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The Bible tells us that God is merciful. This is emphasized more in the New Testament than in the Old Testament, though the Old Testament does have its moments. Exodus 34:6 says, “..., “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness...”
But God in Exodus and Numbers appears to be stingy in His Mercifulness....or is it that the Hebrews didn’t know how to ask Him for mercy? And why should this concern Christians who look to Lord Jesus for their understanding of what God requires of them? Well, we might take it as friendly advice not to take the Lord for granted in His showing of mercy. So...
In the Bible, God requires Jews to abide by the Sabbath. Commentators write that Jesus himself, in Mark 2:27, implies that the Sabbath is only for Jews when He says that the Sabbath was made for man. But Lord Jesus, as a Jew, justifies his companions seeking food in a field on the Sabbath by saying to the Pharisees in Verse 25-26, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” The point he made was that something which is done out of necessity, even though it’s against the Laws, including the Law that involves keeping the Sabbath, may be acceptable.
Given that, one may question whether or not it was out of necessity that the man in Numbers 15:32-36 gathered sticks on the Sabbath. God in Exodus 35:2-3 says, “Six days work shall be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. You shall kindle no fire in all your dwelling places on the Sabbath day.” (Some of you may know that in some synagogues the Jews will not turn on a light on the Sabbath, instead asking a non-Jew to do so. This is a throwback to that Law.)
In Numbers 15:32-36 a man is caught gathering sticks on the Sabbath. Maybe he needed the sticks for a fire to keep warm, or maybe he was gathering the sticks for someone else; the Bible does not say. But anyway, Moses asks God what should be done with this person. In Verse 35 God says the man is to be stoned to death. Where is the mercy in THAT? The Bible doesn’t say whether the man asked God for mercy or forgiveness. Perhaps his ignorance of God in that respect helped to seal his fate.
In John 8:1-7, a woman who sinned has a more merciful fate. The Pharisees brought her to Jesus’ attention, saying she committed adultery. They also tell Jesus that according to the Law, such a woman is to be stoned. Bur Jesus in Verse 7 says to let those who have never sinned, cast the first stone. It follows that nobody threw a stone at her. Jesus did not nullify the Law, but he added a condition for following it out.
Could God have added a similar condition regarding the man who gathered sticks? We can only guess that God in his infinite wisdom decided not to. Perhaps HE found it more of a necessity to maintain order among the Hebrews as they traveled to the Promised Land. Who knows?
But God in Exodus and Numbers appears to be stingy in His Mercifulness....or is it that the Hebrews didn’t know how to ask Him for mercy? And why should this concern Christians who look to Lord Jesus for their understanding of what God requires of them? Well, we might take it as friendly advice not to take the Lord for granted in His showing of mercy. So...
In the Bible, God requires Jews to abide by the Sabbath. Commentators write that Jesus himself, in Mark 2:27, implies that the Sabbath is only for Jews when He says that the Sabbath was made for man. But Lord Jesus, as a Jew, justifies his companions seeking food in a field on the Sabbath by saying to the Pharisees in Verse 25-26, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” The point he made was that something which is done out of necessity, even though it’s against the Laws, including the Law that involves keeping the Sabbath, may be acceptable.
Given that, one may question whether or not it was out of necessity that the man in Numbers 15:32-36 gathered sticks on the Sabbath. God in Exodus 35:2-3 says, “Six days work shall be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. You shall kindle no fire in all your dwelling places on the Sabbath day.” (Some of you may know that in some synagogues the Jews will not turn on a light on the Sabbath, instead asking a non-Jew to do so. This is a throwback to that Law.)
In Numbers 15:32-36 a man is caught gathering sticks on the Sabbath. Maybe he needed the sticks for a fire to keep warm, or maybe he was gathering the sticks for someone else; the Bible does not say. But anyway, Moses asks God what should be done with this person. In Verse 35 God says the man is to be stoned to death. Where is the mercy in THAT? The Bible doesn’t say whether the man asked God for mercy or forgiveness. Perhaps his ignorance of God in that respect helped to seal his fate.
In John 8:1-7, a woman who sinned has a more merciful fate. The Pharisees brought her to Jesus’ attention, saying she committed adultery. They also tell Jesus that according to the Law, such a woman is to be stoned. Bur Jesus in Verse 7 says to let those who have never sinned, cast the first stone. It follows that nobody threw a stone at her. Jesus did not nullify the Law, but he added a condition for following it out.
Could God have added a similar condition regarding the man who gathered sticks? We can only guess that God in his infinite wisdom decided not to. Perhaps HE found it more of a necessity to maintain order among the Hebrews as they traveled to the Promised Land. Who knows?
