Journal Through the Bible: Week 23 Monday

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Numbers chapter 15

Does God make any promises in this chapter?

• God promised to forgive the nation's or an individual's unintentional sins once the atonement was offered for them.

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• The sacrifices described are all pictures of Jesus. The flour mixed with oil made an unleavened bread and the wine was the fruit of the vine. These two elements are the pictures of Jesus' body and blood like what are used in the Lord's Supper.
• The people were to offer the first fruits and dough from their first crops grown in the land of promise. Jesus is the first fruits of God. He was the first (actually, the only) to raise Himself from the dead. By giving the first of their nourishment the people were signifying that they trusted God that there was more to come! Believing in the resurrection of Jesus shows that we believe there is more to come: our own resurrection!
• Jesus is the atonement for all sins, unintentional or otherwise.

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• Someday God's children will inherit the place that Christ has prepared for them. And since He was the Lamb of God the thank sacrifice has already been paid. Our thanks will be paid on our knees as we bow and worship the One who was our Firstfruit and our sacrifice.

Does God issue any commands?

• Thank offerings that are to be given after the land is settled are described. Flour mixed with oil for a meat offering and wine for a drink offering were to be added to the burnt offerings, vow offerings, freewill offerings, solemn feasts, and peace offerings whether those donating the offering were citizens or strangers in the land.
• When the people were in possession of the land and were eating from the fruit of its fields and vineyards they were to offer a heave offering of a cake made from the first of their dough.
• If the nation or an individual committed unintentional sins and the people become aware of their error they were to offer a burnt offering, meat offering, drink offering, and a sin offering. 
• The person who intentionally brings a reproach upon the LORD and sins in such a way as to show that he despised the LORD would be cut off. (This was demonstrated by the incident of the man who disregarded the sabbath by gathering sticks.)
• The people were to put a ribbon of blue with fringe around the border of their robes as an object lesson to remind them of the commandments of the LORD.