Oct 31-Nov 6: Planning Ahead

 

Teaching Points

1. Read Numbers 15 and make an outline of the chapter.  

ANSWER:

• Num. 15:1-13 additional meat, wine, and oil offering to the burnt offerings
• Num. 15:14-16 one ordinance for both Israelites and the strangers
• Num. 15:17-21 heave offerings
• Num. 15:22-29 sin of ignorance and offerings
• Num. 15:30-36 sin of rebellion, Sabbath breaker
• Num. 15:37-41 a fringe of blue

2. Read Numbers 15:1–10, 18–21. What were the purposes of these offerings?

What was the purpose of bringing oil, drink, and grain, as well?

ANSWER:

• Burnt offering, or a sacrifice in performing a vow, or in a freewill offering, or in solemn feasts, to make a sweet savor unto the Lord—see Num. 15:3
• “In the context of Numbers 15, these directions really carried a promise to the younger generation that one day they would plant fields of wheat, barley, and other grains in their new home in Canaan. They would with their own hands establish vineyards on the hills and orchards of olive trees and other fruits such as figs and pomegranates. In other words, these nonbloody offerings helped point them to the material blessings that were to be theirs were they to remain faithful. No doubt, all these thoughts were wrapped up in their sacrifices to the Lord, which helped point them day by day to the land of promise that awaited them.” SSL p. 47

OBSERVATION:

• Additional meat, wine, and oil offering to a burnt offering or a sacrifice in performing a vow or in a freewill offering or in your solemn feasts or peace offering
• Offering of a lamb – meat offering of a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of oil and the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering
• Offering of a ram – meat offering two tenth deals of flour mingled with the third part of an hin of oil and a drink offering third part of an hin of wine 
• Offering of a bullock - meat offering of three tenth deals of flour mingled with half an hin of oil and a drink offering half an hin of wine
• The quantity of meat, wine, and oil offering was in proportion to the size of the sacrifice. In other words, the bigger the animal, the more of meat, wine, and oil offering.

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

• Why do you think God gave this command in chapter 15:1-10 after God told them that they have to go back to the wilderness (Num. 14:25)?

2. What specific commands were given to the second generation of Israelites as they looked forward to settling in Canaan? Num. 15:14–16.

ANSWER:

• Num. 15:16 One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you.
• “The ‘stranger’ or foreigner would be a person who settled among the Israelites and who fully accepted the faith and, if male, duly was circumcised. They were to be treated and loved as if they were Israelites. ‘One ordinance’ or ‘one law’ shall be for you, and ‘for the stranger that sojourneth with you’ (Num. 15:16). Talk about inclusiveness!” SSL p. 48

OBSERVATION:

• This is a powerful proof text to show that the gospel in the New Testament did exist in the Old Testament. Read the following verses on the same thought.
• 1Kings 8:41 Moreover concerning a stranger, that is not of thy people Israel, but cometh out of a far country for thy name’s sake; 1Kings 8:42 (For they shall hear of thy great name, and of thy strong hand, and of thy stretched out arm;) when he shall come and pray toward this house; 1Kings 8:43 Hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for: that all people of the earth may know thy name, to fear thee, as do thy people Israel; and that they may know that this house, which I have builded, is called by thy name.
• Is. 56:6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; Is. 56:7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

• In what ways is it so easy to be exclusive, judgmental, and condemnatory of those who don’t see things as we do? How can we avoid that attitude, and yet at the same time, protect the truths we have been given?
• If the gospel was available for the Gentiles as well as the Jews in the Old Testament time, then what was the main difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament?

3. Make observation on the following verses on ignorance.

ANSWER:

• Psa. 73:22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
• Is. 56:10 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
• Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
• Rom. 10:3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
• Eph. 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart
• Heb. 5:2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

OBSERVATION:

• Psa. 73:22 A life of ignorance is similar to a life of a beast—life without a well educated conscience.
• Isa. 56:10 Being ignorant is similar to a sleep, you do not know what is happening around you.
• Acts 17:30 God is willing to “wink at” or overlook, not punish; however, when the knowledge of sin comes, then God is asking us to repent. God is so merciful but He does not keep us in ignorance.
• Rom. 10:3 there is connection between ignorance and righteousness by works
• Eph. 4:18 ignorance is connected to blindness
• Heb. 5:2 Jesus can have compassion on the ignorant. Jesus has this compassion because He is “compassed with infirmity.” Heb. 4:15 “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Jesus said, Luke 23:34 “…Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” In this sense, Jesus also offered Himself on the cross for our sin of ignorance as well.

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

• In what way was God merciful to you when you were ignorant?
• How do you treat those who are ignorant?
• Is it possible for you to have sins of ignorance today? If so, then could you guess what they might be?

4. Read Numbers 15:32–36. What spiritual lesson can we draw from this?

SPIRITUAL LESSON:

• A sin of rebellion does not have to be so evil looking and violent in nature. It can be something that has the appearance of innocence, “gathering sticks”. He was not killing people or stealing people’s possession. Perhaps he was gathering sticks for his family’s need.
• You may have all the good reasons for breaking God’s commandments, but God can read whether or not rebellion is in your heart.  

DISCUSSION QUESTION:

• Why not give him another chance by just speaking to him?

5. What reason was given for wearing tassels? That is, what specific things did God want the Israelites to remember? Num. 15:39–41.

ANSWER:

• Num. 15:39 – to remember all the commandments of the Lord and to obey them.
• Num. 15:39 – to seek not after your own heart and eyes
• Num. 15:40 – to remember to be holy unto God
• Num. 15:41 – to remember that the Lord their God is the One that delivered them from the land of Egypt

OBSERVATION:

• The blue fringe was there to remind the people of Israel the importance of keeping all the commandments of the Lord. However, the blue fringe also sounds like God’s Sabbath because God has given Sabbath to His people to remind them of the importance of keeping all His commandments.
• God said we should remember to keep the Sabbath holy. Ex. 20:8
• God said on the Sabbath day, we should not seek after our own “pleasure”. Isa. 58:13
• God gave the Sabbath as a sign that God is Holy. Ex. 31:13; Eze. 20:12
• God gave the Sabbath to remind the Israelites of their deliverance from Egypt. Deut. 5:12-15
• It is interesting to observe that the “woman” in Rev. 17:3, 4 does not have the color blue. Do you wonder why not?

CONCLUSION:

• In Num. 15 we can see that sin is a serious matter. There needs to be offering for sin. Sin is sin, no matter of race and culture.  Sin needs to be understood as sin. Sin is deceptive and rebellious. We need a daily reminder (such as a garment) that we should obey God’s commandment.

APPLICATION QUESTION:

• How do you remind yourself to trust and to obey God daily?