In this video listen to Numbers 15 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.

In Numbers 15 we consider defiant sin, the tassels on the clothing of Jews, and whether the law was excessive when it killed a sabbath breaker for collecting wood. FIrstly, defiant sin is not only wilful, but deliberately wilful. All people at some time have committed willful sin, but in their minds they were not rejecting God, even if practically they were doing so.

Defiant sin is the deliberate chosen rejection of God and it bears consequences. The Law seems at times to us overly tough. Yet the law was a precious gift to not just Israel, but to all humanity. Without the law grace could never have been given. If God wanted to give grace, against a backdrop of no law, that is against a backdrop of lawlessness, then there would never be anyone righ ...