As it turns out, if either an individual or the whole people of Israel should sin “unintentionally,” there is a straightforward process for forgiveness. A particular sacrifice is required, presented in a particular way (Numbers 15:22-29). If everyone is involved in the problem, “all the congregation of the Israelites shall be forgiven, as well as the aliens residing among them, because the whole people was involved in the error” (15:26). Similarly for individuals: “for both the native among the Israelites and the alien residing among them – you shall have the same law for anyone who acts in error” (15:29).

But it’s a different story for those who sin deliberately: they shall be cut off from the people. “Because of having despised the word of the Lord and broken his commandment, such a person shall be utterly cut off and bear the guilt” (15:30-31). What will that mean? Will they be expelled? Executed? Will there be no possibility of atonement and forgiveness?

A test case immediately arose: they found a man gathering sticks on the sabbath day. The Lord had stated, many times over, that no work was to be done on the sabbath. The sign of the sabbath was set up “as a perpetual covenant” (Exodus 31:16-17), and “whoever does any work on the sabbath day shall be put to death” (Exodus 31:15). But what about someone who went out and gathered an armload of sticks for firewood (Numbers 15:32-34): how should that be assessed?

Would this be classed an inadvertent sin (next time you better pay attention, buddy; you know you can’t do that on the Sabbath!) or a deliberate sin (that’s it, you’ve gone way over the line: you purposefully did what you knew was wrong)? The answer was severe: “The Lord said to Moses, ‘The man shall be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him outside the camp’ ” (15:35). And that’s what they did.

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We believe in you as the Lord of mercy, as the God of second chances who always calls us to repent and believe in the good news. And yet so often we presume upon your grace, as if somehow you owed us eternal patience; and we suppose we should have the right to criticize your judgment, as if somehow you were answerable to us. But you are the Lord, and we are not: so we pray that you will grant us hearts of penitence and dedication, that we may indeed live in accordance with your will.