God understands his people would not keep the law perfectly. God repeats the Levitical sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins for the sake of the next generation. God wants to forgive his people. At the same time, God reiterates the seriousness of defiant rebellion. The story of the Sabbath breaker who was stoned underscores how seriously God and his people must treat such rebellion. It also reminds us how great God's kindness is to us through the gospel of Jesus (Ro 11:22).

The law of the tassels is far more important than style. That generation had proved their contempt (14:11). But God held hope for the generations to come. There is a saying: "The best defense is a good offense." The tassels were to remind them of their identity as God's people, redeemed from Egypt, and to help them keep in mind God's commands, not following the lusts of the flesh. We, too, are told to seek God's righteousness (Mt 6:33). This is to be done actively by offering every part of ourselves as instruments of righteousness (Ro 6:13). Our lives are not to be centered on avoiding sin, but obeying God's commands as his beloved people whom he rescued in order to be his treasured possession (1Pe 2:9).


Application: Father, thank you for forgiving our sins through Jesus, making me your own. Help me to remember and obey your words.
One Word: I am the LORD your God