132 Enthuasiasm. Yeah! (Num 15)

Friday nights are about as good as it gets.
Almost as good as a leisurely Saturday morning.
Almost.
It's the end of the working week for me.
It's a relaxed meal time.
It's a chance to watch a movie or have friends around.
I get to spend an hour working with my kids.
Together.
I get to see Donna sitting on the couch.
And every now and then I watch a bit longer.
This makes me smile.
Friday nights are great.
Of course I do the last bit, watching Donna, most nights.
But Fridays.......
It just seems right.

Numbers 15
v2-3 "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land you are to inhabit, which I am giving you,
and you offer to the LORD from the herd or from the flock a food offering or a burnt offering or a sacrifice, to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering or at your appointed feasts, to make a pleasing aroma to the LORD,"

The first thing I see here is that God has forgiven the Israelites.
There is the statement of intent by saying, WHEN you come into the land.
There is no "if".
There is no alternative land.
God is talking about THE promised land.
And the Israelites will go into it.
They will inhabit it.
Chalk up another big tick to Moses.

Secondly, He's talking about how and what to offer as sacrifices.
Now.
God knows there is about to be 40 years of wandering around.
So why instruct now?
This sacrifice is the fulfillment of God's promise.
I think God tells them now, so that the Israelites have that vision of fulfillment fresh.
New.
Identifiable.
They have a picture of the first day in this land of milk and honey.
They have the carrot to give them impetus to get through the hard days.
When they sit around the campfires at night after a long day of walking, they will smell the meat cooking.
They will nod knowingly at each other, wink and say,
"This is what it will be like on that day God's promise is complete."
They'll forget the sore feet.
They'll ignore the burning sun.
They'll look forward to one less day in the wilderness.

How effective was it?
Someone ignores or forgets the Sabbath.
ALL of the people brought the man before Aaron and Moses.
Everyone was enthusiastic about honouring God's commandments now.
Too little, too late?
Perhaps.
But there is a sign they are learning.
For now.