In this passage, the Lord calls the people of Israel to atone for those sins that they did not know that they had done. May the Lord convict us to do likewise and fall at the cross in repentance.
Numbers 15.22-31
22 “But if you sin unintentionally, and do not observe all these commandments that the Lord has spoken to Moses, 23 all that the Lord has commanded you by Moses, from the day that the Lord gave commandment, and onward throughout your generations, 24 then if it was done unintentionally without the knowledge of the congregation, all the congregation shall offer one bull from the herd for a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma to the Lord, with its grain offering and its drink offering, according to the rule, and one male goat for a sin offering. 25 And the priest shall make atonement for all the congregation of the people of Israel, and they shall be forgiven, because it was a mistake, and they have brought their offering, a food offering to the Lord, and their sin offering before the Lord for their mistake. 26 And all the congregation of the people of Israel shall be forgiven, and the stranger who sojourns among them, because the whole population was involved in the mistake.
27 “If one person sins unintentionally, he shall offer a female goat a year old for a sin offering. 28 And the priest shall make atonement before the Lord for the person who makes a mistake, when he sins unintentionally, to make atonement for him, and he shall be forgiven. 29 You shall have one law for him who does anything unintentionally, for him who is native among the people of Israel and for the stranger who sojourns among them. 30 But the person who does anything with a high hand, whether he is native or a sojourner, reviles the Lord, and that person shall be cut off from among his people. 31 Because he has despised the word of the Lord and has broken his commandment, that person shall be utterly cut off; his iniquity shall be on him.”
[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?
+ What is this command for?
+ Why has God made this provision for the people?
+ What is he requiring?
+ Why are there two different commands for individuals and a nation?
+ Why is the priest making atonement for the people?
+ Why is it important that both the people and the sojourner be included in the command?
+ What is the consequence of not following the command?
+ Why would this be important for God to mandate? What are the people of Israel about to do?
[ 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?
+ How often do you ask God for forgiveness for unintentional sin?
+ Do you think about the sins of your nation?
+ What are the steps you can take to more routinely ask for forgiveness?
[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?
+ What is my next step?
+ How can you practice Godly humility ask for forgiveness from your friends and neighbors?