Today we begin Numbers Chapter 9.
For the Complete Jewish Bible, click here.
For the King James version, click here.
The very first topic introduced in Numbers Chapter 9 is PESACH (Passover).
This is the second PESACH or Passover that Israel will celebrate.
The very first Passover took place on that dreadful night in Egypt when the Lord slew all the firstborns who were NOT protected by the blood of the Lamb whether Hebrew or Egyptian.
This is one God-principle we must not overlook.
Although the Passover instructions were given ONLY to Israel, the truth is any family living in Egypt of any nationality who trusted YHWH enough to apply the blood of the lamb to their doorposts were spared death.
And the opposite also applied.
If there were any Hebrew families who did NOT apply the blood of the lamb to their doorposts, they did not escape death.
Let’s not forget that when Israel left Egypt, a “mixed multitude” left with them.
There were those who officially “converted” by pledging their lives to the God of Israel.
And there were others who never joined and became one with Israel but nevertheless decided they wanted to dwell among God’s chosen people after witnessing the awesome power the God of Israel had displayed.
There were basically three categories of people who left Egypt:
-The native-born Hebrews
-Gentiles who wished to change their identity and become Hebrews (in other words converts)
-Gentiles who did NOT want to convert but still wanted to live among the Israelites
In Scripture, the Bible calls those foreigners who wished to convert to become Hebrews as “sojourners“.
And those Gentiles who wished to retain there identity but still live in Israel were called either “strangers” or “resident aliens“.
I would say Gentile Yeshua believers today would fall under the second category, in other words those who changed their identity by literally being grafted into Israel.
Now take a look at verse 14.
“If a foreigner is staying with you and wants to observe Pesach for Adonai, he is to do it according to the regulations and rules of Pesach — you are to have the same law for the foreigner as for the citizen of the land.“
This actually applied to BOTH the Gentile converts and the resident aliens (those foreigners who didn’t necessarily want to convert but still wanted to live in Israel).
So here in Numbers 9, we’re being given instructions to commemorate the first Passover that took place in Egypt.
From here on out, all Passovers will be be remembrances of the actual historical event that took place when the Lord’s avenging angel slew all the unprotected firstborn.
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