Why Did God Kill the Man Picking Up Sticks on the Sabbath?

The Bible talks about God killing the man picking up sticks on the Sabbath. The punishment seems to be so harsh compared to the action of the man. This has led many to question God’s mercy, justice, and love.

So, we want to know, “Why did God kill the man picking sticks on the Sabbath?” The answer to this question will reveal how serious we should be in following God and how the sacrifice of Jesus (Yahshua) opened the way for eternal life.

Introduction

When we encounter passages like Numbers 15:32-36, it’s not uncommon for us to be taken aback. We read:

³² Now while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. ³³ And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron, and to all the congregation. ³⁴ They put him under guard, because it had not been explained what should be done to him.

³⁵ Then the LORD said to Moses, “The man must surely be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp.” ³⁶ So, as the LORD commanded Moses, all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him with stones, and he died.

Here we find a man in the wilderness of Israel, caught gathering sticks on the Sabbath. The consequence for his actions? Death. 

God commands that he be stoned by the congregation, and indeed, this is what happens. This story is often cited to question the justice and nature of God, suggesting a stark contrast between the Old Testament God and the New Testament God of love and mercy. 

Let’s delve into this troubling passage to uncover the deeper understanding behind it.

Context of the Passage

To grasp the gravity of this situation, we need to explore its context. Prior to this event, God had just laid out guidelines regarding both unintentional and intentional sins. We read in Numbers 15:22-31:

²² If you sin unintentionally, and do not observe all these commandments which the LORD has spoken to Moses— ²³ all that the LORD has commanded you by the hand of Moses, from the day the LORD gave commandment and onward throughout your generations— ²⁴ then it will be, if it is unintentionally committed, without the knowledge of the congregation, that the whole congregation shall offer one young bull as a burnt offering, as a sweet aroma to the LORD, with its grain offering and its drink offering, according to the ordinance, and one kid of the goats as a sin offering.

²⁵ So the priest shall make atonement for the whole congregation of the children of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them, for it was unintentional; they shall bring their offering, an offering made by fire to the LORD, and their sin offering before the LORD, for their unintended sin.

²⁶ It shall be forgiven the whole congregation of the children of Israel and the stranger who dwells among them, because all the people did it unintentionally.

²⁷ ‘And if a person sins unintentionally, then he shall bring a female goat in its first year as a sin offering. ²⁸ So the priest shall make atonement for the person who sins unintentionally, when he sins unintentionally before the LORD, to make atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.

²⁹ You shall have one law for him who sins unintentionally, for him who is native-born among the children of Israel and for the stranger who dwells among them.

³⁰ But the person who does anything presumptuously, whether he is native-born or a stranger, that one brings reproach on the LORD, and he shall be cut off from among his people.

³¹ Because he has despised the word of the LORD, and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off; his guilt shall be upon him.’ ”

These Bible verses discuss the difference between unintentional sins and intentional sins.

Unintentional sins, those committed out of ignorance or mistake, could be atoned for through offerings and sacrifices. However, intentional sins—those committed with a “high hand” or with full knowledge and defiance of God’s commands—were treated with utmost severity. Such sins were not forgivable through mere offerings; they indicated a profound contempt for God’s law.

The man caught picking up sticks on the Sabbath had committed a flagrant disregard for a divine commandment. God had made His position clear: the Sabbath was holy and any work done on it was a grave offense. 

The man’s actions were not just a minor infraction; they represented a deliberate act of rebellion against God’s law. This defiance was not simply about breaking a rule but about challenging the very authority and sanctity of God’s commands.

God Gave His People Fair Warning

In Exodus 31:14-15 and Exodus 35:2, God had established the Sabbath as a day of rest, a command that came with a strict warning: anyone who worked on the Sabbath was to be put to death. We read:

¹² And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ¹³ “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.

¹⁴ You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. ¹⁵ Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.

We also read in Exodus 35:1-2:

​¹ Then Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said to them, “These are the words which the LORD has commanded you to do:

² Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh day shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death.

This is just one example of capital punishment in the Bible. This wasn’t a vague or ambiguous command; it was a clear and unequivocal instruction from God. The man’s actions occurred immediately after these warnings had been issued, underscoring his deliberate disobedience.

This severity wasn’t just about punishing a single individual; it was a stark message to the entire community. It served as a reminder of the high stakes involved in disregarding God’s commands. 

The Israelites were on the brink of entering the Promised Land, a place where they would face immense pressures and temptations from surrounding nations. God’s judgment here was a deterrent, reinforcing the importance of adherence to His laws in the face of external influences.

God’s Punishment for Disobedience Is (Sometimes) Death

In the Bible, the severity of punishment often corresponds to the nature of the offense. The man’s sin was not a minor breach; it was a blatant act of rebellion against a fundamental command. 

The purpose of such severe punishments was to preserve the integrity of the community and to set a clear example of what defiance against God’s law could lead to.

Throughout Scripture, we see instances where God’s judgments serve as serious warnings. Here are some examples:

• Aaron’s sons were struck dead for offering unauthorized fire (Leviticus 10:1)
• Uzzah was killed for touching the Ark of the Covenant (2 Samuel 6:6-7)
• Ananias and Saphira were struck dead for lying (Acts 5:1-11)
• Moses was not permitted to enter the Promised Land for striking the rock (Number 20:1-13)

These actions, while seemingly severe, underscore the seriousness with which God treats His commands and the consequences of disobedience.

God Judges the Heart

The man’s punishment was not solely about the act of picking up sticks but about what this act represented. It reflected a deeper heart issue: a willingness to place personal convenience and self-sufficiency above honoring God’s holy commands. 

This was a clear act of indifference and rebellion.

The Israelites themselves were uncertain about how to handle the situation, which further highlights the gravity of the man’s actions. The community had to seek divine instruction, and God’s decision to execute the man was a reflection of His judgment on the heart and the potential consequences of his defiance.

Lessons from the Man Picking Up Sticks on the Sabbath

In conclusion, while the stoning of the man for picking up sticks on the Sabbath may seem severe, it is essential to understand it within the context of God’s covenant with Israel and His command to uphold His laws with the highest regard. This story serves as a powerful reminder of the seriousness of disobedience and the importance of respecting and adhering to God’s commands.

The ultimate message of the Bible, however, is one of redemption and hope. Though we are all deserving of judgment, Jesus Christ came to offer us grace and forgiveness. Through His sacrifice, we are spared from eternal punishment and invited into a relationship with God.

In the Old Covenant, God expects His people to at least follow the letter of the law. Death is the penalty for breaking these laws. That’s why, there are a lot of animal sacrifices, which put the animals in place for the Israelites.

Thankfully, the sacrifice of Jesus put an end to the sacrificial system. His death was sufficient for all of our sins. As we enter the New Covenant, we are called to fulfill the spirit of the law. Unlike the man who was killed for picking up sticks on the Sabbath, we have Christ who has died in our stead.

As we reflect on this passage, let us remember the depth of God’s mercy and the call to live in reverence and obedience to His Word.

So, why did the man pick up sticks on the Sabbath knowing the penalty? We have seen the reason and it was a profound disregard for God’s commands, a reminder to us of the importance of honoring and obeying the divine directives we receive.

---