NUMBERS LESSON 13


     We will begin this lesson in Numbers 9:1 "And the LORD spake unto
Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second
year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,"

     This gives a specific time, which precedes much that we have
already been reading.

     Numbers 9:2 "Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at
his appointed season."

     Passover is to celebrate the night the Hebrews were spared from
the loss of their firstborn in Egypt. Death passed over the houses
that had the blood of a lamb over the door. At the very same time
every year, they were to remember that night, and be thankful to God.
The passover had been made an ordinance forever, but we do not read
where they kept it during their wilderness wanderings. All of this was
a type and shadow of our passover Lamb {Jesus Christ}. I Corinthians
5:7 "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as
ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:"
I Corinthians 5:8 "Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old
leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the
unleavened [bread] of sincerity and truth."

     Numbers 9:3 "In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye
shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of
it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it."

     The law did not leave any room for excuses for not keeping the
passover. Notice {at even}. This passover was a shadow of the great
passover, when the Lamb of God shed His blood for all mankind. The
Jewish day began at approximately 6 in the evening and continued to 6
the next evening. This is how Jesus ate passover with His disciples
just after 6. He was captured and tried during the night. At 9 A.M. in
the morning, He was Crucified. At 3 that afternoon, He commanded His
Spirit to leave His body. He was the Passover Lamb before 6 on the
very same day He had eaten with the disciples. All of these things
happened between 6 P.M. and 6 P.M. He was even in the tomb before 6
P.M. This day is a day God had set aside for this purpose. To vary the
day, is to disbelieve. This 14th day in their first month is very
similar to our April. Our date varies, because the Jews month changes
with the full moon.

     Numbers 9:4 "And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, that
they should keep the passover."

     That very first passover should be fresh in their minds. They
should remember well the passover which brought them new life. Moses
tells the people to keep passover.

     Numbers 9:5 "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."

     This was the first remembrance of that passover. They did as
Moses commanded.

     Numbers 9:6  "And there were certain men, who were defiled by the
dead body of a man, that they could not keep the passover on that day:
and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day:"

     Many believe the two men to be Mishael and Elizaphan, who had
just recently buried Nadab and Abihu. Those who touched a dead body
were considered unclean for seven days.

     Numbers 9:7 "And those men said unto him, We [are] defiled by the
dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer
an offering of the LORD in his appointed season among the children of
Israel?"

     They had been out of the camp, because of their uncleanness. They
did the right thing, coming to inquire what they should do.

     Numbers 9:8 "And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will
hear what the LORD will command concerning you."

     It appears, there had been no ordinance pertaining to this
specific thing at this time. Moses inquired of God, what should be
done.

     Numbers 9:9  "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"

     When Moses inquired of the LORD, He answered him immediately.

     Numbers 9:10 "Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, 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."

     Even these things of separation do not exempt a person from
keeping passover. The handling of this situation set a pattern for
generations to come. They were setting a precedent.

     Numbers 9:11 "The fourteenth day of the second month at even they
shall keep it, [and] eat it with unleavened bread and bitter [herbs]."

     The only adjustment God made for them, was a one month delay of
observing. The very same requirements, of unleavened bread and bitter
herbs, are to be eaten.

     Numbers 9:12 "They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor
break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover
they shall keep it."

     This symbolizes the body of the Lord Jesus. Jesus had no broken
bones, so the bones were not to be broken in this sacrifice. Exodus
12:46 "In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth
ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a
bone thereof."  John 19:36 "For these things were done, that the
scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken."
Every aspect of the passover was to be kept, but one month later.

     Numbers 9:13 "But 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."

     The person that would do such a thing as this is, in effect,
denying God. This is the basis of their lives. Those who do not
observe this in remembrance of what God did for them, are truly not
His. The blessings are not for him. This is like denying Christ, and
the great sacrifice He made for us. The way to life is through the
blood of Jesus. Hebrews 10:28 "He that despised Moses' law died
without mercy under two or three witnesses:"  Hebrews 10:29 "Of how
much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who
hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of
the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath
done despite unto the Spirit of grace?"

     Numbers 9:14 "And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will
keep the passover unto the LORD; according to the ordinance of the
passover, and according to the manner thereof, so shall he do: ye
shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was
born in the land."

     Exodus 12:48 "And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and
will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised,
and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is
born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof."
Exodus 12:49 "One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the
stranger that sojourneth among you."  This is the same thing as the
church. If a person desires to take communion with you, he must
believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. "Communion" is a remembrance of His
shedding His blood and giving His body, that we might be saved.

     Numbers 9:15  "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."

     The fire and the smoke were an outward sign to let the people
know that God was with them. The presence of the LORD was in the
smoke. Deuteronomy 5:24 "And ye said, Behold, the LORD our God hath
shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out
of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk
with man, and he liveth." Hebrews 12:29 "For our God [is] a consuming
fire." This is the very same fire that was in the middle of the wheel
in Ezekiel.

     Numbers 9:16 "So it was alway: the cloud covered it [by day], and
the appearance of fire by night."

     God's presence was with them day and night. Exodus 13:21 "And the
LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the
way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by
day and night:" As long as God's children were in the wilderness, His
presence remained with them day and night.

     Numbers 9:17 "And when the cloud was taken up from the
tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in
the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched
their tents."

     They were led of God. It would be so much better for Christians
today, if we would realize that the Spirit of God will lead us now, if
we will follow. God never changes. We are the ones that change.

     Numbers 9:18 "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."

     The cloud would rise, so that the entire group could see, and
follow. When it was time for them to stop and set the tabernacle up,
the cloud would descend upon the spot. It left no doubt, what the
wishes of God were.

     Numbers 9:19 "And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle
many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the LORD,
and journeyed not."

     It appears, that no one questioned the leading of the cloud and
fire. It was apparent enough to all of them that this was God leading
them. They had actually heard the voice of God from the mountain, when
He first spoke the 10 commandments. It had frightened them so badly,
they asked Moses to speak to God for them. This cloud and fire
{visible to all} reassured them of God's presence. When the cloud
stopped, it was time for them to stop.

     Numbers 9:20 "And [so] it was, when the cloud was a few days upon
the tabernacle; according to the commandment of the LORD they abode in
their tents, and according to the commandment of the LORD they
journeyed."

     The ordering of the march was not from Moses, but God. This
causes me to believe God would rest them from this desert journey a
time, and then carry them, again.

     Numbers 9:21 "And [so] it was, when the cloud abode from even
unto the morning, and [that] the cloud was taken up in the morning,
then they journeyed: whether [it was] by day or by night that the
cloud was taken up, they journeyed."

     You would think it would be too dark for them to travel by night,
but the fire was so bright, it gave light to this near 3 million
people. This is not just an ordinary fire, or Light. God is the source
of all Light. He could cause as much light as was needed to shine. It
would, probably, have been cooler to travel at night. Whatever the
reason, they moved when God commanded, night or day.

     Numbers 9:22 "Or [whether it were] two days, or a month, or a
year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon,
the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but
when it was taken up, they journeyed."

     It appears, there was no certain number of days they moved, or
stayed in one place. If God had a purpose for them staying in one
place for over a year, they stayed. One of the most vivid examples of
this in the New Testament, was the moving of Paul from place to place.
Paul went where God sent him, and stayed as long as God wanted him to.
Most ministers today follow the guidance of God. They will not go to
minister in a place, unless they feel God sent them. They will not
stay in a place, if they feel God wants them to leave. The true
Christian should make Jesus his Lord, as well as his Saviour.  When He
is Lord, He controls his moves.

     Numbers 9:23 "At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the
tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed: they kept
the charge of the LORD, at the commandment of the LORD by the hand of
Moses."

     The only times they went where the cloud did not lead them, they
met with terrible defeat. I say, once more, we should find out what
the will of God is for our lives, and then walk in that will. Any
other life we lead, will be a failure. They followed the commandments
of God spoken through Moses. We must follow the commandments of God.






















                        Numbers 13 Questions


1.  What does passover celebrate?
2.  Why were the Hebrew firstborn not killed?
3.  How long were they to celebrate passover?
4.  Who is the Christian's passover Lamb?
5.  Quote 1 Corinthians chapter 5 verses 7 and 8.
6.  When was it to be celebrated?
7.  How could Jesus eat passover with the disciples, and yet, be the
    passover Lamb that same day??
8.  To vary the day, is to ___________.
9.  Their first month is similar to our _________.
10. Why should the first passover be fresh in their minds.
11. Why were there some men who could not take passover?
12. Many believe the men to be __________ and ________.
13. Who had they recently buried?
14. Was this excuse sufficient to exempt them from passover?
15. What did Moses do, when they told him of the matter?
16. When would they take passover?
17. Why was it important that they not break any bone of the passover
    lamb?
18. Quote Exodus chapter 12 verse 46
19. Quote John chapter 19 verse 36.
20. Those who refuse to keep passover are, in effect, doing what?
21. He that despiseth Moses' law died without mercy under _______ or
    _________ witnesses.
22. Quote Hebrews chapter 10 verse 29.
23. When a stranger practiced passover, what must he do first.
24. "Communion" is a remembrance of what?
25. How did the people know God was in the tabernacle?
26. Quote Deuteronomy chapter 5 verse 24.
27. Quote Hebrews chapter 12 verse 29.
28. The cloud covered it by ________, and the fire by ________.
29. What will lead the Christians now, if we will follow?
30. Who ordered the march?
31. How often did they move?
32. They went where the cloud _________ them.