“God Will Get Back to You”
Opening Prayer
Lord, thank You that You are a God who is listening. Thank You that You see us and care about each of us.
Read Numbers 9:1-14
[1] 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, [2] “Have the Israelites celebrate the Passover at the appointed time. [3] Celebrate it at the appointed time, at twilight on the fourteenth day of this month, in accordance with all its rules and regulations.” [4] So Moses told the Israelites to celebrate the Passover, [5] 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. [6] 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 [7] 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?” [8] Moses answered them, “Wait until I find out what the LORD commands concerning you.” [9] Then the LORD said to Moses, [10] “Tell the Israelites: ‘When any of you or your descendants are unclean because of a dead body or are away on a journey, they are still to celebrate the LORD’s Passover, [11] but they are to do it on the fourteenth day of the second month at twilight. They are to eat the lamb, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. [12] 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. [13] But if anyone who is ceremonially clean and not on a journey fails to celebrate the Passover, they must be cut off from their people for not presenting the LORD’s offering at the appointed time. They will bear the consequences of their sin. [14] “‘A foreigner residing among you is also to celebrate the LORD’s Passover in accordance with its rules and regulations. You must have the same regulations for both the foreigner and the native-born.'” Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How did Moses respond to this situation?Celebrate the Passover! This is Israel’s stunning service of remembrance for deliverance from slavery in Egypt. It’s like a Christmas and Easter service all rolled into one, with a family baptism or Communion thrown in too. And everyone is going to be there. But there’s a “but” in verse 6. Some Israelites can’t make it. There’s a funeral taking place that they have to go to. Contact with a corpse has made them unclean. They will have to miss the Passover celebration. Now read on to the end of verse 7. This verse offers another “but”! The people complain that they will have to miss Passover for the above reasons. And, somewhat surprisingly, Moses says, “Let me get back to you on that” (cf. v. 8). Even more remarkably, when God does get back to them, it is with the idea of a second Passover, one month later, for people who can’t make the first one. Who would have guessed that Old Testament law could be so accommodating?
Apply
This passage reveals an expectation that God will speak into a specific situation. Ask and expect God to speak to you.
Closing prayer
Lord, You are the Good Shepherd, and Your sheep hear Your voice. I am listening.
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