I used to play softball as a middle to high school student.  I loved the sport.  I wanted to be good at this sport I loved.  I listened to the coach’s direction to be better.  I practiced hitting, catching, and pitching.  I was shorter than most, but fast enough to get to the bases to stay in the game.  But I was also easily distracted by others playing the game and by those shouting commands from the bleachers.  “Keep your eye on the ball” was the phrase most used in this sport.  But, it is so easy to take our eyes off the ball and our focus from the coach, when other voices become louder and distract us from the game.  When this would happen, the coach would say, “remember what I taught you.”

God rescued his people from the slavery and bondage of the Egyptians.  He coached them with specific, detailed directives to perform the night before departure.  God told them exactly what to do, what to eat, and how to prepare so that when the angel of death swept through Egypt, His people would be spared.  The Israelites were directed to spread the blood of a lamb over the doorposts of their homes.  This lamb was then prepared as their last meal in Egypt.  In this way the angle of death would “pass over” their homes.  The blood was their identity.  The blood indicated to Whom they belonged.  The Blood rescued them from death.  God’s Rescued were to remember this moment and celebrate it “at the appointed time” given to them by God.  “Remember…”, says God, and celebrate the Rescue as I have taught you.

TAKE NOTE:  A problem arises within the camp that needs clarity in celebrating the Passover. They go to Moses who tells them, “Wait and see what God says.”  This is the most profound act of wisdom that Moses, their leader provides.  Moses knows that this issue is above his “pay grade” (as most issues are) and goes to the Lord for resolution. 

Numbers 9

The Passover

The Lord spoke to Moses in the Desert of Sinai in the first month of the second year after they came out of Egypt. He said, ² “Have the Israelites celebrate the Passover at the appointed time. ³ Celebrate it at the appointed time, at twilight on the fourteenth day of this month, in accordance with all its rules and regulations.”

⁴ So Moses told the Israelites to celebrate the Passover, ⁵ and they did so in the Desert of Sinai at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. The Israelites did everything just as the Lord commanded Moses.

⁶ But some of them could not celebrate the Passover on that day because they were ceremonially unclean on account of a dead body. So they came to Moses and Aaron that same day ⁷ and said to Moses, “We have become unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be kept from presenting the Lord’s offering with the other Israelites at the appointed time?”

⁸ Moses answered them, “Wait until I find out what the Lord commands concerning you.”

⁹ Then the Lord said to Moses, ¹⁰ “Tell the Israelites: ‘When any of you or your descendants are unclean because of a dead body or are away on a journey, they are still to celebrate the Lord’s Passover, ¹¹ but they are to do it on the fourteenth day of the second month at twilight. They are to eat the lamb, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. ¹² They must not leave any of it till morning or break any of its bones. When they celebrate the Passover, they must follow all the regulations. ¹³ But if anyone who is ceremonially clean and not on a journey fails to celebrate the Passover, they must be cut off from their people for not presenting the Lord’s offering at the appointed time. They will bear the consequences of their sin.

¹⁴ “‘A foreigner residing among you is also to celebrate the Lord’s Passover in accordance with its rules and regulations. You must have the same regulations for both the foreigner and the native-born.’”

The Cloud Above the Tabernacle

¹⁵ On the day the tabernacle, the tent of the covenant law, was set up, the cloud covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire. ¹⁶ That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it, and at night it looked like fire. ¹⁷ Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped. ¹⁸ At the Lord’s command the Israelites set out, and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. ¹⁹ When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the Lord’s order and did not set out. ²⁰ Sometimes the cloud was over the tabernacle only a few days; at the Lord’s command they would encamp, and then at his command they would set out. ²¹ Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening till morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they set out. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out. ²² Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelites would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. ²³ At the Lord’s command they encamped, and at the Lord’s command they set out. They obeyed the Lord’s order, in accordance with his command through Moses.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God guided the Israelites in the wilderness with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. The cloud and fire moved according to God’s will. When they moved, the people moved; where they stopped, the people stopped.  When we follow God’s guidance, we please him. We identify with Him who leads us.  Our trust in an unfailing God builds within us to bolster our resolve to follow Him.  Although God’s plan may not always be clear to us, we must follow in response to our Coach’s direction who knows our present circumstances that we can only see from a limited view. Remember that our Coach also sees all future outcomes that we cannot see from our vantage point.

God rescued us from our sins that held us as hostages to the evil one intent on destroying us.  God so loved us He personally sent His One and Only Son, Jesus, to be the Sacrifice to not only cover over our sins but to pay our debt of sin in full.  Jesus is the reason we can now have a personal relationship with Almighty God!  Our identity is Jesus.  We are God’s children, joint heirs with Christ who reconciled (reconnected) us to God. 

Jesus, Lamb of God, who was God in flesh come down to earth and moved into the neighborhood of humanity to personally be with us, teach us, and redeem us once and for all.  Pause, take time to remember who God is, what Jesus did to save us, with all Jesus taught us as he fulfilled the Law and explained the full intention of God for the Law. 

Because of Jesus, believing followers can now live our lives with daily expectant hope for life eternal with Him because He has promised a prepared a place for us!  How do we respond? Each day we wake up, thank God for life and opportunities to tell His story.  Daily offer ourselves to God as worship to God.  (Romans 12:1-2) Love God back with all that is in us.  Talk to God throughout the day.  Listen for God voice.  Be attentive to how God works in the smallest details and overcomes the obstacles that discourage us.  Observe His glory at work and immediately give Him praise.  Love others like God loves us—without manipulating conditions.  And finally, celebrate the love of God who lives in us and never leaves us.  Lean into His wisdom, insight, and understanding as our guide in all the details of this life.  Follow the Coach as He disciplines us in the practice of His ways.

BE READY TO MOVE ON GOD’S COMMAND

When other voices shout directions from the bleachers; listen instead for the voice of God’s Holy Spirit who resides in all of us, ready to lead us to all that is true, right, and holy.  Be still, let go of what we think and hang onto, to know God more.  Know that God has our best interest at heart.  Know that God never fails, never gives up, and never leaves us in the dust.  Know that God steps in, dusts us off, and puts our feet on solid ground.  Know God’s forgiveness.  Our part is to be ready, teachable and flexible to the will of His Holy Spirit.  Move or stay—all at His command.

One of my favorite portions of scripture that helps me remember my Rescuer and celebrate my Coach is found in Psalm 143:8-12.  May this be our prayer today:

“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
    for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
    for to you I entrust my life.
Rescue me from my enemies, Lord,
    for I hide myself in you.
Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
    lead me on level ground.

For your name’s sake, Lord, preserve my life;
    in your righteousness, bring me out of trouble.
In your unfailing love, silence my enemies;
    destroy all my foes,
    for I am your servant.”

In Jesus Name, for our good and Your Glory, Amen!