Introduction

Today’s chapter presents a considerable challenge. If I were to convey its original meaning directly, I might be accused of sexism. However, if I deviate from its original intent, I would be contravening the very words of God Jehovah. After much deliberation, I decided on a less gender-biased title: Authority and Covering.

This chapter continues from the preceding sections of Numbers. What is Numbers about? It emphasizes that only those twenty years and older, capable of wielding a weapon in battle, are counted, regardless of marital status. If you are able to fight and are married, with daughters or a wife, you are the spiritual authority and covering for your wife and daughters. Our God does not seem to think particularly highly of women. Why do I say this? God mentions in the Bible that among a thousand women, not one is upright, whereas among a thousand men, at least one can be found. (See Ecclesiastes 7:27)

We must objectively consider these views in the Bible. Why does God not think particularly highly of women? It is because Eve was the first to sin, not Adam. Eve was the first to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, meaning that women are more susceptible to eating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, or that women are more easily deceived by the Devil. This is stated very clearly in the Bible. We must clearly understand that women are more prone to temptation or deception. We must establish this concept. How can women make themselves less susceptible to deception by the Devil? The answer is that if a woman is willing to submit to authority, her likelihood of making mistakes will be greatly reduced.

Authority and Covering as Grace

After reading the entire chapter of Numbers, we discover a clear line of thought. Let me organize this thought process.

When a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. (Numbers 30:2)

This statement makes no distinction between men and women. Vowing and swearing are about binding oneself. You must keep your promise and act according to all that comes out of your mouth. Whether man or woman, if you take an oath to God, saying, I will do such and such, whether vowing or swearing, it is intended to restrain your own behavior. Once you have sworn, you must act according to the words you have spoken. This statement refers to both men and women. However, from the third verse onwards, it becomes strange, speaking only about women.

If a woman vows a vow to the Lord and binds herself by a pledge while within her father's house in her youth, and her father hears of her vow and of her pledge by which she has bound herself and says nothing to her, then all her vows shall stand, and every pledge by which she has bound herself shall stand. But if her father opposes her on the day that he hears, then none of her vows or her pledges by which she has bound herself shall stand. (Numbers 30:3-5)

We see then all her vows shall stand, a phrase that is repeated throughout this chapter. This passage speaks of a woman having an authority above her, either her father or her husband. If they do not approve, verse 15 states that if her husband makes them null and void, he shall bear her iniquity. In other words, the preceding scripture (Numbers 30:2) refers to both men and women, while verses 3 to 16 refer specifically to women, telling us that women have authority and covering above them.

We must understand that authority and covering are a grace. Why? Because if a woman’s husband or father nullifies these vows, he will bear the woman’s iniquity, and God will forgive her. This is God revealing to us that women have spiritual authority and covering. In the church, each brother and sister has a pastor above them, who is your authority, and he/she must bear the sins of those below. Authority means that your job is to restrain those below you. As long as it is within your scope of authority, disciplining that person is not called control. If it is not within your scope of authority, but you control the other person to achieve your own purposes, that is called control.

Bearing the Responsibility of Authority

Let us clarify our thinking so that we can explain it clearly, one point at a time. Why does it single out women? In reality, God’s view of women is that they are weak. Although they make vows, they find it difficult to keep them. Therefore, God specifically allows husbands or fathers to discipline women. This is the reason for God establishing authority. If the authority above has disciplined, the woman must bear the consequences of her disobedience. If this authority lets them go without discipline, then they must bear the woman's transgressions.

From this passage, what do we see? God hopes that a woman's father or a woman's husband can bear the responsibility. Once a woman's father or husband takes on the responsibility, God forgives her transgressions. We read from this passage that God gives women a special grace, which is to establish authority and covering above her, to be responsible for this woman. In fact, taking responsibility for and disciplining women is a responsibility of the authority and covering above. To be a woman's authority and covering means bearing the woman's iniquity. If this woman cannot restrain herself, then it is the responsibility of her authority and covering.

Brothers and sisters must begin to cultivate a concept: if you have authority in your hands, begin to treat authority as a responsibility. This responsibility is on you. If you do not discipline and allow them to sin, you will bear the sins of these people.

The Bible consistently conveys this concept from beginning to end. I have seen many pastors who always want to be nice guys, unwilling to offend or discipline those below them. What is the result? They will bear the sins of those below them. From a certain perspective, if everyone below you is a mess, constantly sinning and offending God, and you are afraid to discipline, what will happen? This sin will be attributed to the authority, that is, the leader.

We must clearly see what God's view of authority and covering is. He wants us to take responsibility. Those of us in our church who are leaders responsible for pastoring brothers and sisters, you must begin to learn to be responsible. Authority and responsibility go hand in hand. You have this authority, but if you do not take on the responsibility that this authority should bear, you will bear the iniquity of these people. I have seen some pastors or pastor's wives serving God who are troubled by diseases, even getting cancer. I was thinking about this, what is the reason? Later I understood that it was because they had authority but considered people's feelings, unwilling to offend people, unwilling to take on the responsibility of authority, and finally they got incurable diseases.

Brothers and sisters who know me will find that I have a characteristic, that is, I am very strict. Everyone under me, whom I am responsible for pastoring, I will take on the responsibility of discipline, I will definitely discipline what they do. If I do not discipline and allow them to act arbitrarily, then I will bear their transgressions and their sins. If they sin, it is actually my responsibility. But if I discipline and people do not listen, that is their own responsibility. Therefore, brothers and sisters among us, all those who are pastors, know that authority from Mingding Destiny has been given to you, but if you do not discipline, do not restrain, you will bear these transgressions.

Why does the Bible single out women for mention? Actually, it is not just God's view of women that is this way; many people in the world also say that only petty men and women are difficult to deal with. There are also sayings like three women make a drama, and what about five women, and so on. I have read that the most in-depth study of women is in Dream of the Red Chamber. This book records the infighting among women. I tried to read it several times, but I couldn't continue. Why? It's all about backstabbing and scheming, which is tiring to read.

One sister was very interested and watched Empresses in the Palace five times, and another sister said, Not five times, but twenty times. Whether it's five times or twenty times, why watch it so many times? And learn those backstabbing things from the drama. The infighting among women is indeed fierce, but what can it achieve? Are the things learned really useful when applied in the workplace? Not useful at all. After backstabbing in the workplace, one becomes exhausted and the whole state is a mess, then they come to us for healing and deliverance, crying their eyes out. What is this all for?

Women are very willing to engage in these strange things. Our sisters need to clearly know that you have very weak spots, which lie in liking to engage in some nonsense. Whenever I see sisters doing these things, I often ask, What's the use of you doing this? Actually, there's no use, even the sisters themselves know it. So why do it? The sisters themselves can't explain it clearly; it's just a feeling.

If you look at Numbers chapters 1 and 2, of the men in Israel, by their clans, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war were counted. We did not see this counting at the time; it is recorded later. What is recorded in verses 22 and 23? The total number of men who were able to go to war and were counted. It was not until chapter 27 that the daughters of Zelophehad dared to plead for their father and obtain an inheritance for themselves. Like Deborah in Judges, this woman was also very capable, but such women are always in the minority. Most women have some weaknesses, some strange ideas, and are often prone to straying.

Begin to Seek Covering and Submit to Authority

Sisters among us, after listening to my sharing today, I encourage you to do one thing: don't swear or make vows at the drop of a hat, don't say strange things or do strange things at the drop of a hat. Before making any decisions, be sure to ask your pastor. If your pastor is also a sister, it doesn't matter; we have many brothers among us. You need to start seeking a covering so that your heart does not stray. That is to say, the devil loves to tempt women to sin because women are born with a lack of security, a lack of ability to fight, and are prone to desires for the knowledge of good and evil.

According to Jesus' teachings in the New Testament, He does not delight in us making vows and oaths; He delights in us submitting to authority. So brothers and sisters among us, whether you are men or women, if you have such a situation, you might as well seek the covering of your authority. Those of us who provide covering for others must learn to take on the responsibility of shepherding, so that the person can restrain themselves from sinning.

Moses wrote chapter by chapter up to chapter 30. Why write about this? Because spiritual authority and covering have a very great impact on a man's life. How a husband treats his wife and how a father treats his daughters are related to spiritual authority and covering. That is to say, we cannot completely sever this relationship. Whether you are a husband or a father, if you are a man who can take up a sword and go to war, then you must also take on this responsibility at home. Pastors of us, if you are able to go out and fight, then you must also learn to take on the responsibility for the people you shepherd.

We must know: What is God's view of authority and covering? Then we must apply such a spiritual principle in our daily shepherding. We must take on our responsibilities, otherwise the sins committed by those you shepherd will be attributed to you. Of course, we must know that God is not an unjust God. If you hear this and think, Oh! Then shepherding is so dangerous! So scary! It's not like that. Fulfill your responsibility as you should. But after you have fulfilled your responsibility, if the people under you cannot be managed by your shepherding and restraint, you can stop shepherding them.

Therefore, we have such a shepherding model in our church: those who cannot be shepherded by the small group leaders can be handed over to your cell group leaders; those who cannot be shepherded by the cell group leaders can be handed over to your district leaders; those who cannot be shepherded by the district leaders can be handed over to me; if I cannot shepherd you, I will hand you over to God. So brothers and sisters, we must know that we should not shepherd those who cannot be managed. If we cannot shepherd them, hand them over to those who can manage them.

This is a very important principle in the church. We must not only go out to fight and win spiritual battles, but also learn to take on responsibilities in shepherding and begin to restrain those we shepherd. Restraint is very important. Without rules, there can be no standards. It is very troublesome when a person does not abide by the rules. Therefore, all of us brothers and sisters must begin to learn to abide by the rules. If your pastor cannot shepherd you, the final result is that you will not be shepherded. What if no one can shepherd you? Then hand it over to God. Why? Because this is a very important concept, otherwise we will bear your iniquity.

So don't think that building a church is all that matters. It's not like that. After building a church, it's not just a matter of a large group of people singing, dancing, and eating something. The church is a matter of responsibility and authority. This is a very serious matter. This is how a husband treats his wife and how a father treats his daughters. When a daughter is young and still in her father's house, we must carefully observe and follow the statutes and ordinances that Jehovah commanded Moses. Today, after reading this passage of scripture, we must know that spiritual authority and covering are very important to us. May God bless everyone!