Numbers 15:32-36: a reflection

32While the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. 33Those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron, and to all the congregation. 34They put him in custody, because it had not been declared what should be done to him. 35The LORD said to Moses, “The man shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him with stones outside of the camp.” 36All the congregation brought him outside of the camp, and stoned him to death with stones, as the LORD commanded Moses.

This is a hard passage: a man is found gathering wood on the Sabbath, in open disregard of God's command, and he is put to death. It jars us; the punishment seems severe for the act. But behind it lies a truth we are prone to forget: the seriousness with which God regarded his holy commands, and the gravity of deliberate, open defiance of him. The Sabbath was a sign of the covenant, and this was not an accidental lapse but a public flouting of God's clear command.

Notice, beneath the severity, what the passage reveals: that God takes his holiness and his commands with a seriousness we often do not. We are inclined to treat sin lightly, as a small thing, easily excused; but this passage confronts us with how gravely God regards deliberate defiance of him. The severity is meant to teach the holiness of God and the real gravity of sin, which our age is quick to minimize. Sin against a holy God is no small thing.

That seriousness about sin, hard as this passage is, points us finally to the gospel. For if deliberate sin against God is as grave as this passage shows, then we are all in danger, for we have all sinned; and our need of mercy is real and deep. And the wonder of the gospel is that the penalty our sin deserves, Christ has borne in our place, so that we who deserved judgment might receive mercy. Do not treat your sin lightly, as though it were a small thing to a holy God; this passage shows it is not. But do not despair either; for the God whose holiness this passage reveals has, in Christ, borne the penalty of sin himself, that you might be forgiven. Let the gravity of sin drive you not to despair but to Christ, who bore what your sin deserved, that you might receive the mercy this holy God offers.

Lord, this is a hard passage: a man put to death for openly defying your command about the Sabbath. It jars me; but beneath its severity it reveals a truth I am prone to forget: the seriousness with which you regard your holiness and your commands, and the real gravity of deliberate defiance of you. I am inclined to treat sin lightly, as a small thing, easily excused; but this passage confronts me with how gravely you regard sin, which my age is quick to minimize. Sin against you, a holy God, is no small thing. And hard as this passage is, it points me finally to the gospel. For if deliberate sin against you is this grave, then I am in danger, for I too have sinned; and my need of mercy is real and deep. And the wonder of the gospel is that the penalty my sin deserves, Christ has borne in my place. Keep me from treating my sin lightly, as though it were a small thing to you; this passage shows it is not. But keep me from despair too; for you, whose holiness this passage reveals, have, in Christ, borne the penalty of sin yourself, that I might be forgiven. Let the gravity of sin drive me not to despair but to Christ, who bore what my sin deserved. Thank you for so great a mercy, Lord.