And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the Lord. The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it(Num. 9:10-12).
A year earlier, while still slaves in the land of Egypt, the children of Israel had observed the very first Passover as prescribed by God. Sheltered in houses that bore the blood of the Passover lamb upon their lintels, they had been delivered from the plague of death that swept across all of Egypt, leaving the firstborn of every living thing dead in its wake. In the chaotic aftermath that followed, God had triumphantly led His people to freedom (Ex. 12). On that night, the Lord had also given Moses instructions as to how He wanted the night to be commemorated in the future. It is a night to be much observed unto the Lord for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the Lord to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations (12:42).
Now, having survived that first difficult year outside the confines of Egypt, they prepared to observe the anniversary of their deliverance in accordance with the commands of God. In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it. And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, that they should keep the passover (Num. 9:3-4). For most of the Israelites, this was a joyous time of worship and somber reflection, but for some, the fast-approaching Passover brought with it worry and concern. And there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead body of a man, that they could not keep the passover on that day: and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day: And those men said unto him, We are defiled by the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of the Lord in His appointed season among the children of Israel (9:6-7)?
These men earnestly desired to keep Passover as the Lord had instructed, but due to circumstances beyond their control (most likely the death of a family member or friend), they were not ceremonially clean. In distress, they brought their dilemma to Moses so that he might discern God’s will. God’s answer was quick and full of grace. He acknowledged the extenuating circumstances, and He provided a path by which these men would still be able to participate.
Our God is a just God, and He knows the inner workings of our hearts. He has never (and will never) penalized us for circumstances beyond our control. If we desire to worship and serve Him, He will provide us with a path to do so, regardless of the obstacles that might look to be in our way.
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened(Matt. 7:7-8).
Thought For TodayIf God intends for you to go down a certain path, the world will not be able to stand in your way.
Word Studies8:2 over against = in front of; 8:4 beaten = hammered; 8:14 Mine = for God's special purpose; 8:18 for = instead of; 9:7 kept back = prohibited from; 9:8 Stand still = Wait; 9:10 posterity = descendants; 9:11 unleavened bread = bread without yeast, a symbol of Christ as the sinless offering; 9:12 ordinances = biblical laws; 9:13 forbeareth = neglects, fails; cut off = excommunicated; season = time; 9:14 sojourn = live temporarily; 9:15 reared = erected.
Christ Revealed:The Passover (Num. 9:2) serves as a beautiful illustration of the redemption Christ accomplished at Calvary as the Lamb of God (John 1:29; I Cor. 5:7).
Pray For Staff:Ryan McCrary • Government Official: Sen. John Ossoff (GA) Rep. Neal Dunn (FL), Rep. David Rouzer (NC), Rep. Ken Buck (CO), Rep. Kat Cammack (FL) • Country: Senegal (13,635,927) Western Africa • Major Language: French • Religious Freedom • 94% Muslim; 5% Christian (Mostly Roman Catholic); 1% Indigenous Beliefs • Prayer Suggestion: Pray for godly discernment to know His will (Ezek. 44:23).
Optional Reading:Luke 3