Numbers Chapter 15

Various Laws and Provisions

A. Grain, Drink, and Wave Offerings

1. (Numbers 15:1–5) The sacrifice of a lamb to be accompanied with grain and wine.

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you have come into the land you are to inhabit, which I am giving to you, and you make an offering by fire to the Lord, a burnt offering or a sacrifice, to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering or in your appointed feasts, to make a sweet aroma to the Lord, from the herd or the flock, then he who presents his offering to the Lord shall bring a grain offering of one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with one-fourth of a hin of oil; and one-fourth of a hin of wine as a drink offering you shall prepare with the burnt offering or the sacrifice, for each lamb.’”

Israel was at one of its lowest points in history. The nation had just rebelliously rejected God’s command to enter the Promised Land, and the result was forty years of wandering in the wilderness. Yet right after this moment of rebellion and judgment, God’s grace shone brightly. These instructions about sacrifices were reminders that His covenant love remained steadfast. God was not finished with His people, and His promises were still secure. Even in chastisement, the Lord was merciful and compassionate, providing them with guidance for worship that would be fulfilled once they entered the land.

The mention of the burnt offering and sacrifice indicated that God still desired relationship with His people. The sacrificial system pointed to atonement and fellowship, teaching Israel that even after sin, forgiveness and restoration were possible through sacrifice. The accompanying grain offering and drink offering symbolized thanksgiving, joy, and devotion. The fine flour, oil, and wine represented the fruit of the land — blessings that God would one day bring them into. It was as though God reminded them that even while wandering, they could still look forward in faith to His provision.

This section shows the heart of God as both merciful and faithful. The phrase “When you have come into the land” is not conditional but certain. God did not say “if” but “when.” This revealed His unchanging promise that Israel would indeed inherit the land despite their failure. God’s mercy was not annulled by Israel’s rebellion. Many believers under God’s correction feel abandoned, but just as He remained faithful to Israel, He remains faithful to His children today.

The grain and drink offerings alongside the blood sacrifice also convey a spiritual principle for all believers. We can have joy and thanksgiving even in seasons of discipline. God does not only deal with sin but restores fellowship, allowing us to worship Him again with gratitude. The Lord was taking Israel “back to school,” reteaching them the foundation of worship and sacrifice, showing that His plan had not been thwarted.

2. (Numbers 15:6–7) The sacrifice of a ram to be accompanied with grain and wine.

“Or for a ram you shall prepare as a grain offering two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with one-third of a hin of oil; and as a drink offering you shall offer one-third of a hin of wine as a sweet aroma to the Lord.”

The offering for a ram increased proportionally to its value and size compared to that of a lamb. The grain and drink offerings were doubled, demonstrating that worship should always be proportionate to the blessings God provides. A larger animal required a greater offering, emphasizing that sacrifice should reflect both devotion and the magnitude of what is being offered. The phrase “a sweet aroma to the Lord” is significant, showing that the heart behind the offering mattered most. When the worshiper came in obedience and sincerity, God was pleased, not because of the quantity of the offering, but because of the quality of the heart that presented it.

This pattern also foreshadows the principle taught in the New Testament: “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required” (Luke 12:48). Just as Israel was called to give offerings proportional to their sacrifice, believers are called to give according to the measure of grace and blessing God has poured into their lives. Worship, thanksgiving, and obedience should grow alongside the believer’s understanding of God’s faithfulness.

3. (Numbers 15:8–10) The sacrifice of a bull to be accompanied with grain and wine.

“And when you prepare a young bull as a burnt offering, or as a sacrifice to fulfill a vow, or as a peace offering to the Lord, then shall be offered with the young bull a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with half a hin of oil; and you shall bring as the drink offering half a hin of wine as an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord.”

The sacrifice of the bull represented the most substantial and valuable offering in Israel’s sacrificial system. Accordingly, the grain and drink offerings that accompanied it were also increased, symbolizing that greater sacrifice demands greater devotion, thanksgiving, and joy. The principle is clear: as the magnitude of our offering to God increases, so too should our gratitude and rejoicing. God is pleased when His people give generously, both from their resources and from their hearts, not under compulsion, but out of a spirit of worship and thanksgiving.

The fine flour mixed with half a hin of oil represents purity and abundance. The oil, a symbol of the Holy Spirit, and the wine, a symbol of joy and fellowship, both point to the fullness of worship that pleases God. A “sweet aroma to the Lord” is not about the literal smell of the offering, but about what it represented — the sincere devotion, obedience, and faith of the worshiper. The believer’s life, like the offering, should emit this same spiritual fragrance before God, as Paul wrote: “For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing” (2 Corinthians 2:15).

This principle also carries into the New Testament understanding of worship. Romans 12:1 says, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” Just as greater offerings required more grain, oil, and wine, so too should a believer’s life be one of increasing consecration, joy, and gratitude as they grow in faith.

4. (Numbers 15:11–16) The universal character of these laws.

“Thus it shall be done for each young bull, for each ram, or for each lamb or young goat. According to the number that you prepare, so you shall do with everyone according to their number. All who are native-born shall do these things in this manner, in presenting an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord. And if a stranger dwells with you, or whoever is among you throughout your generations, and would present an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord, just as you do, so shall he do. One ordinance shall be for you of the assembly and for the stranger who dwells with you, an ordinance forever throughout your generations; as you are, so shall the stranger be before the Lord. One law and one custom shall be for you and for the stranger who dwells with you.”

This passage emphasizes the equality of all worshipers before God. Both the native-born Israelite and the foreigner who dwelt among them were to follow the same law and bring the same offerings. God’s righteousness, mercy, and access to His presence were not limited to ethnicity or heritage but to faith and obedience. This foreshadowed the coming reality in Christ, where Jew and Gentile alike would have access to God through one sacrifice and one covenant. As Paul later wrote, “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him” (Romans 10:12).

God did not want grudging or half-hearted worship. “Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing” (Psalm 100:2). Every offering was to be accompanied by joy and thanksgiving, for God delights in cheerful giving. The Lord wanted His people to approach Him with reverence, not reluctance, and to see their sacrifices not as burdens but as expressions of love. The statement, “Thus it shall be done for each,” teaches that God expects consistency and sincerity in worship, no matter the person or the number of offerings.

This equality also served to remind Israel that their covenant relationship was not given for pride, but for witness. The inclusion of the “stranger” reflected God’s heart for the nations, showing that salvation and worship were always intended to extend beyond Israel, culminating in Christ’s command to “make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19).

5. (Numbers 15:17–21) A heave offering of thanksgiving to the Lord.

“Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: When you come into the land to which I bring you, then it will be, when you eat of the bread of the land, that you shall offer up a heave offering to the Lord. You shall offer up a cake of the first of your ground meal as a heave offering; as a heave offering of the threshing floor, so shall you offer it up. Of the first of your ground meal you shall give to the Lord a heave offering throughout your generations.’”

Once again, God pointed Israel forward to the Promised Land. The instruction begins with “When you come into the land,” not “if,” underscoring His unchanging faithfulness to His covenant promise. Even though Israel was still in the wilderness and had failed at Kadesh-Barnea, God was already preparing them for the blessings that awaited them. This promise was an anchor for the new generation — a reminder that though they wandered now, their future in God’s plan was secure.

The heave offering symbolized thanksgiving and dedication. By giving the first of their produce to the Lord, the people acknowledged that everything they possessed came from Him. This principle was later reflected in Proverbs 3:9–10: “Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.” Giving the first portion demonstrated faith — a recognition that God would continue to provide the rest.

Spiritually, this act pointed to the believer’s life of continual gratitude. Just as Israel gave the first of their grain, Christians are called to give the first and best of their time, energy, and resources to God. Setting their minds on the Lord’s promise would strengthen them through their wilderness journey. Likewise, believers today are called to set their minds “on things above” (Colossians 3:2), knowing that God has already “raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6). Even if the believer does not yet see the fullness of that inheritance, faith looks forward to it with assurance, just as Israel was to look ahead to the land flowing with milk and honey.

B. Remedies for Sin

1. (Numbers 15:22–29) Addressing unintentional sin, both as a nation and as individuals.

“If you sin unintentionally, and do not observe all these commandments which the Lord has spoken to Moses; all that the Lord has commanded you by the hand of Moses, from the day the Lord gave commandment and onward throughout your generations; then it will be, if it is unintentionally committed, without the knowledge of the congregation, that the whole congregation shall offer one young bull as a burnt offering, as a sweet aroma to the Lord, with its grain offering and its drink offering, according to the ordinance, and one kid of the goats as a sin offering. So the priest shall make atonement for the whole congregation of the children of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them, for it was unintentional; they shall bring their offering, an offering made by fire to the Lord, and their sin offering before the Lord, for their unintended sin. It shall be forgiven the whole congregation of the children of Israel and the stranger who dwells among them, because all the people did it unintentionally. And if a person sins unintentionally, then he shall bring a female goat in its first year as a sin offering. So the priest shall make atonement for the person who sins unintentionally, when he sins unintentionally before the Lord, to make atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him. You shall have one law for him who sins unintentionally, for him who is native-born among the children of Israel and for the stranger who dwells among them.”

The Lord here provides instruction for dealing with unintentional sin, both on the national and individual level. God recognized that not all sin is done in deliberate rebellion, yet even unintentional sin separates man from fellowship with Him and requires atonement. Ignorance or good intentions do not erase guilt. As Leviticus 5:17 says, “If a person sins, and commits any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the Lord, though he does not know it, yet he is guilty and shall bear his iniquity.”

The phrase “If you sin unintentionally” highlights a truth often ignored: that moral responsibility before God is not removed by ignorance or sincerity. Many people commit serious wrongs believing themselves justified. History is filled with such examples — ideologies like Communism or radical movements claiming noble intent but producing evil on a massive scale. Likewise, in the church, gossip, slander, or divisiveness are often excused under the guise of “good intentions.” But sin remains sin, regardless of motive. God’s standard does not bend to human reasoning.

For sins committed by the nation as a whole, the people were to bring a young bull for a burnt offering, symbolizing complete consecration, and a goat as a sin offering, symbolizing atonement. This demonstrated the seriousness of collective responsibility — that an entire community can share guilt before God when sin goes unrecognized or unaddressed. For individuals, the offering was smaller, a female goat in its first year, yet still required blood to be shed. Hebrews 9:22 confirms this principle: “And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.”

God’s mercy is evident in that atonement was available. Even sins of ignorance were not beyond forgiveness. The priest’s role in making atonement underscored the need for mediation — a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, our great High Priest, who makes intercession for us. The inclusion of “the stranger who dwells among them” again shows God’s justice and impartiality. His moral law and His mercy apply equally to all.

This section reinforces that sin must always be dealt with, whether known or unknown, intentional or accidental. The provision of sacrifice points to God’s holiness and His gracious willingness to forgive when repentance and faith are present.

2. (Numbers 15:30–31) Addressing presumptuous sin.

“But the person who does anything presumptuously, whether he is native-born or a stranger, that one brings reproach on the Lord, and he shall be cut off from among his people. Because he has despised the word of the Lord, and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off; his guilt shall be upon him.”

The contrast between unintentional and presumptuous sin could not be greater. The Hebrew phrase translated “presumptuously” literally means “with a high hand” — a gesture of defiance, rebellion, and arrogance toward God. It refers to sin committed knowingly, deliberately, and without repentance. Such sin is not a mistake or an act of weakness; it is open rebellion against divine authority.

To sin “with a high hand” is to despise the Word of the Lord, rejecting His authority and scorning His commandments. It reveals a heart hardened against conviction and indifferent to the fear of God. The punishment for such rebellion was severe: “that person shall be completely cut off; his guilt shall be upon him.” This could mean excommunication from the covenant community, or even death in certain cases. It was a necessary measure to protect the moral and spiritual health of the nation.

The principle remains true today, though under the new covenant it manifests differently. Hebrews 10:26–27 warns, “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.” Presumptuous sin hardens the conscience and rejects the only means of forgiveness.

The culture of ancient Israel rightly viewed such arrogance as an affront to God. However, modern culture often glorifies those who boast in their rebellion. The very people who should be ashamed are celebrated and elevated, while those who call evil by its name are shamed or silenced. Scripture, however, makes it clear that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23), and no amount of cultural approval can change that eternal truth.

God’s justice required that presumptuous sinners bear their own guilt, but His mercy in Christ now offers full forgiveness to any who will repent. Nevertheless, the severity of this command reminds us that grace is not a license to sin. To trample God’s Word deliberately is to bring reproach on Him, and such rebellion must never be taken lightly by those who claim His name.

3. (Numbers 15:32–36) Execution of a Sabbath violator.

“Now while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron, and to all the congregation. They put him under guard, because it had not been explained what should be done to him. Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘The man must surely be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp.’ So, as the Lord commanded Moses, all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him with stones, and he died.”

This passage provides a sobering example of the seriousness of presumptuous sin in Israel. The man gathering sticks on the Sabbath was not acting in ignorance. The commandment to keep the Sabbath holy was clear and well-known: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work” (Exodus 20:8–10). Therefore, his act represented open defiance against God’s authority.

The phrase “they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day” shows that this was not a matter of necessity, but rebellion. This man was deliberately testing God’s law, attempting to challenge divine authority, much like modern individuals who flaunt sin under the banner of personal freedom or social progress. It is likely he thought of himself as a “reformer,” opposing what he saw as unnecessary restrictions. Yet in truth, he was rebelling against the very commandment of the Creator.

Wenham rightly notes that this story “illustrates what sinning with a high hand means.” The man’s deliberate violation of the Sabbath was a prime example of the presumptuous sin described in verses 30–31. The punishment—death by stoning—was not because of the act of gathering sticks, but because of the heart behind it. His rebellion struck at the foundation of Israel’s covenant identity. God was teaching that willful disobedience could not coexist with His holiness.

“The man must surely be put to death.” God’s command was absolute and final. Though harsh to modern sensibilities, it was necessary to preserve the sanctity of divine law and the order of Israel’s theocracy. To allow open rebellion to go unpunished would have eroded all respect for God’s commandments. The execution demonstrated that the moral law of God is not subject to personal opinion or cultural reinterpretation. As Ecclesiastes 8:11 reminds us, “Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.”

The congregation’s act of stoning the man served as a public witness to the seriousness of sin and the justice of God. It also foreshadowed the ultimate penalty of sin — death (Romans 6:23). Yet in contrast, through Christ’s atoning death, believers find mercy where the law demanded judgment. The cross fulfills the righteousness of God without abolishing it, providing grace where guilt once reigned.

This account stands as a warning that presumptuous sin—open defiance of God’s Word—is deadly, both spiritually and eternally. The Sabbath violator represents the one who, knowing the truth, chooses rebellion anyway.

4. (Numbers 15:37–41) Reminders for a holy people.

“Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners. And you shall have the tassel, that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them, and that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined, and that you may remember and do all My commandments, and be holy for your God. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord your God.’”

Immediately after the account of rebellion, the Lord instituted a visual reminder of holiness. The tassels, known as tzitzit, were to be worn on the corners of every garment with a blue thread woven into them. These served as daily, visible reminders of God’s commandments and Israel’s covenant identity. Every time an Israelite looked upon the tassels, they were to recall the holiness of God and their duty to obey Him.

The blue thread likely symbolized heaven, divinity, and purity. The ark of the covenant was covered with blue, the tabernacle was adorned with blue curtains, and the high priest’s robe was blue (Exodus 28:31). This connection reinforced the idea that Israel’s calling was heavenly in origin. They were to reflect God’s holiness in their conduct: “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” (Leviticus 19:2).

The Lord said, “That you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them.” The purpose of the tassels was both mental and moral — remembrance and obedience. In moments of temptation, when one’s eyes or heart were drawn toward sin, the tassels would serve as a visual check: a call to remember one’s identity as belonging to the Lord. The phrase “that you may not follow the harlotry to which your own heart and your own eyes are inclined” shows that sin begins internally, and the tassels were designed to redirect attention from self to God.

For believers today, the principle remains: we need reminders of who we are in Christ. While Christians are not bound to wear tassels, spiritual equivalents exist in the disciplines of prayer, Scripture reading, and visible testimonies of faith. Even things like cross necklaces or Scripture-based apparel can serve as reminders of identity and accountability. As long as they are used humbly and not as badges of pride, they can point the heart back to obedience.

Jesus later rebuked the religious elite for perverting this very command. “But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments” (Matthew 23:5). What God intended as a symbol of humility and holiness had become a mark of self-righteousness and hypocrisy. This serves as a warning that external signs of devotion mean nothing if the heart is not truly yielded to God.

Ultimately, the tassels were an outward sign of an inward truth — that Israel belonged to God. The passage concludes with the powerful reminder, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord your God.” Obedience flows from redemption. God’s people are called to holiness not to earn His favor, but because they already belong to Him.