When is a sin not actually a sin? When it’s an unintentional sin, of course!
We’ve covered the whole idea of “sinning by accident” in other devotionals (ref. Leviticus 4), but it’s brought up here again to highlight the special application between man and God. In other words, ritual sins are the focus here.
As a side note, it also lumps in strangers and the ger along with the Israelites, showing that the same care must be taken by both.
This passage boils down to two halves. In Numbers 15:22-29, unintentional sins by the group and the individual are brought up, along with the necessary sacrifices to atone for the error along with it.
In Numbers 15:30-31, there are no sacrifices. There is no atonement. Someone who stands up “defiantly” against God will be cut off from among the people.
As with so many other things in the Law, the intent behind the action matters almost as much as the action itself. Two people could sin the exact same way, but if the one person does it by accident and the other does it rebelliously, they’re punished differently.
This also amplifies the point in Leviticus 4. Whereas that section shows how priests and everyday community members handle the inadvertent sin, Numbers 15 shows the real target of the sin itself: God.
I’m not an expert in Hebrew, but as far as I can see, the idea behind the word “defiantly” has to do with a shaking of the fist towards God. They’re raising their arms, ready to strike down His authority. That’s not a posture anyone should take, but especially as a child of God.
In case there were any confusion behind this intent, Numbers 15:30-31 even uses several words to describe what’s happening. They are “blaspheming the Lord,” “despising the Word of the Lord,” and “breaking His commandment.” As such, His guilt is His alone to bear.
I can almost hear the counterpoint that some might make towards this: If the intent matters almost as much as the action, then does that mean my intentions are more important than what I do?
Not at all. The reason these two ideas are placed together is because one defines the other. The action is just that—an action. The intent behind it determines the target, the goal, and the motivation.
This is part of why Hebrews 4:12 says that the Word of God defines between the “thoughts and the intents of the heart.” Thoughts are what you think about doing, whereas intent is what you plan to do. The physical actions that we see can are a smokescreen.
It’s nearly impossible for us to determine true intent; that’s why there are various tests sprinkled throughout the Law. When it comes to someone shaking their fist at God—as Korah is about to do—then intent is crystal clear. And it needs to be handled ASAP.
