of it, and give it to him in respect of whom he has been guilty. 8But if the man has no kinsman to whom restitution may be made for the guilt, the restitution for guilt which is made to the LORD shall be the priest’s, in addition to the ram of the atonement, by which atonement shall be made for him. 9Every heave offering of all the holy things of the children of Israel, which they present to the priest, shall be his. 10Every man’s holy things shall be his; whatever any man gives the priest, it shall be his.’”

In this passage about dealing with sin, God requires more than mere confession. When someone has wronged another, they are to confess the sin, and then make restitution in full, adding a fifth to it, giving it back to the one they wronged. Repentance, in this law, is not complete with confession alone; it includes making restitution, putting right, so far as possible, the wrong that was done, restoring what was taken or damaged, and more.

Notice that true repentance here includes restitution, not just confession. It was not enough to admit the wrong; the one who had wronged another was to make it right, restoring in full and more. Confession acknowledges the wrong; restitution repairs it, so far as it can be repaired. Genuine repentance, in God's eyes, does not stop at saying sorry, but goes on to put right the wrong that was done, restoring to the one who was harmed.

That fuller repentance, including restitution, is worth taking to heart, for we can be content with confession alone, without making right the wrongs we have done. We can say we are sorry, confess our fault, and yet leave the harm we caused unrepaired, the debt unpaid, the wrong not put right. But true repentance goes further; where we have wronged others, it seeks to make restitution, to put right what we have done, so far as we can. When you have wronged someone, do not be content with confessing it; seek also to make it right, to restore what you took or repair the harm you did, so far as you are able. Repentance is not complete with words alone; it includes the work of putting right the wrong. Where you have wronged another, make restitution, as this law requires, restoring and repairing so far as you can, rather than leaving the harm unrepaired while claiming to repent. True repentance confesses the wrong, and then goes on to make it right.

Lord, in this passage about dealing with sin, you require more than mere confession: when someone has wronged another, they are to confess the sin and then make restitution in full, adding a fifth, putting right the wrong. Show me that true repentance includes restitution, not just confession. It was not enough to admit the wrong; the one who had wronged another was to make it right, restoring in full and more. Confession acknowledges the wrong; restitution repairs it, so far as it can be repaired. I can be content with confession alone, without making right the wrongs I have done. I can say I am sorry, confess my fault, and yet leave the harm I caused unrepaired, the debt unpaid, the wrong not put right. But true repentance goes further. When I have wronged someone, keep me from being content with confessing it; help me also to make it right, to restore what I took or repair the harm I did, so far as I am able. Repentance is not complete with words alone; it includes the work of putting right the wrong. Where I have wronged another, help me make restitution, Lord, as this law requires, restoring and repairing so far as I can, rather than leaving the harm unrepaired while claiming to repent. Make my repentance real, in restitution as well as confession.