Questions for discussion (from Good Word Online):

Plans for the Future (Num. 15)

TEXT: Numbers 15:1-5

1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘After you enter the land I am giving you as a home 3 and you present to the LORD offerings made by fire, from the herd or the flock, as an aroma pleasing to the LORD -whether burnt offerings or sacrifices, for special vows or freewill offerings or festival offerings- 4 then the one who brings his offering shall present to the LORD a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a quarter of a hin of oil. 5 With each lamb for the burnt offering or the sacrifice, prepare a quarter of a hin of wine as a drink offering.

• Do God’s words “After you enter the land” in this context surprise you?
• Why did the Israelites travel in a circle for 40 years if they could have reached the land of Canaan in a couple of weeks?
• Did the food items such as flour, oil, grape juice, and meat have any special meaning when offered to God as sacrifice?

TEXT: Numbers 15:13-16

13 “Everyone who is native-born must do these things in this way when he brings an offering made by fire as an aroma pleasing to the LORD. 14 For the generations to come, whenever an alien or anyone else living among you presents an offering made by fire as an aroma pleasing to the LORD, he must do exactly as you do. 15 The community is to have the same rules for you and for the alien living among you; this is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. You and the alien shall be the same before the LORD : 16 The same laws and regulations will apply both to you and to the alien living among you.”

• Are there examples when foreigners offered sacrifices to the Lord?
• Should the first-fruits of everything be given to God today?
• How do the words “you and the alien shall be the same before the Lord” anticipate the universal proclamation of the gospel in the New Testament?

Lesson: God remains faithful in spite of human unfaithfulness.