A Day of Second Chances
Numbers 9:6-12 (NIV)
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 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?"
Moses answered them, "Wait until I find out what the LORD commands concerning you."
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites: 'When any of you or your descendants are unclean because of a dead body or are away on a jouney, they are still to celebrate the LORD's Passover, 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. 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.'"
On the Hebrew calendar, the 29th Day of Counting the Omer is also known as Pesach Sheni: The Second Passover, and the Day of Second Chances. It is generally not taught or observed by all Jewish people, however, there are some great lessons for us to learn by looking at it.
God told Moses to instruct the Israelites regarding the Second Passover after some of them came to Moses and Aaron upset because they couldn't celebrate Passover on the 1st anniversary of leaving Egypt due to their being unclean. Their complaint is recorded in Numbers 9:6-7. In verses 8-12 Moses answered them and told them to "Wait until I find out what the LORD commands concerning you."
How often we attempt to answer questions from our own perspective instead of being like Moses and asking what the LORD is requiring of us or the person asking the questions? Or what He commands concerning that person? His Word tells us that He alone has plans and purposes for our lives and just like Moses, we need to ask him what they are before we attempt to counsel or guide another person, or when we come to a 'fork in the road,' have an important decision or choice to make and are unsure how to proceed; we are individually unique and God's calling and direction for one person maybe quite different for another. We need only to ask regarding what direction God would have us take, He will guide us by His Holy Spirit.
This second Passover is an example of missed opportunities and God's merciful nature that reveals to us, even today, that it is never too late to worship and thank God for His mercy and His provision in our lives. The Scripture depicts some ritually unclean people and other people who were far from Jerusalem, travelling a distant road perhaps and they would have missed Passover at the designated time. However, they refused to accept being excluded and God gave them their heart's desire to come to the Tabernacle and worship Him. Psalm 37:4 reads "Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart."
So, how does this relate to us in the Church today?
Well, so many people today think they are not "good enough" to go to church or be in a fellowship. Some Christians have walked away from fellowship with other believers because they believe they have done something that made them unworthy or unclean. Maybe the path they have chosen has led them away from intimacy with God and being in fellowship with other believers? Maybe they have been hurt or offended in the past by someone, or something that has happened in the Church they attended. There are many reasons that keep people from fellowship with God and with other Believers.
However, we must always remember that God can and will bring us back when we call out to Him. We remember well the parables of the Lost Sheep in Matthew 17:10-14; and of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-31.
The prophet Isaiah records: "Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear." And Matthew 7:7-8 reminds us to "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives' he who seeks finds' and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
The lesson of Pesach Sheni gives us assurance that our circumstances and mistakes of the past can never exclude us from the fullness of life found in Yeshua/Jesus. Because He lives, we have that blessed assurance that we are not forgotten or forsaken, He is returning for His Bride who is both Jewish and Gentile, made into one by the Blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God that was slain, yet lives, the LORD who was, and is and is to come!
Romans 10:4 tells us:
Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
And verses 8-13 continue ... "But what does it say? The word is near you, it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame. For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile - the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Paul tells Timothy about second chances in the following verses found in 1 Timothy 1:122-17 "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man. I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever Amen.
The Apostle Peter received his second chance after having denied being a follower of Jesus three times when Jesus was arrested and taken to trial. Upon His Resurrection, we are told of Jesus interaction with his disciples over a period of 40 days. Chapter 1 of Acts records the following in verses 1-3: In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
John writes of Peter's encounter with Jesus over breakfast on the third occasion he appeared to his disciples after the resurrection.
John 21:15-19 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
Again Jesus said, "Simon, son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted, but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"
Peter went on to preach the gospel of Jesus the Messiah powerfully and Acts chapter 2 records his message of redemption and records that about 3,000 were added to the believers and baptised on that day.
We are never excluded from the body of Christ, regardless of 'how we feel' or how far our journey through life has taken us. God is nearer than the very air we breathe, he fills the heavens and His arms are outstretched towards us, inviting us to return to Him.
Psalm 107 outlines God's goodness and love that faithfully endures forever, and lists many of the ways that humanity rejects His grace and mercy, and when finally we cry out to Him, He rescues us and pours out His unfailing love upon us. The Hebrew word for Grace is Chesed and it also means loving kindness, mercy and tenderness. The final 2 verses of Psalm 107 says "The upright see and rejoice, but all the wicked shut their mouths. Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the LORD."
Romans 8:35 asks us: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Psalm 148
Praise the LORD
Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, yoiu highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created. He set them in place for ever and ever; he gave a decree that will never pass away. Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds, kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and maidens, old men and children. Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his splendour is above the earth and the heavens. He has raised up for his people a horn, the praise of his saints, of Israel, the people close to his heart.
Praise the LORD.
Romans 8:19 speaks of the 'whole' of creation waiting in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. Verse 22 goes on to tell us that the "whole creation" has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth. In Hebrew, Tikkun Ha Olam refers to the healing and restoration of the whole earth. Scripture tells us that the redemption of the whole earth won't occur until Jesus returns. However, Jesus is waiting until Israel calls to him, then when Israel says, "Blessed be He who comes in the Name of the LORD." He will hear and return to Jerusalem to reign over the millenial kingdom.
Prayer:
Thank you Father God that you never abandon or reject us, that as long as we still have breath in our bodies, we are granted the opportunity to turn around, ask your forgiveness and return to fellowship with you and with each other. As soon as we recognise our situation and cry out to you for help you answer and welcome us home as prodigal sons and daughters. May your grace and love be upon each one of us and our loved ones, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, Amen.
May the LORD bless you and keep you; May the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; May the LORD turn his face towards you and give you peace (Shalom).
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 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?"
Moses answered them, "Wait until I find out what the LORD commands concerning you."
Then the LORD said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites: 'When any of you or your descendants are unclean because of a dead body or are away on a jouney, they are still to celebrate the LORD's Passover, 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. 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.'"
On the Hebrew calendar, the 29th Day of Counting the Omer is also known as Pesach Sheni: The Second Passover, and the Day of Second Chances. It is generally not taught or observed by all Jewish people, however, there are some great lessons for us to learn by looking at it.
God told Moses to instruct the Israelites regarding the Second Passover after some of them came to Moses and Aaron upset because they couldn't celebrate Passover on the 1st anniversary of leaving Egypt due to their being unclean. Their complaint is recorded in Numbers 9:6-7. In verses 8-12 Moses answered them and told them to "Wait until I find out what the LORD commands concerning you."
How often we attempt to answer questions from our own perspective instead of being like Moses and asking what the LORD is requiring of us or the person asking the questions? Or what He commands concerning that person? His Word tells us that He alone has plans and purposes for our lives and just like Moses, we need to ask him what they are before we attempt to counsel or guide another person, or when we come to a 'fork in the road,' have an important decision or choice to make and are unsure how to proceed; we are individually unique and God's calling and direction for one person maybe quite different for another. We need only to ask regarding what direction God would have us take, He will guide us by His Holy Spirit.
This second Passover is an example of missed opportunities and God's merciful nature that reveals to us, even today, that it is never too late to worship and thank God for His mercy and His provision in our lives. The Scripture depicts some ritually unclean people and other people who were far from Jerusalem, travelling a distant road perhaps and they would have missed Passover at the designated time. However, they refused to accept being excluded and God gave them their heart's desire to come to the Tabernacle and worship Him. Psalm 37:4 reads "Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart."
So, how does this relate to us in the Church today?
Well, so many people today think they are not "good enough" to go to church or be in a fellowship. Some Christians have walked away from fellowship with other believers because they believe they have done something that made them unworthy or unclean. Maybe the path they have chosen has led them away from intimacy with God and being in fellowship with other believers? Maybe they have been hurt or offended in the past by someone, or something that has happened in the Church they attended. There are many reasons that keep people from fellowship with God and with other Believers.
However, we must always remember that God can and will bring us back when we call out to Him. We remember well the parables of the Lost Sheep in Matthew 17:10-14; and of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-31.
The prophet Isaiah records: "Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear." And Matthew 7:7-8 reminds us to "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives' he who seeks finds' and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
The lesson of Pesach Sheni gives us assurance that our circumstances and mistakes of the past can never exclude us from the fullness of life found in Yeshua/Jesus. Because He lives, we have that blessed assurance that we are not forgotten or forsaken, He is returning for His Bride who is both Jewish and Gentile, made into one by the Blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God that was slain, yet lives, the LORD who was, and is and is to come!
Romans 10:4 tells us:
Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
And verses 8-13 continue ... "But what does it say? The word is near you, it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame. For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile - the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Paul tells Timothy about second chances in the following verses found in 1 Timothy 1:122-17 "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man. I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever Amen.
The Apostle Peter received his second chance after having denied being a follower of Jesus three times when Jesus was arrested and taken to trial. Upon His Resurrection, we are told of Jesus interaction with his disciples over a period of 40 days. Chapter 1 of Acts records the following in verses 1-3: In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
John writes of Peter's encounter with Jesus over breakfast on the third occasion he appeared to his disciples after the resurrection.
John 21:15-19 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
Again Jesus said, "Simon, son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted, but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"
Peter went on to preach the gospel of Jesus the Messiah powerfully and Acts chapter 2 records his message of redemption and records that about 3,000 were added to the believers and baptised on that day.
We are never excluded from the body of Christ, regardless of 'how we feel' or how far our journey through life has taken us. God is nearer than the very air we breathe, he fills the heavens and His arms are outstretched towards us, inviting us to return to Him.
Psalm 107 outlines God's goodness and love that faithfully endures forever, and lists many of the ways that humanity rejects His grace and mercy, and when finally we cry out to Him, He rescues us and pours out His unfailing love upon us. The Hebrew word for Grace is Chesed and it also means loving kindness, mercy and tenderness. The final 2 verses of Psalm 107 says "The upright see and rejoice, but all the wicked shut their mouths. Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the LORD."
Romans 8:35 asks us: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Psalm 148
Praise the LORD
Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, yoiu highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he commanded and they were created. He set them in place for ever and ever; he gave a decree that will never pass away. Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds, kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and maidens, old men and children. Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his splendour is above the earth and the heavens. He has raised up for his people a horn, the praise of his saints, of Israel, the people close to his heart.
Praise the LORD.
Romans 8:19 speaks of the 'whole' of creation waiting in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. Verse 22 goes on to tell us that the "whole creation" has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth. In Hebrew, Tikkun Ha Olam refers to the healing and restoration of the whole earth. Scripture tells us that the redemption of the whole earth won't occur until Jesus returns. However, Jesus is waiting until Israel calls to him, then when Israel says, "Blessed be He who comes in the Name of the LORD." He will hear and return to Jerusalem to reign over the millenial kingdom.
Prayer:
Thank you Father God that you never abandon or reject us, that as long as we still have breath in our bodies, we are granted the opportunity to turn around, ask your forgiveness and return to fellowship with you and with each other. As soon as we recognise our situation and cry out to you for help you answer and welcome us home as prodigal sons and daughters. May your grace and love be upon each one of us and our loved ones, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, Amen.
May the LORD bless you and keep you; May the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; May the LORD turn his face towards you and give you peace (Shalom).