“But there were certain people who had become unclean because of someone’s corpse, so that they could not observe Pesach on that day. So they came before Moshe and Aharon that day and said to him, “We are unclean because of someone’s corpse; but why must we be kept from bringing the offering for Adonai at the time designated for the people of Israel?”-Numbers 9:6-7
In verse 6 of Numbers Chapter Nine we are presented with quite an interesting scenario.
A couple of Israelites come up to Moses and report “We have become TAMEI LE-NEFESH due to touching a dead body“.
TAMEI LE-NEFESH is the Hebrew term for being in a state of defilement or being UNCLEAN.
These Israelites were wondering whether it would still be okay to observe the Passover due to their UNCLEAN state.
See, here’s the thing.
This 2nd Passover entailed sacrificing a lamb at the Tabernacle.
And according to Torah, anyone who is in an UNCLEAN state is NOT allowed to come near to God’s Sanctuary.
These men really wanted to keep the Passover but were worried they wouldn’t be able to.
So what does Moses do?
Simple, he asks God.
Herein also lies a lesson for us.
Are we confused about some matter in life or in our walk with the Lord?
Then simply ask God.
The answer God gives to Moses is as follows:
First, if they are UNCLEAN, they cannot celebrate Passover at the normally appointed time but they can observe Passover on the 14th of the following month and of course this comes with the caveat that they are CLEAN at that time.
Second, when they do observe Passover on the 14th of the following month, they are to eat the Passover Lamb along with bitter herbs and MATZAH (unleavened bread).
Third, they are not allowed to save any of the Passover lamb until the next morning nor can any one of the bones of the lamb be broken.
Interestingly, there is another condition that allows for the exception of observing Passover a month later.
It says if someone is on a “long” journey, they may also postpone the observance of Passover to the 14th of the following month.
These are the ONLY two exceptions.
Let’s next take a look at verse 13.
“But the person who is clean and not on a trip who fails to observe Pesach will be cut off from his people; because he did not bring the offering for Adonai at its designated time, that person will bear the consequences of his sin.”
Yikes!
If you take a flippant attitude towards observing Passover, you will be separated from God.
The words could not be any clearer.
So when Passover comes around, make sure you reserve your seat at your local synagogue and don’t make any ridiculous excuses that you can’t go there because they’re not Yeshua believers.
We all know in the future (possibly very near future) that the whole world will bow down to Messiah.
Now notice how this admonition is paired with the following command in 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.”
Did you catch that?
There is to be ONE law for BOTH the foreigner and the citizen of the land.
Let me make it clear.
Those gentiles who have decided to be grafted into Israel are now under the same status as the native-born Israelites.
ALL of the Torah will now apply to them and that will include both the blessings and the curses.
Both grafted in foreigners and the native-born are to operate under the same covenant.
And keep in mind that even those gentiles who do NOT wish to convert or be grafted into Israel, if they dwell with Israel, they also are required to observe Passover.
There ain’t no wiggle room here folks!
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