Scripture: And the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, “Let the people of Israel keep the Passover at its appointed time. On the fourteenth day of this month, at twilight, you shall keep it at its appointed time; according to all its statutes and all its rules you shall keep it.” So Moses told the people of Israel that they should keep the Passover. And they kept the Passover in the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, at twilight, in the wilderness of Sinai; according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the people of Israel did. And there were certain men who were unclean through touching a dead body, so that they could not keep the Passover on that day, and they came before Moses and Aaron on that day. And those men said to him, “We are unclean through touching a dead body. Why are we kept from bringing the LORD’S offering at its appointed time among the people of Israel?” And Moses said to them, “Wait, that I may hear what the LORD will command concerning you.”
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If any one of you or of your descendants is unclean through touching a dead body, or is on a long journey, he shall still keep the Passover to the LORD. In the second month on the fourteenth day at twilight they shall keep it. They shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. They shall leave none of it until the morning, nor break any of its bones; according to all the statute for the Passover they shall keep it. But if anyone who is clean and is not on a journey fails to keep the Passover, that person shall be cut off from his people because he did not bring the LORD’S offering at its appointed time; that man shall bear his sin. And if a stranger sojourns among you and would keep the Passover to the LORD, according to the statute of the Passover and according to its rule, so shall he do. You shall have one statute, both for the sojourner and for the native.”
Numbers 9:1-14 ESV
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Observation: Recapping Yesterday’s Daily Focus, the Lord communicates through Moses the Levites’ age qualification for service from entry to retirement: twenty-five to fifty. Once fifty, they must withdraw from their tabernacle service but continue ministering to their brothers by keeping guard of the tabernacle.
For today’s reading, Moses tells us that a year has passed, and Israel is still in the wilderness basin of Mount Sinai. It’s time to celebrate the Passover on the fourteenth day (as outlined in Exodus 12:1-28, 43-51) because Yahweh will soon lead them on the grand march to the Promised Land. Still, a scenario arises that will result in Yahweh’s gracious modification of its observance. Certain men approach Moses regarding their ceremonial uncleanliness (contacting a dead body, likely a family member who died) and request an exception to the regulations to permit them to celebrate.
Moses wisely seeks the Lord’s direction before responding. Yahweh instructs Moses to inform Israel that any ceremonially unclean person (resulting from contacting a dead body) or anyone who is on a long journey shall keep the Passover on the fourteenth day of the following month. However, regardless of which month, anyone who fails to observe the Passover will face excommunication. Also, any non-native sojourner who desires to celebrate the Passover may do so if they observe the rules (which would include male circumcision).
Historical note: While Scripture provides no additional exceptions to celebrating the Passover in the second month, by the time of Christ, rabbinical teachings interpreted touching a dead body to be all-encompassing of anyone who is ceremonially unclean.
Takeaway: There are two points worth noting from this text. First, we see the repetition of “keep” that implicitly conjoins obedience with celebration. The Passover is, first and foremost, a celebration of Israel’s God delivering his people from tyrannical bondage, but it is not a casual or optional celebration. Instead, it is a solemn ceremony that must honor Yahweh with strict observance. Yet, as the ceremony unfolds, it leads Israel to celebrate their Lord joyfully with gladness of heart, for his strong arm of deliverance has and will continue to protect, provide, and guide them to his and their glory.
Regarding excommunication, anyone who chooses to follow their will instead of God’s by skipping or modifying the celebration, in effect, chooses independence from God. Thus, excommunication fits the condition of their law-breaking heart. However, for those who seek God’s will but face circumstances that would prevent them from celebrating, Israel’s gracious God provides a remedy: celebrate a month later.
Our takeaway? Fast forward to the first century CE, and we see our incarnate Lord instituting a transformed version of this celebration. Indeed, here are three significant aspects that remain:
- Jesus is the lamb whose bones are unbroken.
- We keep this sacred meal with solemnity and celebration, remembering that God has set us free from our bondage (from the tyranny of sin).
- Sojourners who are circumcised of the heart are welcome to celebrate.
Still, there are marked differences under our New Covenant of Grace:
- We keep the celebration not just at Easter (our equivalent of the Passover) but regularly throughout the year because waiting until Easter Sunday is not enough to sustain us in this fallen world.
- Even without excuse, if we miss the celebration, when we repent, God’s grace extends to us without the threat of excommunication.
Our part? Like Israel, we must regularly keep the feast solemn and joyful. Understanding the immeasurable cost of our freedom in Christ, we do not glibly celebrate communion with him at his table but with repentant hearts. That said, we must also celebrate with thanksgiving—even when struggling with sin or grief. When we do, while sadness may linger, our Lord’s joy will strengthen us (Nehemiah 8:10) to keep carrying on.Prayer: Father God, thank you for your Son, who kept your laws perfectly and became our unblemished lamb of atonement, reconciling us to you. And we thank you for your Holy Spirit, who helps us keep your laws through confession, repentance, and transformation of the mind and heart to align with your will (Romans 12:2). Still, we struggle to stay on track and need regular celebrations of you and your Son’s marvelous salvific work. So, please help us keep the feast solemn and joyful so we might run the race well to the end of our earthly journey. Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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