In the movie “Hoosiers”, Coach Dale is speaking to his team at a very important juncture of a game. There are only a few seconds left and his team is down by one point. His least experienced and accomplished player is on the foul line with two shots due him. Earlier in the game, this player shot an “air ball”, not even touching the backboard or rim with his shot. Coach Dale gathers his entire team around him and says, “OK, after Ollie MAKES his second shot, and Ollie, you WILL make them BOTH, get back on defense quickly”.

The nation of Israel was just told by God they had to wander in the wilderness for 38 more years and the first generation of the people Moses led out of the bondage of Egypt would die without setting foot in the Promised Land. If anybody ever needed a pep talk, it was this next generation of followers. Twice in this section of Scripture, God emphatically states what Moses is to say to the people:

WHEN (not if) you come into the land you ARE to (not may) inhabit, which I AM (not may) give to you…

Once again, God extends grace in the face of the rebellion!!! Let’s dig in and find out what else we can learn from God’s enduring Word!!!

Numbers 15:1-21

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land you are to inhabit, which I am giving you, 3 and you offer to the Lord from the herd or from the flock a food offering or a burnt offering or a sacrifice, to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering or at your appointed feasts, to make a pleasing aroma to the Lord, 4 then he who brings his offering shall offer to the Lord a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah of fine flour, mixed with a quarter of a him of oil; 5 and you shall offer with the burnt offering, or for the sacrifice, a quarter of a hin of wine for the drink offering for each lamb. 6 Or for a ram, you shall offer for a grain offering two tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a third of a hin of oil. 7 And for the drink offering you shall offer a third of a hin of wine, a pleasing aroma to the Lord. 8 And when you offer a bull as a burnt offering or sacrifice, to fulfill a vow or for peace offerings to the Lord, 9 then one shall offer with the bull a grain offering of three tenths of an ephah of fine flour, mixed with half a hin of oil. 10 And you shall offer for the drink offering half a hin of wine, as a food offering, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

11 “Thus it shall be done for each bull or ram, or for each lamb or young goat. 12 As many as you offer, so shall you do with each one, as many as there are. 13 Every native Israelite shall do these things in this way, in offering a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the Lord. 14 And if a stranger is sojourning with you, or anyone is living permanently among you, and he wishes to offer a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the Lord, he shall do as you do. 15 For the assembly, there shall be one statute for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you, a statute forever throughout your generations. You and the sojourner shall be alike before the Lord. 16 One law and one rule shall be for you and for the stranger who sojourns with you.”

17 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 18 “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land to which I bring you 19 and when you eat of the bread of the land, you shall present a contribution to the Lord. 20 Of the first of your dough you shall present a loaf as a contribution; like a contribution from the threshing floor, so shall you present it. 21 Some of the first of your dough you shall give to the Lord as a contribution throughout your generations.

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ Where were these sacrifices to take place? Why is that significant?

+ What was the purpose of an animal sacrifice? What was the purpose of a grain and wine sacrifice? What is the purpose of God bringing these two types of sacrifices together? Read Psalm 100.

+ Can you find a universal spiritual truth in verses 14-16? Read Romans 1:16.

+ Can you find a universal spiritual truth in verses 20-21? I believe Joey & David base the Biblical concept of first fruits giving as we are directed here to bring some of the first of our DOUGH as a contribution to the Lord!!! (sorry, I couldn’t help myself).

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there a sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ I think we’ve all had “wilderness” experiences in our lives; times when nothing seems to be working in our favor and God seems so far away. It’s not a time to be cursing God and shaking our fist at Him, but drawing close to Him and remembering what He’s done for us through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son. There is a Promised Land waiting for those who persevere in their faith!!!

“God was merciful to Israel, in that this section deals with sacrifice; sacrifice to cover sin and sacrifice as an expression of thanksgiving. Israel, at their point of failure, needed to be reminded of sacrificial atonement, AND the need to give thanks - even in the wilderness”. David Guzik, Commentary on Numbers 15

Give a listen to a great song from Michael Card called “In the Wilderness”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOB8tk2RIdk

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?