Numbers 15:13-21: a reflection

13“‘All who are native-born shall do these things in this way, in offering an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to the LORD. 14If a stranger lives as a foreigner with you, or whoever may be among you throughout your generations, and will offer an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to the LORD, as you do, so he shall do. 15For the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the stranger who lives as a foreigner, a statute forever throughout your generations. As you are, so the foreigner shall be before the LORD. 16One law and one ordinance shall be for you and for the stranger who lives as a foreigner with you.’” 17The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 18“Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘When you come into the land where I bring you, 19then it shall be that when you eat of the bread of the land, you shall offer up a wave offering to the LORD. 20Of the first of your dough you shall offer up a cake for a wave offering. As the wave offering of the threshing floor, so you shall heave it. 21Of the first of your dough, you shall give to the LORD a wave offering throughout your generations.

In the laws of offering, God makes clear that the foreigner living among his people has the same standing before him as the native-born: one law, one standard, one access to worship, for both. As you are, so the foreigner shall be before the LORD, God says; one law and one ordinance shall be for you and for the foreigner who lives among you. The stranger who came to worship the God of Israel was not to be treated as a lesser worshiper, given a different or inferior standing; the same law, the same offerings, the same access to God applied to the foreigner as to the native. Before the LORD, they stood on equal ground. This shows God's impartiality, giving the outsider full and equal standing before him. The foreigner had equal standing before the LORD. One law for native and stranger: equal access to God. God welcomes the outsider on equal terms. Before God, native and foreigner stood on equal ground.

Notice the equality God establishes between the native and the foreigner in worship. The stranger who came to worship the God of Israel was not given a lesser status, a separate and inferior place; the same law and ordinance applied, the same offerings, the same access. As you are, so the foreigner shall be before the LORD. Before God, they stood on equal ground. This reflects God's impartiality, his welcome of the outsider on equal terms. God does not have first-class and second-class worshipers; the one who comes to him, whatever their background, is welcomed and given full standing. This points forward to the gospel, in which the dividing wall is broken down, and people of every nation are welcomed into God's family on equal terms through Christ. It also challenges any tendency in us to treat some worshipers as lesser, some as outsiders with an inferior place. In God's eyes, all who come to him stand on equal ground. God welcomes all who come to him on equal terms. Before God there are no first-class and second-class worshipers. God gives the outsider full and equal standing before him. All who come to God are welcomed on equal ground.

That is worth taking to heart, for God gives the outsider full and equal standing before him, welcoming all who come to him on equal terms, as the foreigner had the same law and access as the native. We can treat some worshipers as lesser, some as outsiders with an inferior place; but God established one law for native and foreigner, the same standing before him. God shows no partiality. Do not treat any who come to God as lesser or as outsiders; welcome all on equal terms, as God welcomes the outsider with full standing before him. Welcome all who come to God on equal terms rather than treating any as lesser or as outsiders, for God established that the foreigner living among his people should have the same law, the same offerings, and the same access as the native-born, saying, as you are, so the foreigner shall be before the LORD; for God does not have first-class and second-class worshipers, but welcomes the one who comes to him, whatever their background, on equal terms and with full standing, and this reflects his impartiality and points forward to the gospel in which the dividing wall is broken down and people of every nation are welcomed into God's family on equal terms through Christ, so that we do well to welcome all who come to God as standing on equal ground with us, rather than treating any as lesser.

Lord, in the laws of offering, you make clear that the foreigner living among your people has the same standing before you as the native-born: one law, one standard, one access to worship, for both. As you are, so the foreigner shall be before the LORD, you say; one law and one ordinance shall be for you and for the foreigner who lives among you. The stranger who came to worship you was not to be treated as a lesser worshiper, given a different or inferior standing; the same law, the same offerings, the same access to you applied to the foreigner as to the native. Before you, they stood on equal ground. Show me the equality you establish between the native and the foreigner in worship. The stranger who came to worship you was not given a lesser status; the same law and ordinance applied, the same access. Before you, they stood on equal ground. This reflects your impartiality, your welcome of the outsider on equal terms. You do not have first-class and second-class worshipers; the one who comes to you, whatever their background, is welcomed and given full standing. This points forward to the gospel, in which the dividing wall is broken down, and people of every nation are welcomed into your family on equal terms through Christ. It also challenges any tendency in me to treat some worshipers as lesser. Take that to my heart, for you give the outsider full and equal standing before you. Keep me from treating any who come to you as lesser or as outsiders; help me welcome all on equal terms, Lord, as you welcome the outsider with full standing before you, remembering that in your eyes all who come to you stand on equal ground.