Adult STS Lesson 94 Commemoration Of The Passover And Divine Guidance  

MEMORY VERSE: “And they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel” (Numbers 9:5).                 

TEXT: Numbers 9:1-23; 10:1-36

At the inception of the children of Israel’s journey from Egypt, God gave them the ordinance to keep the Passover every first month of the Jewish year. “In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even” (Exodus 12:2,14-18; Deuteronomy 16:1). This is to be a yearly event in the month of Abib, which the Jewish first month of the year. Since they left Egypt, there has been no instruction for the observance of the ordinance until God instructed Moses to communicate its observance to the people. Their response to the divine command was prompt and commendable. This was the first commemoration since their departure from the land of bondage and was evidently to be a litmus test to prove their obedience and compliance with God’s instruction. To have a proper and orderly dissemination of information to His people, God gave them two trumpets to be used at different situations as the instructions required. By these instructions and supernatural guidance, God demonstrated His love and goodness for His people and showed that He is God of order. Today’s lesson shall examine the practice of the Passover as instituted by God, the privilege of divine guidance and the provision of trumpets to aid His chosen people.

1. THE PRACTICE OF THE PASSOVER IN THE CAMP

Numbers 9:1-14; Exodus 12:14-18; Numbers 28:16-25: Leviticus 23:5; Deuteronomy l6:1-8; Psalm 37:5: Proverbs 3:6; Matthew 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:23- 30

The Passover was instituted on the day Israel left Egypt and was intended to remind them of how God spared their firstborn while all the firstborn of the Egyptians, both human and beast, were killed, leading to their release from Egypt. The instruction for the observance of the Passover was explicit and detailed enough for them to understand (Exodus 12:14-18; Leviticus 23:5- 8). God commanded Moses to instruct them to “Let the children of Israel also keep the Passover at his appointed season. And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, that they should keep the Passover” (Numbers 9:2,4). Subsequently, they kept the Passover as appointed in the wilderness of Sinai “…according to all that the LORD Commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel” (Numbers 9:5). Expectedly, Israel’s obedience made them recipients of God’s manifold blessings. While the Passover was being observed in the camp, there were certain men who were defiled by the dead body of a man. For this reason, they came and reported themselves to Moses and Aaron as well as query why they could not join others to observe the ordinance. Then Moses took the matter to God to know what decision to take. There had been no explicit injunction regarding those who withdrew or failed to participate in the ordinance of God for whatever reason, and there had been no clear-cut penalty or punishment for such cases. Therefore, this case was taken back to God who gave the verdict: “…If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the Passover unto the LORD. The fourteenth day of the Second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it With unleavened bread and bitter herbs” (Numbers 9:10,11). Believers should always consult God to know His mind when taking decisions so as not to act contrary to His will. In addition, God’s verdict on the matter stressed further that: “…the man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the Passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people: because he brought not the offering of the LORD in his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin” (Numbers 9:13). It was equally added that strangers that will keep the Passover must follow the same process of observing it as true Israelites (Numbers 9:14; Exodus 12:48,49). This shows that God is an impartial God; His commandments apply to all. The implication of the Passover for the New Testament believer is the observance of the Lord’s Supper, which was instituted by Jesus Christ so that all believers can partake thereof regularly, to “shew the Lord’s death till he come”. As believers participate in this commemoration, we remember Christ’s sacrifice for us and our proper response to Him. The emblems used are “unleavened bread” and the juice of the “fruit of the vine”. The gospel according to Luke also shows the link between the Feast of Passover and the Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:7-20). This implies that just as the vicarious death of the Lord Jesus Christ replaced the sacrifice of the Aaronic or Levitical priesthood for atonement of sins, the Lord’s Supper has replaced the Feast of the Passover as an ordinance. We discern the Lord’s body during participation in the Lord’s Supper. This implies that we recognize that the emblems – the fruit of the vine and the unleavened bread – represent or symbolize the Lord’s broken body and His blood that was shed respectively. They are not the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ. This calls for holiness of life and solemnity on our part as we come to the Lord’s Table. More importantly, we must keep our total being worthy for it. Grave consequences can befall those who eat it unworthily. Anyone who eats and drinks unworthily brings “ damnation”, punishment and chastisement on himself (1 Corinthians 1l:23-30). Those who always feel disqualified to partake of the Lord’s table are not certain that they will be qualified for the rapture and the marriage supper of the Lamb.

2. PRIVILEGE OF DIVINE GUIDANCE

Numbers 9:15-23; 10:11-36; Exodus 13:21,22; 14:19; Romans 8:14

“And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning. So it was always: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night” (Numbers 9:15,16). The children of Israel had opportunity of being led and guided by the pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night from the beginning of their journey from Egypt. The pillar of cloud was to protect them from intense sunshine and to lead the way while the pillar of fire was to provide them with light and protect them by night (Exodus 13:21,22; 14:19). But on the day they reared the tabernacle in the wilderness of Sinai, the cloud covered the tabernacle by day and the appearance of fire by night until the morning. Whenever the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, the children of Israel resumed their journey and wherever or whenever the cloud stopped, the tabernacle and the children of Israel ceased to move. So long that the cloud hung around the tabernacle, the children of Israel remained in the tents. “At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents” (Numbers 9:18). What a privilege to be guided by the counsel of God’s word!. If believers yield and submit their will to God’s guidance and leadership, many untold mistakes, regrets and troubles will be averted in their lives. As the children of Israel continued their journey, Moses invited his father in-law to come along with them. “…We are journeying unto the place of which the LORD said, I will give it you: come thou with us, and we will do thee good: for the LORD hath spoken good concerning Israel” (Numbers 10:29). With this invitation, Hobab was not ready to follow but Moses persuaded him so that he could be of assistance to them being more familiar with the terrain. “…And thou mayest be to us instead of eyes” (Numbers 10:31). Moses promised to extend to Hobab whatever goodness God would do to them (Numbers 10:32). We are on a journey to an eternity with God in heaven, our Promised Land. As many Hobabs that cross our way, we are to encourage, persuade and motivate to come along with us to be part of the benefits of eternity in heaven. This is another way to accomplish the great commission. The journey lasted three days after they left Sinai and the cloud of the Lord went before them when the ark  set forward. “And it came pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee. And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel” (Numbers 10:35,36). AII the enemies of God shall be scattered and shall not be able to stand as God abides in the camp of His people. David recognized this fact. Therefore, he prayed in like manner: “Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength. Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the  presence of God” (Psalms 132:8; 68:1,2). Believers in the New Testament dispensation are guided by the Holy Spirit and the word of God through prayer (Romans 8:14,26; Psalm 119:105).

3. PROVISION OF TRUMPETS FOR PASSING INFORMATION IN THE CAMP

Numbers 10:1-10; Psalm 47:5; Jeremiah 4:5,19; Joel 2:1,15-17; Amos 3:6

God desired orderliness to be maintained and decency applied in all His dealings with His children in the camp. He said to Moses, “Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps” (Numbers 10:2). The two silver trumpets were employed effectively to coordinate the movement of the tribes in their onward through the wilderness to the Promised Land. The trumpets were to be used in warfare as well as to summon the people to solemn gatherings and worship. The trumpets and the clouds were divine complementary instruments used by God for guiding His people. They were to used for creating awareness and for divine purposes in the camp. They include:

One, to call all the assembly of the people to Moses at the door of the tabernacle.

Two, when only one trumpet is blown, it is to gather all the princes, the heads of thousands of Israel to Moses.

Three, they are to blow an alarm for camps to move when journey is to be made. The first blowing of an alarm is for movement of the camps lying on the eastern part of the camp, while the second is for movement of the camps lying on the south of the camp.

Four, when in battle against the enemy, they are to blow an alarm with the two trumpets for them to be remembered by God for their salvation from the hand of their enemies. “And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies” (Numbers 10:9).

Five, the trumpets are to be blown over their sacrifices in the days of their gladness, solemn days and in beginning of their months for a memorial before God. The calls are differentiated by the use of the trumpets. God arranged and appointed only the priests, the sons of Aaron, to be the trumpeters. Believers are to be orderly and well organized always and especially before God. Besides, they are to be regular trumpeters of God’s word by preaching the gospel to sinners.

QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW:

1. What is the Passover and when was it to be observed by the children of Israel was the purpose the Passover feast?
2. What was the purpose of the Passover feast?
3. What do you learn from the prompt obedience of the Israelites?
4. What do we learn from the men who reported themselves to Moses and Aaron after being defiled by a man’s dead body?
5. What should be the attitude of believers today before taking decisions over issues?
6. By what means can believers be guided and led today?
7. Mention the functions of the trumpets used in the camp and their significance to present-day believers.