Unintentional Sin

Did you ever do something wrong, but it was totally unintentional? I was shopping with our adopted grandma Audrey and pushing her in a wheelchair. We left the store we were in to go into the mall’s food court. As we ordered our food and I went to pay, I noticed an outfit sitting behind Audrey in her wheelchair! I asked the food server to hold our food and practically ran back to the store! I immediately went to a cashier and paid for the clothing, sweating the whole time. As I pushed Audrey out of the store, I joked that I almost got us arrested. She thought it was great fun and was all smiles the rest of the day. However, if a security guard had seen the outfit before I did, he may not have accepted my excuse or apology.  Unintentional sin is still sin. 

In Numbers 15, God also makes a provision for unintentional sin of the community and an offering to atone for it. Some of these same offerings are detailed in Leviticus 4:13-21. There are, however, differences between the passages. It appears that Numbers 15 adds a young goat to the bull prescribed for unintentional sin of the community in Leviticus 4.  The Expositor’s Commentary explains it this way: “Leviticus 1-7 presents the basic standards of offerings for the community, with a focus on those sacrifices that deal with the issues of sin and guilt.  The offerings in Numbers 15 are special; that is, they relate more to the desire of the Hebrew believer for spontaneous, grateful response to the wonder of knowing God.” (Expositor’s p. 825)  

INTROSPECTION: In your worship, do you give to God gratefully?  Are you truly focused on the God of the universe in your personal and corporate worship?  Is it hard for you to praise Him at times?  The Bible talks about a sacrifice of praise. When I do not feel like praising God because of my circumstances, feelings or condition, to praise Him anyway is my offering to the Almighty who is most worthy of praise.

Numbers chapter 15 also prescribes an offering for an individual who unintentionally sins.  But if anyone is defiantly sinful, they are considered blasphemous and are to be cut off from the community.  To be cut off from this community would leave you alone in the desert without God’s guidance.  It would be a death sentence.  Not all evil actions are included in the passage.  God has made provision for forgiveness in most instances.  “The verse [calling for cutting off the offender] deals with outrageous behavior of blasphemy, not mild infractions…Before moving to [the next] paragraph, however, we may reflect on the application of this unit to the experience of Israel in their rebellion at Kadesh.  They deserved to be cut off, utterly destroyed.  The grace of God is seen in his commuting their sentence to banishment in the desert.” (Expositor’s, page 830) There is no more offering for someone who has rejected God. 

Numbers chapter 15 continues with an account of a man breaking the Sabbath by gathering wood. This breaks the commandment of keeping the Sabbath holy.  They were to do no work on the Sabbath. Moses asked God what to do about the man who had been gathering sticks.  God sends down a death sentence.  “The whole assembly must stone him outside the camp.” (Numbers 15:35) This may seem harsh; however, think about why the man is gathering wood.  They are in the desert.  He surely doesn’t need wood for a warming fire.  Double manna came down yesterday, so the cooking should be done already. Not that a man in that society would be responsible for cooking anyway.  After examination, the only possible source seems to be rebellion. God knows the motives of our hearts.  We need to trust His judgments. No offering would be accepted for this sin. Outright rebellion to God in this instance was punishable by death. The community followed God’s directive.  Not that an execution is easy, but they displayed a desire to be obedient to God now. “The public participation in his death sentence must have been a chilling event, deeply impressed on the psyche of the nation: ‘For this thing, I too might die.’” (Expositor’s p. 831) 

Today, we say, “there but for the grace of God go I.” We should not judge others for their sin in a way that makes ourselves superior. Anyone can fail. We are all human. If we judge a brother or sister, it is only to help them return to the Lord, not to put them down or make them feel worse. The book of James ends with these verses, “My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.” (James 5:19-20) And Galatians 6:1 says, “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.” 

If you are the person caught in sin, be open to the input of others and sensitive to your conscience. The Holy Spirit will not let you go until you return to the Lord with all your heart. God does not want just a part of us, but all of us. That is our reasonable act of worship.  It is our offering to the God of Creation who formed us and put us here in the first place. 

Today's chapter ends with a fashion statement. The Hebrews were told to make tassels and attach them to the corners of their garments with a blue cord to remind them to whom they belong. It was a reminder to follow God and not their own heart and eyes which will lead them astray. (Numbers 15:39) The tassels were to remind them that they were brought out of Egypt by the Lord their God. God has also brought us out of Egypt (the world) and He has bought us with a price, the blood of Jesus Christ His only Son (1 Corinthians 6:19-21). Remember, God said that for us to obey Him is better than any sacrifice, so our offering today is obedience to the One who made us, loves us and gave everything for us.