SCRIPTURE: NUMBERS 9
IMPORTANT VERSES:
THE PASSOVER (vs. 1-14)
The Lord spoke to Moses in the Desert of Sinai in the first month of the second year after they came out of Egypt. He said, “Have the Israelites celebrate the Passover at the appointed to me. Celebrate it at the appointed time, at twilight on the fourteenth day of this month, in accordance with all its rules and regulations.:
So Moses told the Israelites to celebrate the Passover, and they did so in the Desert of Sinai at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. The Israelites did everything just as the Lord commanded Moses.
But some of them could not celebrate the Passover on that day because they were ceremonially unclean on account of a dead body. So they came to Moses and Aaron that same day and said to Moses, “We have become unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be kept from presenting the Lord’s offering with the other Israelites at the appointed time.”
Moses answered them, “Wait until I find out what the Lord commands concerning you.”
The the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites:;When any of you or your descendants are unclean because of a dead body or are away on a journey, they may still celebrate the Lord’s Passover. They are to celebrate it on the fourteenth day of the second month at twilight. They are to eat the lamb, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. They must not leave any of it till morning or break any of its bones. When they celebrate the Passover, they must follow all the regulations. But if a man who is ceremonially clean and not on a journey fails to celebrate the Passover, that person must be cut off from his people because he did not present the Lord’s offering at the appointed time. That man will bear the consequences of his sin.
“An alien living among you who wants to celebrate the Lord’s Passover must do so in accordance with its rules and regulations. You must have the same regulations for the alien and the native-born.
THE CLOUD ABOVE THE TABERNACLE (vs. 15-23)
On the day the tabernacle, the Tent of the Testimony, was set up, the cloud covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire. That is how it continued to be the cloud covered it, and at night it looked like fire. Whenever the cloud lifted from above the Tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites incamped. At the Lord’s command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the Lord’s order and did not set out. Sometimes the cloud was over the tabernacle only a few days; at the Lord’s command they would encamp, and then at his command they would set out. Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening till morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they set out. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out. Whether the cloud stay over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. At the Lord’s command they encamped, and at the Lord’s command they set out. They obeyed the Lord’s order in accordance with his command through Moses.
THOUGHTS: (From Life Application Study Bible)
This is the second Passover. The first was instituted in Egypt and recorded in Exodus 12. Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were an eight day religious observance commemorating the Israelites escape from slavery in Egypt by God’s power.
The Passover meal had the standards of holiness to be maintained. During Moses time, many people were prevented from participating in the Passover meal because they were “unclean” due to contact with dead body. But God made an exception by allowing the men to celebrate the Passover at a later date. This upheld the sacred requirements while allowing the men to participate in the feast. When we face predicaments and do not know what to do without causing us to compromise God’s standards, we should use wisdom and prayer to reach a workable solution.
Sometimes we are tempted to excuse non-Christians from following God’s guidelines for living. But God did not have a separate set of standards for unbelievers. God singled out Israel for a special purpose – to be an example of how one nation could and should, follow Him. His aim, however, was to have all people obey and worship him.
A pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night guided and protected the Israelites as they traveled across the wilderness. The Bible recorded that the cloud and the fire moved in accordance with the will of God. They were the vehicle of God’s presence and the visible evidence of his moving and directing his people.
The Israelites traveled and camped as God guided. We too need to follow God’s guidance because He has a purpose in placing you where you are right now. Understand God’s purpose for your life by discovering what he wants you to do now!