This shows us God’s unchangeable purpose to bring His people to the home He has chosen for them. After the fourteenth chapter, full of rebellion against Him, it is He who says (verse 2),
“When ye be come into the land—which I give unto you, and will make an offering—”. In spite of their ingratitude and self-will, and everything else so unlike the One who had undertaken for them, His people were to be brought into the place prepared. So, though the Christian knows from many Scriptures, that he does not deserve eternal life, or heaven, yet he reads in John 10:2828And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:28) the words of the Son of God,
“I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish.” There are lessons to be learned on the road, but they who trust in Jesus’ blood will be in glory, everyone.
When the people were brought into their land, they would bring free-will offerings, —thank offerings to God, and He gave directions as to the offerings, all of them telling of Christ in life or in death.
There should be the same law for the children of Israel, and for the stranger that dwelt in their land. And if they did anything ignorantly, that is, when they did not know it was wrong, they were to offer sacrifices, and their sin should be forgiven; but if any one sinned presumptuously, that is, willfully, God did not say they might offer a sacrifice for him, that person was to be put to death, because he had despised the word of the Lord, and broken His commandment.
The man who gathered sticks on the Sabbath day was stoned to death; his was a presumptuous sin (verse 30), for God had repeatedly said, “Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein.” Leviticus 23:33Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings. (Leviticus 23:3).
The fringes in the edges of their clothes, and the blue ribbons, were to be seen by faith as reminders of the heavenly character of God’s people. Christians are apt to forget that they not only are going to heaven, but that they belong there now. Heaven is their home, and heavenly ways, heavenly thoughts, should be theirs.