August 11, 2010 Lesson 10 of Numbers 15. Religious laws

What do verses 1-21 teach us about making offerings which are pleasing to God? Answer: The grain offering here is to be connected with the burnt offering by timing (they are to be brought together) and amount (the NIV points out that as the animal grows in size so does the grain offering). The burnt offering is worship, seeking atonement for unintentional sins, expresses devotion and commitment to God. While the grain offering shows worship and thankfulness for God’s provisions. To me this shows that atonement must come with thankfulness. First thing coming to my mind is the B-attitudes.


Why was there no way of atonement for the person who sinned ‘defiantly’? What does this mean? Cf. Mark 3:28-29; Heb 10:26-31, 39; Ps 19:13. Answer: The only unforgiveable sin is to blaspheme against the Holy Spirit. Though the Spirit was not on the earth at this point He did still exist as part of the Trinity in Heaven. To blaspheme God is to blaspheme the Holy Spirit, the one unforgivable sin. Am I going out on a limb too far?? Is that what the answer is??


Notice by whom the deliberate law-breaker had to be dealt with and in what way Cf. Cf. Matt 18:15-17; 1 Cor 5; Heb 12:15. Why is such church discipline so little practiced? Answer: The people were to deal with him. They were to cut him off.


Note. V38. ‘Tassels’: these were made of twisted thread and attached by a blue ribbon to the robe, to remind the wearer of the commandments of the Lord, and of his obligation to keep them.