The younger generation can only enjoy the blessings of entering the Promised Land if they obeyed God. It’s the same standard for them, as it was with their parents. Moses gave them four special instructions that the believers today would benefit from if they obeyed them.40
First, please the Lord (Num. 15:1-21). When they do enter the Promised Land, they were to offer to the Lord. The offerings were designed to please the Lord. The sacrifices discussed in these verses were spontaneous expressions of love and gratitude to the Lord. Along with these sacrifices, the worshipper was instructed to offer two quarts of fine flour with about a quart of oil, a portion of which was given on the altar, while the rest are given to the priest. The younger generation must heed this command to make an offering and give to the priest in order to please the Lord. When larger animals were sacrificed, the amounts of meal, oil, and wine were increased proportionately. The offering to the priest was dependent on the tithe that was initially given to the altar.
Take note of this interesting point. The Jews would not become agricultural people unless they settled in the promised land, and cultivated vineyards, olive trees, and fields of grain. The Lord was already assuring them of the provision for the offering they would make. The Israelites have not even stepped into the Promised Land yet, the Lord already gave instructions for the offering. It means He is also assuring that they would be provided for in the land. God would not ask you to offer anything He has not given you.
Today, the only kind of offering we give usually comes in cash. Other offering included the use of time, energy, and spiritual gifts to serve in the ministry. However, the direct equivalent of tithes and offering come in the form of money. In those times, the worshiper was bringing to the Lord the fruits of his labor, and the evidence of God’s blessing. In the present day, we bring money in as an offering to the Lord, but we would not be capable of earning the money if He did not give us jobs, businesses, and the ability to work (Deut. 8:18).
Secondly, the people were also commanded to seek the Lord. The sacrifices that were described in Leviticus 1-7 took care of the sins of commission, but the instructions here have to do with unintentional sins — things that people should have done but didn’t do. The sin might have been corporate and involved the entire nation (Num. 15:24-26) or it might be from one person (vv. 27-29). Even if they did not know it, the sin needed to be dealt with. Today, we must always ask the Holy Spirit to seek our hearts and expose any unintentional sins, so that we can repent for these sins.
Third, the people were also commanded fear the Lord. Intentionally sinning is disobedience of the Law of God. It is deliberate and arrogant, knowing full well the danger involved. Intentional sins in Hebrew is translated as, “to sin with a high hand,” as though the person were shaking his or her fist in the face of God, daring God to do something. In ancient Israel as is today, presumptuous sins are committed by people who have “no fear of God before their eyes” (Rom. 3:18). In other words, knowing that the Lord is commanding you to bring in the offering to fund His work on earth, and deliberately refusing to do so is like waving your hand to the Lord, and daring Him to do something about it. Like in ancient Israel, the consequence of the lack of fear of the Lord was experienced by the generations to come.
God’s command was for the sinners to be cut off from the nation. They did not only disobey God’s law, but they did in such a way that they defied the will of God and despised His word. No sacrifices were provided for deliberate high- handed sins, so there was no forgiveness at the altar.
Experience the Power of Prophecy as a gift to open your mind to receive the Mind of Christ.