Chapter 9

Passover celebrated in the 2nd year, first month, 14th day of the month.  This was the first celebration of the Passover following erection and sanctification of the Tent of Meeting. 

Those ceremonially unclean or out of town would celebrate it one month later.

From this point on, a cloud covered the tabernacle by day, and fire covered it at night.  I think these were constant signs that God was dwelling right in their midst.

2025 - This verse:

3 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." [Num 9:3 ESV].  At twilight on the fourteenth.  At sundown the next day would begin.  So they killed the Passover lamb at twilight - past sundown but before dark is how I think of twilight - cook it and eat it that night - so they ate pretty late that day - and then went to bed.  Since it was twilight, past sundown, it was technically the start of a new day.  Jesus had to have died before sundown though, else he was in the grave two days and not three - by Jewish reckoning.  By our reckoning, he died on Friday, was in the grave all of Saturday, and rose sometime after midnight and before sunup on Sunday.

2025 - How many lambs were needed for that first Passover in the desert?  We know there were more than 600,000 mean able to go to war.  Even if a lot were still unmarried and in their father's homes, surely at least half a million lambs would have been required.  How big is a flock of sheep from which half a million lambs can be taken each year, and yet the flock continues to increase?  And remember, they were taking the "perfect" lambs, the best of the flock, removing them from the gene pool.

2022 - These verses:

"18 At the command of the LORD the people of Israel set out, and at the command of the LORD they camped. As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. 19 Even when the cloud continued over the tabernacle many days, the people of Israel kept the charge of the LORD and did not set out. 20 Sometimes the cloud was a few days over the tabernacle, and according to the command of the LORD they remained in camp; then according to the command of the LORD they set out. 21 And sometimes the cloud remained from evening until morning. And when the cloud lifted in the morning, they set out, or if it continued for a day and a night, when the cloud lifted they set out. 22 Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out, but when it lifted they set out." [Num 9:18-22 ESV]

I put in quite a few verses today because I think you need them all to make the point.  Just look at how many times these verses say to wait on God!  Half a day, 24 hours, many days, a few days, two days, a month, or even longer.  Until God said to move, Israel did not move.  They watched the cloud, they were attentive to God's leading, and they moved ONLY when God decided to move.  What a great lesson for us also.  Ever feel like your prayers are not being answered?  That means the cloud is still in place.  Wait for it.  Feel like God wants you to get out there and do something, but you can't figure out what?  The cloud is not moving, wait for the cloud.  What do we do when we are frustrated and chomping at the bit to move ahead?  We watch the cloud, and we study, and we pray even more, and we minister right here where we're standing, and then we check the cloud again.  But we stay put until that cloud moves, because that is what God wills!

Possible FB post for 4/25/22.

This verse ends the next section:

23 At the command of the LORD they camped, and at the command of the LORD they set out. They kept the charge of the LORD, at the command of the LORD by Moses. [Num 9:23 ESV]

Vss 16-23 seem like repetitions of the same information, over and over.  Seems like about six times it repeats itself.  What is the purpose of this repetition?  MSB says of vs 23 that it shows that at this time in her history, Israel was obeying God, right down to being ready to move anytime He commanded, or to stop and stay as long as He did.  This was an obedient time.  So maybe the redundancy emphasizes the complete submission of Israel to the covenants they had made with God, and to His daily leading.  No matter what, whether they saw a reason for the delay, or a reason for hurry, didn't matter.  They followed as God led.  Had to be frustrating at times.  Had to always be convenient for some and very inconvenient for others.  But they followed God's commands.  Good FB post here. 

2021 - Imagine this lifestyle.  You had be ready and able to pack everything you owned in a short while on any given morning, 24/7/365, and move out to parts unknown.  I doubt they had a lot of non-essential belongings.  No one had a swimming pool.  Wouldn't this also go a long way to leveling the playing field between the rich and the poor?  The rich might have some nicer things on the bookshelf in their tent, and maybe they had a few slaves to help carry more stuff than the common people, but this could only go so far.  Should we strive to live like that?  To limit what we have to the essentials and then give the rest away to those in need?  The whole minimalist thing going on right now and the tiny house craze and such - is all that the beginning of some kind of revival, or a return to these days in the desert?