Numbers 15

            In the Pentateuch, every time there is an act of national rebellion and disobedience, there is always a section immediately following that gives further instruction on the Law. (Exodus 34 is a good example.) Every time the children of Israel sin, there is need for not only a reminder of God’s commandments but also new, supplemental legislation to reinforce the law already in place. In this instance, after this especially great sin of rebellion in the previous two chapters, God also needed to remind the people of His promise to their children. The parents won't enter the promised land, but their children will. God assures them of this in verse 2.
            This is a consistent pattern with God, and it demonstrates His characteristic attribute of fatherly love and grace for His chosen people. Each incident of the nation’s disobedience and the Lord’s chastening is always followed by a reminder from God of His promises and future blessings for obedience.
 
            Verses 1-16: This first category of supplemental laws concerns the animals sacrifices. God is providing some additional requirements here for the next generation that will be inheriting the promised land. As always, the passage opens with the phrase, “And the LORD spake unto Moses…” (v.1), indicating to the children of Israel – and to us today – that it is God who is bringing His word directly to His chosen servant. The Israelites can believe what Moses tells them because he testifies that these commands are coming from the Lord.
            The first set of new stipulations do not apply to the sin or guilt offerings, but only to the freewill offerings. Nor do they go into effect immediately. These new laws apply only once the people have entered the promised land. (v.2) Verse 3 lists the specific animal sacrifices and occasions to which these additional requirements will apply. (Leviticus 23:2, 8, 12, 38, Numbers 28:18-19, 27, Deuteronomy 16:10) The addition of the wine ingredient of these offerings probably relates to the abundance of grapes that grow in the promised land, as indicated by the huge cluster brought back by the spies. Same for the grain portions. God had emphasized multiple times by now the prosperity of the promised land, and that’s probably why these supplemental commands don’t go into effect immediately. The next generation doesn’t currently possess enough of the crops or wine in the wilderness to fulfill these instructions.
            There’s also a reminder in verses 13-16 that these laws apply to both the Israelite and the stranger that is sojourning with him. As always, the non-Israelite is not required to participate in the feasts, offerings, and other rituals of the Mosaic Law, but if he/she chooses to do so, then he/she must follow the law as exactly and completely as the Israelites. The same law applies to both equally. (Exodus 12:49, Numbers 9:14)
           
            Verses 17-21: This second set of supplemental laws relates to the firstfruits offering. The Israelites are to offer up to the LORD a heave offering of a cake made from the first of their dough each year at the time of harvest. (Leviticus 2:14, 23:10, 16) The promised land will offer an abundance of different crops, and this offering is to remind the Israelites that it is the Lord that provides and sustains them always.
 
         Verses 22-31: This passage is another reminder of the sacrifices and offerings that are to be performed in the case of sins accidentally committed through ignorance, both by individuals and the nation as a whole. (Leviticus 4:2, 13, 23, 35) And, as always, there is the reminder that same law applies to any gentile that is sojourning with an Israelite and wishes to partake in these rituals. (v.29) There is also a warning for those that do these sacrifices and offerings without first examining the condition of their heart. (v.30-31) If the heart is not right with God (…the soul that doeth ought presumptuously…), then God will despise that person and he/she will be punished accordingly. (…that soul shall be cut off from among his people…shall be utterly cut off…) (Numbers 14:40, Deuteronomy 1:43, 17:12, Psalm 19:13, Hebrews 10:26)
            To act presumptuously is to anticipate God’s will and try to rush ahead of Him. We must always wait on the LORD for His direction and guidance, and then move forward only when He gives us a clear command to do so. The meaning of that adverb in verse 30 is that some Israelites would offer these sacrifices to the LORD, but their hearts would not first be right. They were not truly repentant, and they would continue to commit the same sin afterwards, thus ignoring God’s law by willfully rebelling against Him. That soul is showing an attitude of despising God’s word, and therefore God despises him/her. (v.31)
 
            Verses 32-36: Moses now includes an example of one who despises God’s law. A man is caught gathering sticks on the sabbath, and the people bring him to Moses. God had made it clear to the people that the sabbath was to be a holy day, a day of rest. (Exodus 31:14-15, 35:2-3) He had even specifically stated that no fires were to be kindled on that day. Therefore, when the people catch this man violating the sabbath, they bring him to Moses for judgment. (v.33-34)
            Moses seeks the counsel of the LORD who commands him and the people to stone the man to death. (v.35) (Leviticus 24:14, Deuteronomy 21:21) The sentence is carried out immediately. (v.36) It’s unclear why it wasn’t done as soon as the people discovered the man in the midst of his crime, but perhaps they wanted to be sure of the proper judgement. In light of their recent rebellion against God, it’s possible the people are afraid now of acting too hastily in any situation without first consulting with Moses and the LORD.
            As noted earlier in my commentary of Exodus and Leviticus, it seems extremely harsh to modern readers that God dispenses a judgment of death for one who was just gathering sticks on the sabbath. Jesus even rebuked the Pharisees for adhering to the letter of the law rather than the spirit, for they had instituted rules for the sabbath that seemed to be just as specific as what God had commanded Israel in Exodus 35:2-3. But it’s important to remember two things: 1) God gave a specific command regarding the kindling of fires on the sabbath, and 2) the Pharisees’ many additional rules were nowhere to be found in the Mosaic Law. In this instance of the man disobeying a direct, specific command of God, God had every right to judge him accordingly. It is not our place to question why God has given a command about this or that, but only to obey. Jesus very rightly rebuked the Pharisees for their additions to the Law that were not commands from God. Thus, they were in the wrong.
 
            Verses 37-41: This chapter closes with another command from the LORD for the Israelites to make fringes, or tassels, to attach to the borders of their garments as a reminder of the commandments of the Law. (Psalm 103:18) These tassels are to remind the people that they are to be holy unto the LORD (v.39-40), and they are not to go whoring after other gods. (Leviticus 11:44-45, Romans 12:1-2, Colossians 1:22, 1 Peter 1:15-16) As He has done at the closing of many previous passages, God reminds the children of Israel that “I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD your God.” (v.41) It’s clear from the accounts of their rebellion and disobedience since the Exodus that the Israelites continually seem to forget who God is and why He has called them out of their bondage and oppression in Egypt. In the wake of both the disobedience at the border of the promised land in the previous two chapters, and now with the man here who was caught violating the sabbath, the people needed another reminder from God about who He is and who they, His chosen people, are and what they should always be striving for.