We're not done looking at the Nazirite vow and what it can teach us as people of purpose and creativity. We have seen that those who took the vow were not permitted to partake of any grape products, could not cut their hair, or come in contact with anything that had died—not even family—for as long as their vow was in effect. Once their vow expired, they were to appear before the priest at the tent of meeting to offer sacrifices. Then there was one more requirement:
“Then at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the Nazirite must shave off the hair that symbolizes their dedication. They are to take the hair and put it in the fire that is under the sacrifice of the fellowship offering" (Numbers 6:18).
If you remember, we had seen in earlier studies that a burnt offering was not consumed by the priest; it was totally and completely burned by fire, symbolic that the offering was for God and God alone. No human being derived any benefit from the burnt offering sacrifice. Also, we saw that the hair that was not to be cut represented the inner workings of God in a person's life. They were to come forth and grow as God designed and no one was to try and shape that inner life—gifts, insight, creativity, purpose—according to their wishes. It was all God's doing. Then all that person's identity as represented by their hair was to be burned in a fire for it was to be expressed and devoted to God and God alone. Their hair actually became a burnt offering unto the Lord.
Are you happy with your "hair"—that part of you that was God's idea over which you had no say or control? Have you dedicated your growth and all that is part of who you are to the Lord? Are you giving as much of your creativity and purpose as you can to God's work under His direction? What more can you do to be a good Nazirite who is totally and completely dedicated to the Lord and His service?
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