We’ve come to the point in our study where God has reminded Moses that all of His people living in the wilderness should stop to remember and observe The Passover.
It is an ordinance to be observed throughout all generations.
INTRODUCTION
Oh boy; today’s lesson also opens up a whole new can of worms for the writer/teacher of this weekly (every Thursday) bible study called COME AS A CHILD which is brought to you weekly by The IN SEASON Lifestyle blog.
For some reason we seem to ALWAYS be clarifying dates!
I am just as human as all of you; so pray for God to guide me and to help me never to miss-step or misunderstand some of these very detailed Torah teachings!
You should know by now that I am always happy to eat humble pie and correct myself when necessary; should I make mistakes in interpretation. It sometimes happens! I try to be as careful as possible.
Never once have I claimed to be an expert; only a faithful, passionate bible believing disciple of Jesus Christ.
DISCIPLESHIP ISN’T EASY
This week I find myself more akin to Peter than all of the other disciples; because he was the one who was always making huge mistakes and blundering out the wrong words.
I pray that God protects me from that, but believe me; there are many opportunities in these weekly lessons for the devil; who is constantly trying his best to trip up all of us.
With that said; today’s lessons held calendar complications for me, and I’ll be curious to see if you all are having some of the same thoughts.
If so; perhaps our confusion will be a good learning experience for everyone.
TISHRI AND NISAN CAN GET CONFUSING
Let me explain.
It is almost time for The Feast of Trumpets and one of the things we will be celebrating during that time is the turning of the new year on the Jewish calendar. A shofar made from a ram’s horn is traditionally blown in this observance which marks the beginning of the Jewish civic year.
However, there are two times each year (or more) when this theme of the “new year” happens; depending on what function of the calendar you are seeking to observe. Actually; if we want to get REAL technical; there are four times.
The 1st of Nisan is the new year for kings and festivals; the 1st of Elul is the new year for the cattle tithe, the 1st of Tishri is the new year for years, of the years of release and jubilee years, for the planting and for vegetables; and the 1st of Shevat is the new year for trees.
The two dates that can be most confusing in today’s lesson are those called 1 Nisan and 1 Tishrei because we call them both “new years.”
Nisan begins what I call the sacred new year (in the spring time) and Tishrei begins what I call the civil new year (in the fall season for us here in America.)
Nisan 1 is actually the ecclesiastical new year. We say Passover falls in the first month, meaning Nisan.
Then later we observe Rosh Hashanah (The Feast of Trumpets) and we say The Feast of Trumpets falls in the seventh month, beginning on Tishri 1 which is ALSO called a new year!
Let’s look further and see just how this thought could have side-tracked me in today’s lesson.
Today we are studying the passage found in Numbers Chapter 9.
The whole lesson begins by naming certain days and times that God wanted things to happen. This causes me to have to go into the very complicated aspects of the Jewish calendar; the one which I have chosen to observe each year.
WHY FOLLOW THE HEBRAIC CALENDAR?
I’m sure many of you will ask that very familiar question: since I am a Christian and NOT Jewish; why did I happen to pick this particular calendar to follow?
The answer is very simple. There are endless possibilities of calendars out there that all have SOME logic to them; but I picked this one because I think it is the one that Jesus used.
Honestly; that is my ONLY logic; and so far – it has not steered me wrong.
USING LUNAR LOGIC
The Jewish calendar is primarily lunar. Each month begins with the new moon.
Nisan is the first month of the Jewish calendar.
All of the months, (in consecutive order) are: Nissan, Lyar, Sivan, Tammuz, Av, Elul, Tishrei, Heshvan, Kislev, Tivet, Shevat and Adar.
We’ve just finished a whole study on things that one can meditate upon in the time of the month of Elul. This is the time leading up to The Feast of Trumpets; often called Rosh Hashanah.
Most of the time, this calendar is amazing and exciting to use.
A CALENDAR WITH MORE THAN ONE FUNCTION
But; in order not to get tripped up, you have to understand that this particular calendar has two main functions; a religious/sacred function and a civil/every-day life in the nation function.
To make it even more complicated; there are several other Jewish calendars that are for other specific things and special functions; such as a calendar for agriculture, and one for the blessing of the trees, etc.
Someone once explained it to me this way; nearly every thing in Israel has its own specific calendar; and the calendar is set up according to individual things instead of grouping everything together into one set of dates. Trees have their own calendar. Agricultural activities have their own calendar. Government has its own calendar. Religion has its own calendar. A few times during the year; the calendars seem to collide.
Each separate calendar kept by all for different individual reasons, can start and stop on very different dates.
For example; it would be like having one calendar like the one we use in America today that tells us when the civil year starts and stops (January 1 and December 31); then another calendar that starts on our personal and individual birthdays (say you were born in June, the first day of that calendar would be June 1) and that calendar tells when the year of our birthday starts and stops (June1 and May 30th). Each person would have their own birthday calendar. The starting and stopping dates might not be the same for each calendar. This civil calendar starts on the first day of the civil year and the (imaginary) personal birthday calendar starts on the first day of the year in which a person is born. Each beginning and ending would be different from the other – though the corresponding months might be named the same names and have the same amount of days. The functions of the calendars would be totally different. (Just an imaginary example – PLEASE do not suggest we do this!)
THE TWO ANNUAL NEW YEARS OF ISRAEL
Nisan is the first month of the Jewish religious calendar. (It is one of two “first months.”)
Nisan 1 is the first day of the Jewish/Hebraic SACRED Year.
Tishri is the 7th month on this calendar, but Tishrie it is considered to be the Jewish CIVIL New Year. (It is the other one of the two “first months.”) Tishrie 1 starts the new civil year; even though it is the seventh month on the calendar; it is the FIRST MONTH of the civil year.
So you see there are two annual “new years.” One is SACRED and one is CIVIL.
You use each date according to its purpose and function.
The SACRED day is a religious holy day.
The CIVIL day is a day observed by the citizens of the land according to its governing authorities.
Is that a bit more clear now? Can you see the two observances and know that they are very different in nature; but in some ways they would relate to one another too?
REMEMBERING CREATION DAY
As well as the first day for a new civil year; Tishrie 1 is also considered to be the remembrance day for God’s creation of the world.
During the month of Tishri (which happens in the fall) the civil year is changing, and the civil calendar notes a CIVIL observance of a new civil year. At the time of that change we are also remembering something sacred; our Creator; God, who gave us the world and all that is within it. This last part of the day is a SACRED observance.
Another CIVIL part of Tishrie (the seventh month of the Jewish calendar) is the fact that it is the time for the coronation of kings. This calendar sets the times of the reigns of new governments and the dates when a new government takes power over the nation. This always happens (or starts) on Tishri 1; and it is considered the beginning of a new CIVIL year. These dates coincide with Rosh Hashanah, or The Feast of Trumpets, which also takes place in Tishri on Tishri 1; but it is a SACRED observance.
DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN CIVIL AND SACRED TIMES
There is this whole mix of civil and sacred recognition going on with both of these calendar functions that contain the same set of months.
When Tishrei 1 celebrates the new civil year; then you have to be careful not to mix it up with Nisan 1; which is the first day of the SACRED new year. Each function has its own new year.
HOLY DAYS AND HOLIDAYS
This Jewish calendar observes seven sacred holy days and two civil holidays.
The seven sacred holy days are: Passover, Unleavened Bread, Early-FirstFruits, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement and Tabernacles.
There is also a second Passover which is set aside for those who find it necessary to be traveling during the regular date and time of Passover. (More on that will be explained later in today’s lesson)
There are two Civil Holidays on this calendar: Hanukkah and Purim.
The Sacred/Religious Holy Days are the times that God appointed.
The civil/ordinary holidays are days that mankind has appointed.
I say “appointed” because I mean it literally.
UNCHANGABLE APPOINTMENTS TO KEEP
The word in Hebrew for “seasons” actually means “appointed times.” It doesn’t refer to what we typically call “spring,” “fall,” “winter,” and “summer.”
I firmly believe that God appointed special times to meet with humanity.
You can’t shift or change those times.
God appointed them; they are HIS appointments and it is NOT up to our individual discretion to rearrange or re-schedule them.
They will happen when they happen; according to God’s appointment.
They are sacred, set-apart times.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to explain this to family when issuing invitations for them to come to family observances of God’s feast and festivals. They say things like “we are not going to be available on that date; can’t we just do it two days before or after?”
This is how their world in the modern day calendar of America usually operates.
But I have to answer:
“No – we can’t!”
It isn’t up to us. We are meeting God at His invitation. He picked the dates and times. He will be there when He said He would be there. If we miss him and his times – we miss them.
You can’t make them up later!
This causes me to think about how God NEVER missed the appointed times when He was doing things that saved us.
Why can’t we take that hint?
GOD HAS NEVER MISSED AN APPOINTED TIME
What if Jesus had said; “Okay, I realize that the crucifixion is set for this certain date; but I have something else to do that day; maybe my Father will move it?????
Nope!
Never.
Jesus KNEW that God made appointments and set them in place and the dates always mattered. Even the crucifixion could not be delayed or moved up. Neither could the Resurrection!
God has had a plan since the beginning of time. He set it in motion from creation and it can’t be changed. God never changes.
If you move or change one date; you mess up all of the others.
For example; the Sabbaths are appointments that happen every seven days. If you change them; you stand up God on his day. It isn’t our decision. You can’t get them back. When they are gone – they are gone.
It is just that simple; and it is just that hard for our human logic to understand.
We can’t change the sacred things that God set into motion from the foundation of the world no matter how much we want to try.
If you want to go even further into this subject you can also consider the fact that God’s Sabbath Years and Jubilee years can’t be changed either. Each date has it’s appointed time to happen. The Sabbath Years are ALWAYS seven years apart; and the Jubilee Years are ALWAYS 50 years apart.
THE CIVIL HOLIDAYS ARE HISTORICAL MEMORIALS
The Civil Holidays that are on the Jewish calendar are days when men recognize and memorialize significant events in history ; yet sometimes even these dates might have memories associated with our relationship with our Creator; God.
Hanukkah and Purim both were actual historical events that happened on certain dates in time; but God did not designate that we celebrate them when he was giving his “appointed times” to Moses.
Perhaps God did not bring them up because they were still yet to happen. There is nothing at all wrong with remembering them; as a matter of fact God was IN those days; so it is GOOD to remember them.
The people in the times of Moses had enough trouble just understanding and keeping the days that God had already given them. These days of future events are not commanded to be kept; like the seven holy days.
Though; God DID command us to keep the seven holy days forever.
Any other times that our cultures could celebrate would pale in comparison with God’s given dates and celebrations that were appointed in time.
BE VERY CAREFUL OF MANKIND’S DATES
Some dates; like Purim and Hannukah are fine to remember and celebrate; they are history where God’s people were victorious. It is a lot like celebrating Independence Day in America. God is all for freedom! Jesus died to set us free.
Keep in mind though that many of the other dates of history where men have been decided to remember and celebrate each year are often full of errors or missed-truths. Most of these days that are not “appointed by God” have been twisted and turned into things that are deceptive. They are often used by God’s enemies to destroy the whole meaning of God’s plans for his people.
So; we must be very careful and prayerful with the observance of the days and times set by the people of the world. It is important to be sure they fit into God’s ways.
THE FIRST MONTH OF THE SECOND YEAR
Finally we can get to the heart of today’s lesson.
The passage we study today starts out by speaking of the fact that God spoke to Moses in the dessert on the “first month” of the second year after they came out of Egypt.
My humble interpretation of this statement would be that God spoke to Moses after the people had been in the wilderness for a whole year. It was about to be the anniversary of their coming out of Egypt and they had left Egypt at the time of Passover. Passover happened in the “first month” of Nisan.
God simply seems to be reminding Moses that the people shouldn’t forget the significance of The Passover; that they should remember it always, from year to year, in the time that He had officially appointed; which was after sunset on the 14th day of Nissan.
OBSERVE THE PASSOVER
God reminded Moses that the Passover should be remembered with all of its rules and regulations.
The Israelites listened to Moses and did as God commanded them to do.
There were some men there however that were ceremonially unclean from touching or being around a dead body.
Remember what had happened to Nadab and Abihu?
They were careless and didn’t keep the commandments of God concerning the rituals at his altar and remember what happened? They died on the spot!
WORSHIP MUST BE PLEASING TO GOD
This horrific fact had apparently made a great impression on all of the people, and these men wanted to be sure they didn’t do ANYTHING to displease God.
As a matter of fact, some of the old sages believe these were the same men who had been assigned to carry the two dead corpses of Nadab and Abihu outside the camp and burn them.
No wonder they were being so careful!
They were pretty smart to go to Moses and seek out answers as to whether or not they were considered “unclean” before God and whether or not their sacrifices would be allowed on that day.
Moses listened to their stories and then he asked them to wait while he spoke to God for answers to their questions.
GOD SHOULD ALWAYS BE CONSULTED WHEN THINGS ARE CONFUSING
God told Moses that these men would be able to celebrate the Passover; but they were to wait until exactly one month after the regular time to do so.
They were to keep the whole ritual for the Passover – only one month later than everyone else.
This was also true for anyone who had the necessity of a journey at the time of the Passover. They could celebrate one month later; with no problem; God would then accept their offerings.
This alternative action must have been a relief to these men. There were consequences for those who did not keep the celebration of the Passover; consequences that would cost them and their families in personal blessings.
These men had seen the consequences of not keeping Passover back in Egypt too; they knew that God meant what he said and he expected the people to follow his commands at all costs.
They were probably very relieved to know that God still wanted to meet with them and that He would make special allowances just to do so.
Why would anyone be surprised to know we serve a God of grace and love?
CONSEQUENCES FOR THOSE WHO DID NOT CARE ENOUGH TO ACKNOWLEDGE GOD’S APPOINTED TIME
The real problem would happen to those who WERE clean but were not on a necessary journey and who did NOT come up to bring their sacrifices for the Passover.
God looks at the intentions of our hearts. Remember how the Egyptians did not care what God said? Would his own people be so bold as to do this? Yet; in today’s modern world this happens annually.
This type of situation WAS NOT acceptable before God and there were no allowances made for these attitudes. Such careless people as this would suffer the consequences; and such people would be cut off from their people.
BEING CUT OFF
Being cut off meant staying outside the camp.
You were not guaranteed meals and you had to sleep on the hard ground.
Being cut off meant you had no shelter and you were not afforded the protection of the nation’s army.
You basically were on your own until you could be allowed back inside with your people. There were no visits from friends and relatives and loved ones who were still living inside the camp. It was not allowed.
MORE QUESTIONS FOR GOD TO ANSWER
There was also the question of what to do about the foreigners traveling along with them; those who were dwelling among them at the time of the Passover.
God told Moses that the foreigners were welcomed to celebrate the Passover as long as they observed all of its proper rules and regulations.
Both the native and the foreigner were to appear before God at Passover as equals and they all would be treated in the same way.
And so it was that Moses and the People of God obeyed the commandments and kept the Passover as they traveled in the wilderness.
WHY WAS I CONFUSED ABOUT DATES?
Okay, this was all pretty straightforward; right?
Then why was I so concerned about the calendar for the dates of the appointed times that are mentioned here?
Because I knew that Tishri 1 is the time for Rosh Hashanah/The Feast of Trumpets; and I didn’t want to mix up Passover and Trumpets!
Both of them seemed to be beginning on “the first day of the month” of the “new year,” and it was a bit confusing at first glance.
That issue was solved though by realizing that Tishri (which is fast approaching with The Feast of Trumpets) is a civil new year; and Nisan (which was during the time of the spring that brought the Passover which this passage speaks about) is the Sacred/religious new year.
Sometimes I forget that the Jewish people arrange their calendars by functions instead of everything being mixed up into one big calendar.
I have to stop and remember that there are dates for civil things and there are dates for sacred things and they both sometimes follow different calendars or fall on separate calendar months within the same calendar.
In this case the names or referred words that describe the months of the calendar are the same; but the order (or the numbers) of the civil and sacred months are different. Tishrei is both the first month (for the civil calendar) and the seventh month (for the sacred calendar.) The civil year starts in one month and the sacred year starts in another month, but these same months are all on the same calendar.
THE SACRED YEAR STARTS WITH NISAN AND ENDS WITH TISHRI
It does seem important and it makes perfect sense that the sacred year starts with something as amazing as Passover; so now that I have resolved and clarified the two separate and distinct calendar months and their dates in this dilemma; it all makes perfect sense.
The other confusing fact here, which often comes up in this type of conversation; is the fact that Abib is a time that often coincides with or near the Jewish month of Nisan. It is simply the name of a month of yet another calendar. It refers to the state of the harvest, and it comes from a calendar that follows the patterns of the harvest and the agricultural seasons.
Don’t let that throw you off.
SOMETIMES NISAN AND ABIB ARE INTERCHANGEABLE
Often the two months called Nisan and Abib are interchangeable in meaning. This also has to do with how the calendar times were kept during the days of the Babylonian captivity. Some of those patterns followed into the calendars of the people later in history.
At the present we have no real need to go further into this sometimes over-whelming discussion, which can get very complicated.
Whew! I’m relieved to know that!
THE POINT IS TO REMEMBER TO KEEP PASSOVER AND ALL OF ITS RULES
The point here is to understand that God commanded all of his people to remember the Passover; and he reminded Moses of this even though they were out in the dessert.
God is ALWAYS offended if his people neglect to observe this very important and sacred day.
We must never forget!
PASSOVER OBSERVANCE IS FOR EVERYONE
The other point we must be sure to mention here is that God gave the observance of The Passover and all of its saving graces to everyone.
Natives and foreigners alike are encouraged to come before God each spring with their offerings in order to worship and remember the miracles of how God saves and delivers all of humanity who are simply willing to come to Him and ask for His help and accept his marvelous, saving grace.
In this wilderness journey through the world; God’s people must be hospitable and invite all people to come into the Kingdom and celebrate God’s deliverance and salvation!