Numbers 15

I love the closing verses of this chapter and highly recommend you read them through a couple times. Nevertheless, we are going to dig into this interesting story told between verses 32-36.

“And Jehovah said to Moses, The man shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp” (Numbers 15:35).

What a story. Here is this guy. He is a business minded Jew (but that is understood). Most likely, he had a busy week. He finally has a free day and the reason being is because it is the Sabbath. He figures, he has to go get sticks for his family for fire and whatnot. He goes out. He gets spotted. He gets taken to Moses. He gets stoned. Is our God just? Our God is a God of grace and mercy. He is also a God who is just. We can look at a couple reasons why this man had to die.

1. The man was caught and brought to Moses.
This may seem like a funny reason. I am not saying that you are not guilty if you are not caught. I am saying that those who were brought before Moses were being brought before the law. When Moses asks God if this man is guilty or not guilty, of course the answer is guilty! He broke the law, he was caught, and now he is being punished.

2. He broke the law
We have to remember, if you break the law you are judged according to the law. God is just, and cannot allow sin to go unpunished.

3. He had to be made an example of the seriousness of what it is to break the law
I am sure others had broken the Sabbath up until this point. This man was found out. Being found out, he needed to be punished. The law can only accuse those it finds out. If you murder somebody, and are not found out, you will not be accused. This does not make it right, but it is true. Now I am not saying that those who were not found out go unpunished. God sees all. If man does not find you out and punish you, God will. This man was simply found out on earth and thus put to death, which is not the worse thing which could have happened. Examples need to be made in order to show the importance of the matter.

Our God is gracious. Death is sometimes the most gracious thing He gives people. Check out these verses, “For as being absent in body but present in spirit, I indeed have judged already as though I were present concerning him who worked out this thing; in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, with my spirit; also, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ; to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” (1Co 5:3-5). Sometimes God delivers people up to Satan (remember, Satan sought to kill Job should he have control). To be delivered to Satan is to be given to death. Why would God do this? This verse tells us so that their Spirit may be delivered in the day of the Lord Jesus. God is gracious, and though not everything makes sense to us, He is looking to save people. Praise the Lord He is in control!!!