Thursday, October 1, 2020

Numbers Nine

What does it say?
The people observed the passover feast, at twilight, on the fourteenth day, of the second year after the exodus from Egypt. There were some who could not observe the passover because of uncleanness from a dead body. Therefore, an exception was granted for uncleanness or being on a journey during the passover. For these persons, the passover could be observed one month later. All should observe the passover. On the day that the tabernacle was erected, the cloud of the Lord covered the tabernacle and appeared as fire by night. When they cloud lifted they followed and when the cloud settled they camped. Thus, the sons of Israel followed the Lord in the wilderness and were commanded through Moses. 

What does it mean?
The Lord God is not unreasonable in his expectations of his people. He does not consider inability sin but considers unwillingness as sin. The Lord had taken the sons of Israel out of slavery in Egypt. He passed over the first born of Israel but not the first born in Egypt. The houses that had the blood of the lamb on its post were passed over. Therefore, the passover feast was done in remembrance. We do not observe this passover but we observe another feast and are commanded by the Lord to do so. We are to gather as a body and eat the bread and drink the wine in remembrance of what the Lord Jesus Christ did for us. The sons of Israel followed the Lord in the desert and were commanded by the Lord through Moses. We have the written word of the Lord and have the Holy Spirit to guide us. The Lord appeared as a cloud by day and as fire by night. We have the two hands of the Lord to guide us. The two hands of the Lord are the Bible and the Holy Spirit.

What Shall I do?
I shall not forsake assembling with the brothers and sisters in Christ. I am guided by the word in the Spirit but I am not to walk through this life alone. We are to meet together as one body in love. Jesus broke the bread and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” After eating, Jesus took the cup and said, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” We are to eat the bread and drink the wine together, as one body, in remembrance of the Lord until he returns. Those who are sick or not able to come to the assembly should have the communion take to them. Do not forget the elderly. They should not be penalized because they are unable. However, unwillingness is another matter. I shall not forsake assembling with the brethren.