Numbers 9

Devotional:
A year after Israel’s departure from Egypt, the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai. In the first month of that year he said, “Tell the Israelites to celebrate the Passover at the prescribed time, (Numbers 9:1-2)

God instructs the people to celebrate the Passover, remembering how He brought them out of Egypt, and to do so “according to all its statutes and ordinances” (vs. 3); it was not to be celebrated according to the designs of people, but according to God’s guidelines. God also gives a provision here for those who would not be able to celebrate the Passover because they were ceremonially unclean — they were to celebrate it the following month and follow the same guidelines (vs. 6-12). The celebration of the Passover was so important that someone would be “cut off from his people” if they failed to honor it (vs. 13). Are we this upset if we must miss a Sabbath or sacrament? Do we put the same importance on the same kinds of things that God does?

Pray it:
Father, thank you for the tangible reminders of the Sabbath Day and the sacraments of baptism and communion to serve as signs and seals of your activity in not just making me, but also saving me through Christ. Help me not to take these gifts lightly and to find renewal and encouragement in them. Amen.

Share it:
Who is someone you can share a verse or thought from this passage with?