God isn’t easily discouraged, is He? If He were, He wouldn’t have taken me on as a project!
Anyone reading through the five books of Moses will turn to Numbers 15 and think, “Here we go again!” From verses 1-31, we again read directions for the different offerings the Israelites should bring to the Lord (vv 1-3). The Lord gives details regarding the grain offering (v 4) and the drink offering (v 5), followed by instructions on the burnt offering, vow offering, peace offering, and again the drink offering (vv 6-12). But let me pause to notice one crucial word: WHEN. The Lord says, “When you have come into the land you are to inhabit, which I am giving to you…” (v 2). Thank God it doesn’t say “If.” May the Lord write this across our hearts. When people fail, God doesn’t fail! It would be eventually seen in the case of Israel as it was said in the case of their patriarch: “They went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came” (Gen 12:5, KJV). So this part of Numbers 15 is an encouragement, isn’t it! It was “business as usual” for the Lord as He anticipated the final success of the next generation. In fact, the great Hall of Faith, Hebrews 11, recounts the history as if the years of failure weren’t even there. “By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days” (vv 29-30). That’s how our lives will appear, Christian, once the purifying fire has done its work. All that’s left will be for God’s glory. Thank Him for the fire! Notice that all born in the land as well as the strangers were to make a firstfruits offering, declaring the land was the Lord’s (Num 15:13-21). They were His people in His land. And some day we’ll be able to say that, too. Home sweet Heaven!