Gathering Sticks on the Sabbath: When Disobedience Costs Everything

Listen to today’s passage – Numbers 14 – 15

Follow along on Blue Letter Bible – Numbers 14

Second Milers also read – Acts 19 – 21; Proverbs 20; Psalms 101 – 105

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Psalm 119:105

Read the “0220 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Read previous posts from today’s passages – “Fear Not,” and “Obstacles“

In our reading today there was a very scary story involving a man that was stoned to death for gathering sticks on the Sabbath Day. Wow! Does that mean that God will kill us if we work on Sunday? Let’s explore this topic together.

The Passage

“And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp. And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.” – (Numbers 15:32-36)

Relevant Passages

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.” – (Exodus 20:8-11)

“And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:” – (Mark 2:27)

The Story in a Nutshell

In Numbers 15 there is a very interesting story about a man that was caught “gathering sticks” on the Sabbath day. The congregation was not sure what they should do to this man for his violation of the Law, so they went to Moses. Moses wasn’t sure, either, so he went to the Lord, and the Lord declared that the man should be put to death. That’s a pretty harsh punishment for working on Sunday. (I know the Sabbath was on Saturday, but you get my point.) Every time that I have read this story I have thought to myself that the punishment that was inflicted upon this man was too severe for the crime he committed.

What is a Presumptuous Sin?

I think the key to understanding why God did what He did is found in the preceding verses:

“But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.” – (Numbers 15:30-31)

God made a distinction between sins of ignorance, and sins of presumption. The word “presumptuous” in the passage literally means to “raise high,” or to “exalt.” This means that the person guilty of presumptuous sins was exalting himself above the law, and above God Himself. This man was guilty of willful disobedience. (See “When We Miss the Mark: The Sin Offering and Our Saviour,” a previous post discussing presumptuous sins)

How Do We Willfully Disobey Today?

In my home there were only three offenses that one of my children could commit which would warrant them discipline, and one of them was willful disobedience. The other two were disrespecting an adult and lying. Anyway, this man in Numbers 15 blatantly ignored the will of God. He lifted himself above God, and above the leadership that God put in place. God wanted to set an example with this man to demonstrate to the congregation that a blatant and willful violation of His law was very serious.

Lessons from the Passage

There are many lessons that we can learn from this passage, but I will share only three thoughts:

  • God is serious about the Sabbath, meaning that even today He thinks it is best for us to take one day out of seven, and dedicate it to rest and spiritual refreshment. I realize that we are no longer under Law regarding the Sabbath, and I also realize that there are occasions where we will be unable to rest or attend church, but the principle of one day out of seven still applies. Be careful about ignoring this principle that was designed by God for your own good. In Christ, we’re free from rigid rules, but the wisdom of regular rest remains God’s gift for our flourishing.
  • The congregation did not act alone in punishing this man. They went to Moses to find out what should be done, and then Moses went to God. We saw this in an earlier passage regarding the man who blasphemed God in Leviticus 24:10-14. In that account, the congregation also put the man in ward (prison) until they knew from God what they should do. (See “The Mind of the Lord: Discerning the Will of God When Faced With Difficult Decisions” for more about this story from Leviticus) 
  • God is also serious about willful disobedience (sinning presumptuously). All sin is bad, but there is something more serious about boldly and proudly doing what we know to be wrong. I do not believe that God will kill us today (in most cases) for presumptuous sins, but I do believe that He will eventually chasten severely the child of His that blatantly ignores His will. Thank God that the death sentence for presumptuous sins was paid by the Lord when He shed His blood on the Cross of Calvary.

We live in the day and time where Christians have the idea that “everything goes.” This is simply not true. Though, through faith in Christ, we have experienced the grace and mercy of God needed because of our falling short of His commands, this does not give us license to ignore the will of God. God is still God and He has the right to order the affairs of our lives. Do not be guilty of exalting yourself above His will by presumptuously ignoring and violating His commands.

Is there an area of your life where you know God wants you to do something (or stop doing something? Yield that area to God.

Are you doing your best to remember to keep a weekly sabbath in your life? God designed us with a need to take time away from the business of life to break from our normal routines, rest our bodies, and reflect on Him.


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When We Miss the Mark: The Sin Offering and Our Savior

Listen to today’s passage – Leviticus 1 – 4 

Follow along on Blue Letter Bible – Leviticus 1

Second Milers also read – Luke 23 – 24; Proverbs 3; Psalms 16 – 20

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Deuteronomy 32:4

Read the “0203 Evening and Morning” for today by Charles Spurgeon

Read a previous post from this passage – “It Is Finished.“

What Is a Sin of Ignorance?

In Leviticus 4, a “sin of ignorance” (or unintentional sin) refers to a violation of God’s commandments done without deliberate intent or full awareness at the time. The Hebrew term often translated as “through ignorance” or “unintentionally” (from the root shagag) implies straying, erring, or wandering from the right path—perhaps through oversight, human weakness, forgetfulness, or lack of full understanding of the law’s application.

  • Examples include accidentally breaking a commandment (e.g., unknowingly touching something unclean or failing in a duty due to negligence).
  • The sin becomes apparent later, leading to a sense of guilt (Leviticus 4:27–28: “come to his knowledge”).
  • Importantly, ignorance does not excuse the sin—sin is still sin because it violates God’s holy standard, even if unintentional. The offering provides atonement once the sin is recognized, restoring fellowship with God.

The chapter outlines procedures based on who sinned:

  • The anointed priest (high priest – vv. 3-12).
  • The whole congregation (vv. 13-21).
  • A ruler/leader (vv. 22-26).
  • An individual common person (vv. 27-35).

In each case, the sinner (or representatives) lays hands on a blemish-free animal (bull, goat, etc.), transfers guilt symbolically, and the priest slays it. Blood is applied to the altar (or sprinkled in the sanctuary for higher-status sins), fat is burned, and atonement is made: “the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him” (e.g., Leviticus 4:35).

Distinguishing from Sins That Are Not “of Ignorance”

These are deliberate, premeditated, or presumptuous sins (Numbers 15:30–31). They involve willful defiance, rebellion against God, or knowing rejection of His commands.

  • Intentional/presumptuous sins show contempt for God’s law and authority (Numbers 15:30: “But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously… reproacheth the Lord”).
  • No provision for atonement through the regular sin offering existed for these; the offender was “cut off” from the people (often meaning death or exclusion from the community/covenant).
  • Example: The man gathering sticks on the Sabbath in Numbers 15:32–36 acted defiantly against a clear command, resulting in execution.

The key distinction is the heart’s posture:

  • Sins of ignorance stem from human frailty, weakness, or unawareness (still serious, requiring atonement).
  • Presumptuous sins involve deliberate rebellion, hardening the heart against God.

Both are sins, but the response differs based on intent and repentance.

How This Ties into Our Relationship with Christ Today

The sin offering in Leviticus 4 points forward to Jesus Christ as the ultimate, perfect fulfillment. The Old Testament sacrifices were shadows—temporary and repeated—covering sins but never removing them completely (Hebrews 10:1–4). Jesus provides the final, once-for-all solution.

  • Jesus is our sin offering: God “made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21). He became the blemish-free sacrifice, bearing our guilt.
  • He covers all sins: His blood atones for unintentional sins (our everyday failings, weaknesses, and ignorances) and, through genuine repentance, even willful ones when we turn back to Him (1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”).
  • Eternal redemption: Unlike the repeated animal sacrifices, Christ’s death was “once for all” (Hebrews 9:11–14, 26–28; 10:10–14). He entered the heavenly sanctuary with His own blood, securing eternal forgiveness and cleansing our conscience.
  • No more sacrifices needed: We don’t offer animals today; we come to God through faith in Christ’s finished work. His sacrifice purifies us, restores fellowship, and enables us to live in obedience—not out of fear of punishment, but gratitude for grace.

In our relationship with Christ:

  • We acknowledge our sinfulness (even “secret” or ignorant sins—Psalm 19:12).
  • We confess and repent, trusting His blood to cleanse us.
  • We rest in His forgiveness, growing in holiness by the Spirit’s power.
  • We avoid presumptuous sin by not hardening our hearts (Hebrews 3:7–13), but when we stumble, we find mercy through our High Priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:14–16).

This devotion reminds us: God’s holiness demands payment for sin, but His love provides the perfect Lamb—Jesus—who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Praise God for His provision! May we live in humble dependence on Christ, daily confessing and rejoicing in His complete atonement.


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