Week 51, Day 4: The Cloud & Fire
Today’s Reading: Numbers 9:1-23
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
We are told in this chapter that after Moses erected the tabernacle the cloud covered it. I am often amazed at the thought of this. Here Israel has a very visual symbol of God’s presence among them. This was not some cloud that just happened to linger over the tabernacle. It settle onn the tabernacle and at night it was replaced by fire. And yet how could Israel later doubt that God would be with them in overtaking the promised land or would provide for them in the wilderness. I am just amazed by this thought. A cloud by day and fire by night is over the tabernacle. When people talk about miracles being linked to people being able to have faith I sometimes think about things like this. Here is yet again another thing through which God showed Israel that He was with them and yet they were disbelieving. It was not enough for them. Those who put so much stock in miracles ought to recognize this. If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets then neither would they listen even if someone came back from the dead (a miracle).
This cloud and fire over the tabernacle was a good way for God to tell Israel when they are to travel further or stay put.
Question: When were people allowed to “make up” for missing the passover feast? Some will use verses 6-12 in teaching about the second serving of the Lord’s supper. What is different between permission being given by God for observing the Passover at a later date and a church observing the Lord’s supper at a second time or at a later date?
Week 40, Day 3: The Passover
Today’s Reading: Exodus 12:1-51
Some thoughts from the reading…
The Passover is instituted by the events of the last sign. The destroyer was going to be sent by God to kill all the firstborn of the Egyptians and the cattle. But because of God’s provisions, the blood of the lamb on the door posts and lintel would mark the house as needing to be passed over. Thus God provided a way for His people to be spared. It was His mercy that spared them but they were also commanded to complete this action or else the destroyer would come upon them.
The manner in which they were to eat this meal reflected the coming urgency for them to leave quickly. God knew the Egyptians would drive them out right away once the firstborns were killed. Thus Israel ate of the passover lamb dressed ready to go. They were driven out with such haste that they did not have time to leaven their bread or make preparations fo their journey. This is where eating unleavened bread during the passover comes. It reflects the haste in which Israel left Egypt. God provided the passover meal for them to have, I believe, strength for their long journey into the wilderness. Notice that not a bone of the passover lamb was to be broken. Also, the lamb could be a sheep or a goat (vs 5).
In the NT we see the Lord instituting the Lord’s Supper after He and His disciples had partaken of the passover feast together. The bread they would have had for this feast is known to be unleavened bread. A outside the church would not understand why the bread used in the Lord’s Supper is different until examining the commands for the passover.
It is interesting to look at the parallels between the passover and the giving of Jesus as our sacrificial lamb. The blood of the passover lamb was used to spare those inside the house. Not a bone was to be broken. The lamb had to be unblemished. All of these concepts are reflected in the death of Jesus. I find it fascinating to see such similarities in the scriptures. God has planned things so that we can understand the importance and significance of such events. And yet so many religious people today do not know about such things. Why? Because they are not people of the word. If all we talk about are stories that make people feel good or leave worship services saying that was an uplifting sermon, then people will not see the beauty of God’s word. There will always be more to learn from God’s word, but let us not be accused of failing to appreciate God’s word and desiring to meditate upon the things it contains. Many today will suffer because they have a lack of knowledge. But they are not lacking because they are incapable of learning. Rather it is a lack of knowledge because of no effort. Prove yourself a disciple who does not need to be ashamed.
Sacrificing the Passover Lamb
This morning in Chad’s lesson, he mentioned the fact that worship is for God, and according to what He demands, not what men want to do. As an example, he mentioned the sacrificing of animals under the Old Testament covenant. It was not a pleasant thing to do, and certainly not something that people would “enjoy” doing, save for the fact that it was commanded by God. This reminded me of a video that I saw referenced on Jason Hardin’s blog, which is actual video footage of the sacrificing of a Passover lamb. I know that we are not to follow the Old Testament covenant today, but I thought it would be beneficial to see such a graphic video, showing what the Israelites were supposed to do in offering a lamb.
I want to warn you that the video is quite graphic. However, I think it is worth your while to watch it. I think we are separated by time and practice far too much to really realize what sacrifice was. If you watch the video, you will see a lamb offered, and you will see it die. But, that is what God required. It often turns our stomachs to even think of such a thing. Imagine this being done on a large scale on the day of atonement. Look at the amount of blood that is collected from just one lamb, and think of how much had to be collected when hundreds of animals were sacrificed!
After watching the video, I would really like for you to post your thoughts in the comments section. What comes to your mind? What if you had to do what God demanded under the Old Testament covenant?