11: Passover and Clouds’ Leading in Wilderness (Num 9)

In the first month of the second year of Exodus, the Lord asked them to keep the Passover for the first time after leaving Egypt.

๐Ÿ‘‰ Read Numbers 9:1-23

In the Jewish calendar, the Passover was 1/14. God allowed those who could not participate in the 1/14 Passover to keep the second Passover. When is the second Passover?


What will happen to those who intentionally don’t keep the Passover?


How did God guide their travel in the wilderness?


They camped at the (            ) of the Lord, and at the (            ) of the Lord, they traveled on.

Answers and Meditation

The fourteenth day of the second month

 

He must be cut off from his people.

Excommunication is the second most severe punishment.

If you don’t keep the Passover without reason, you don’t take the importance of God’s deliverance from Egypt as much as you should. The Passover deliverance made the Israelite community exist and identified them as God’s people. Therefore, anyone who doesn’t keep the Passover doesn’t deserve to belong to the community.

The Passover is like the Holy Communion for Christians.

 

By the clouds

The Bible repeatedly says they should depart and camp as the clouds lead. And it is the way the Lord led them. Following the clouds was obeying the Lord’s commandment.

Some places will be better to stay, but they must depart when the clouds lift up. Some places might have difficulty getting water, so people don’t want to stay there. However, as long as the clouds stay there, they should stay.

 

Commandment


As we live in this wilderness, there are two things to remind. 

1. We should not forget the sacrifice of the cross that makes us to be God's people.

2. We should follow God's guidance. The wilderness is not the final destination. Thus, they need to move on. They needed the guidance of the Lord by the clouds. As the clouds was God's method to guide them, the Word of God is God's method to guide us. You might have a preference for places and works; however, make His will to be the highest priority.

If you don't have any vision or goal for God's kingdom, you don't need any guidance from Him.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

25: ‘Tell us plainly’ vs ‘The Father and I are one.’ (John 10:22 – 42)

As Jesus announced the Father and Jesus were one, the Jewish leaders tried to stone him. ๐Ÿ‘‰ Read John 10:22 - 42 Q1. Why did the Jewish leaders not believe in Jesus? Answers ๐Ÿ‘‰ They refused to believe in Jesus, for they were not Jesus’ sheep. ‘you refused to believe.’ This tells their willing refusal.  Note that Jesus Himself doesn’t call Himself the Messiah. Instead, He called Himself the One sent from God. He focused on doing the Father’s works and proclaiming His words. From Jesus’ works, they could have concluded that He was the Messiah sent from God. But they refused to admit it. Instead, they asked Jesus to admit His identity as the Messiah plainly, which Jesus wouldn’t do. Q2. They asked Jesus if He were the (           ). But Jesus claimed that the (          ) and He are one. Because of this, they condemned Him of (             ) and tried to stone Him. Answer ๐Ÿ‘‰ They asked Jesus if He were the ( Christ ). But Jesus claimed that the ( Father  ) and He are one
Read more

26: Other Laws concerning human life (#6 no murder) (Deut 21:1 – 22:8)

The command ‘do not murder’ should be extended to its full measure and completeness. They needed to remove the guilt of unresolved murder, keep the dignity of the female slave, respect the patrilineal inheritance, and preserve various lives. ๐Ÿ‘‰ Read Deuteronomy 21:1 - 22:8 When a homicide victim is found, and no one knows the murderer, the elders of the nearest town must do a ritual of atonement through the death of a heifer. What is the purpose of doing so? (7-9) If you had made your female slave your wife, you can divorce her but not (             ) her. For a man with two wives, if his less-loved wife’s son is the firstborn, let him inherit the (            ) portion. He should not show favoritism according to his affection for one of his wives. When a son doesn’t listen to his parent, he is like a glutton and (             ). Why should they not leave the corpse on the tree of execution overnight? When you see someone’s lost possession, do not (           ) it. You must not re
Read more

35: I am the True Vine. You are the Branches (John 15:1 – 17)

Image
The vine tree analogy so vividly illustrates our relationship with Jesus. As the branches of a vine share the life of the vine, we share and live from Jesus’ life. ๐Ÿ‘‰ Read John 15:1 - 17 Q1. Why do we need to remain in Jesus? (2, 4) Answers ๐Ÿ‘‰ To bear fruit. God takes away any branch that doesn’t bear fruit. We might debate the security of salvation: do we lose our salvation if we bear no fruit? However, it is better to focus on how to bear fruit rather than how to get salvation.  “You are clean already.” It would refer to a born-again status, a rightful relationship with the Father, one who bathed (13:10). John uses the imagery of cleanness for salvation. In the OT bible, one should be ritually clean to stand before God.  When we believe Jesus’ gospel, we are reconciled with the Father. Though sinners, we can approach God by Jesus’ blood. The pruning (lit. cleaning) (2) of our life is to make us bear more fruit. “Remain”: You should stay, not stop by. No plant produces fruit
Read more