ORDER ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS. Numbers 9 There is no strict chronological order in these initial chapters of Numbers. Instead, a moral order emerges as we learn the importance of orderly service in God's work. In chapter nine, two main lessons about order are presented. The first addresses order in observing the Passover, and the second concerns how to make changes, such as moving forward. These events are not daily occurrences requiring us to discern God's will, but they are significant moments that we can expect to happen in line with God's already revealed will.
There are special occasions that impact our lives, and we do not treat them casually or think we can adapt them to suit our preferences. The Passover was an annual event linked to a week-long festival of the nation. It was expected to occur each year on the same day. The command to move meant everyone had to be prepared to act immediately without any prior notice.
The camp was organized, the Tabernacle was built, and the religious practices were established in Israel, but one more important thing had to be done before they could move forward: keeping the Passover. The first five verses address the command to observe the Passover, while the next three verses deal with those who were ceremonially unclean on the fourteenth day of the first month. By God’s mercy, an alternative day was provided on the fourteenth day of the second month. Verses nine through thirteen present the Lord's response to a legitimate delay, serving as both reassurance and a warning against willful neglect.
Being “cut off” means death or banishment. In the Old Testament, this happened as a result of abusing or misusing the Passover, and in the New Testament, the same applies to the abuse or misuse of the Lord’s Supper, which is mentioned in 1st Corinthians eleven. For foreigners in the camp, they had to be circumcised, which would officially make them Jewish proselytes.
The Passover was observed in Egypt for the first time as the blood of the lamb placed on the doorposts and lintel of Israeli homes testified to God's provision as the foundation of everything they had. The blood of the lamb was the basis of Israel's redemption, and Christ's blood is the foundation of our redemption. The Passover kept in the wilderness one year later demonstrated that deliverance from the hardships and dangers of wilderness living depends on redemption. When the children of Israel reached the Promised Land, victory there was through redemption. At each of these occasions, whenever the Passover was observed, the people were reminded of who they were and how they had been redeemed by the blood of the lamb.
The reason for observing Passover each year was so the nation would remember the redemption God provided for them. The specific time for keeping it was also commanded by God. It was to be observed on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, as instructed by God. Those who could not participate on that day due to impurity or distance received guidance from Moses regarding God's commands and Aaron's message about God's grace. In response to Moses’ inquiry, God permitted those who were legitimately absent to observe the Passover a month later.
The feast itself consisted of roast lamb, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs—nothing else. This served as a reminder of deliverance from Egypt. Even those who faced unexpected events in the desert, defilement by contact with a dead body, or long journeys had to partake of the same foods one month later after their purification and preparation were complete. The standard can never be lowered when it comes to the things of God.
Some people want to change what God has clearly revealed in His Word and arrange things to suit their own convenience or preferences. That is the difference between what is genuine and what is counterfeit. God never fails to keep His promises and never changes His principles. Anyone who refrains from participating in the Passover feast in God's way is cut off from His people. Unjudged sin has serious consequences, and willful neglect of God's commands or what is important to God shows someone who is distant from Him.
For Christians today, the Lord's Supper is a time when we remember that "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. Therefore, let us keep the feast." To dismiss or downplay the Lord's Supper as something insignificant leads to being cut off from fellowship with the Lord's people, either by their own choice or by external imposition. During the Lord's Supper, we recall Him and proclaim His death until He returns. Treating this memorial of our redemption and Christ's death as unimportant diminishes what God considers valuable. The institution of the Lord's Supper is detailed in the Gospel accounts, observed in the book of Acts, and explained for us in 1 Corinthians 11. The remembrance of Christ and the public declaration of His death start inwardly and are spiritual acts. Each participant prepares by reading the scriptures and praying as the Holy Spirit leads. There is also an external and literal expression of our redemption when we gather together as a redeemed community on the "first day of the week to break bread."
Love in the hearts of those whom the blood of the Lamb has redeemed is a natural response to the death of Christ and His love for us. Anyone who absents themselves from the Lord's Supper for trivial reasons probably has never understood, or at least appreciated, the value God places on the sacrifice Christ made when He suffered for us on the cross. "We are redeemed, not with corruptible things such as silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ."
Whenever God, in His sovereign will, guides us to make changes in our lives, it is a significant event that should never be undertaken lightly. Israel remained in their places and did not move on a whim of their own choosing. There was clear evidence of God's presence among them, with the sheltering cloud by day and the fire's light by night. There was unmistakable evidence of God's guidance in the stops and starts, as the cloud moved or came to a halt in specific places.
We need God's guidance now, right where we are, as well as direction for what comes next. Waiting periods in life are not meant to be empty spaces. We require divine guidance in everyday unknown situations and the uncertain future. There was a time for purification when it was needed, and we should never overlook that necessity in our lives. Conversely, laziness, negligence, and disobedience have had serious consequences that impacted God's people for the rest of their lives.
The brightness of the fire at night revealed God's sovereignty to the people of Israel. He was in control and guiding them. The cloud shadowing the Tabernacle concealed God's majesty, so no one could approach Him without recognizing they were coming to a holy place. We rely on the Lord to guide us, whether in our current location or where He leads us to go. It is important to submit to His guidance when we buy or sell, decide whether to marry, determine how much to give and save, or choose to relocate or stay put. He knows what is best for us, and we know He loves us. Therefore, we can trust Him to guide us. Our freedom in life and service depends on looking to Him for direction. He will lead and guide us through every event. When there is no change as an answer to prayer, wait and continue to live by faith.
There was no question when it was time for God's people to move. The cloud rose and moved, and they obeyed. There was no hesitation at the start of Israel's dealings with God. They acted together in faith and willingly followed the instructions they were given. Their action was to do what God said without doubting the outcome. We can also rely on God's divine guidance, as the Holy Spirit clarifies each situation we face by giving us "the peace of God" to guide and direct us. When there is doubt and questioning, we need to be willing to wait and use that waiting time for useful service where we are. We are to keep "the charge of the Lord" and can rest there until such times as change is clearly evident.
God’s grace in deliverance should never be taken for granted. By His grace, we are saved through faith. The grace of God in sending His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him is deeply imprinted on our minds and hearts. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who was found in human form and gave His life as a ransom for us by dying for our sins, is boundless grace.
Israel was to observe the Passover as a reminder of God’s grace in saving them from the death angel through the sacrificial death of a Passover lamb. They were reminded of God’s grace in choosing them and His power in freeing them from bondage and the death of the firstborn. Our deliverance from the power and effects of our sins encourages us to remember our Lord Jesus Christ weekly at the Lord’s Supper. Such important truths need to be constantly refreshed in our minds, and we must remember that we are called to be holy people who are eager for good works and eternally grateful for God's grace.
The Israelites experienced no greater event in their history than being delivered from four hundred years of slavery and the redemption symbolized by the Passover lamb. Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us, and through the weekly feast of remembrance, we review the “once for all time” redemption that our Lord Jesus Christ paid for when He gave His life on our behalf.
What should we do when questions come up—how should we act? What is right if we are defiled by the death of another? Should we bring the offering or not? We are far away on a journey—should we keep the Passover or not? Circumstances can guide us on how and where, but God says, “Keep the Passover.” What if I can but choose not to bother because I am busy? Are you clean, not tainted by outside things? Are you at home—close enough to be there? Keep the Passover, or be cut off.
Life is busy - we're just getting used to this place. The garden we planted is growing well. The cattle are getting fat, and the sheep are ready to shear. The cloud rises, and you must move – despite circumstances. We’ve traveled far, and it’s time to rest. The cloud stops and lowers to rest over the Tabernacle that has just been set up, and everything is in its proper place. Ah, finally, some respite from the dust of animals and feet, but only a few days later, the cloud rises again, and it’s time to move once more. “Get the cows and sheep; move out. The cloud is moving forward.”
Another few miles toward our heavenly home, and we stop again. God knows the circumstances demand we take time to halt and be renewed in the spirit of our minds. Days and months of inactivity pass, except for the daily routine of life. For whatever reason, circumstances often dictate the stopping time. The night is dark, with moral and spiritual darkness all around us. Then suddenly, the divine light of the Holy Spirit tells us it is time to rise and go farther. “Get the children up. Gather the stock. Drop the tent. Circumstances demand we move out now. Don’t question God.” He knows what is best for us and may use circumstances to control our movements.
We don’t have to understand everything that God allows. We have to accept that He knows what is right and what is best for us. He can and does often use circumstances – good or bad to guide us in the way we should go. His will is that when we finally get home, we are ready, prepared, and want to step forward into the new land we will possess. Each step of the way is important to Him, even though it may seem hard to me. The circumstances God allows may be questioned at length, but when the journey is over and the goal has been reached, “each step on the road will seem nothing when we get to the end of the way.” It is to be expected that we obey the commands of the Lord through His word in the same way the Israelites were to be obedient to the commands the Lord gave them through Moses.