Numbers 9:1-7: a reflection

1The LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2“Let the children of Israel keep the Passover in its appointed season. 3On the fourteenth day of this month, at evening, you shall keep it in its appointed season. You shall keep it according to all its statutes and according to all its ordinances.” 4Moses told the children of Israel that they should keep the Passover. 5They kept the Passover in the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, in the wilderness of Sinai. According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did. 6There were certain men who were unclean because of the dead body of a man, so that they could not keep the Passover on that day, and they came before Moses and Aaron on that day. 7Those men said to him, “We are unclean because of the dead body of a man. Why are we kept back, that we may not offer the offering of the LORD in its appointed season among the children of Israel?”

As Israel keeps the Passover in the wilderness, some men who had become ceremonially unclean through contact with a dead body find themselves unable to keep it on the appointed day, and they are troubled by this. They come to Moses with an earnest question: Why are we kept back, that we may not offer the offering of the LORD in its appointed season? They did not shrug off their exclusion with relief; they were distressed to be kept from the worship of God, and earnestly sought a way to share in it. Their desire to draw near to God would not let them accept exclusion without seeking a way.

Notice the earnest desire of these men to draw near to God in worship. They could have accepted their exclusion passively, even with relief at being excused; but they were troubled to be kept from the offering of the LORD, and came seeking a way to share in it. Their hearts longed to draw near to God, to join in the worship, and they would not simply accept being kept back; they sought a way. Their earnest desire to worship, not to be excluded from drawing near to God, moved them to seek a remedy. And God, as the account goes on, made a way for them.

That earnest desire is worth taking to heart, for we can be indifferent to drawing near to God, accepting hindrances passively rather than seeking a way past them. When something keeps us from worship, from drawing near to God, we can accept it passively, even with a kind of relief; but these men were troubled to be kept back, and earnestly sought a way to draw near. Do not be indifferent to drawing near to God, accepting hindrances to worship passively; let your desire to draw near to him be earnest, seeking a way past what would keep you back, as these men sought a way to keep the Passover. And take heart that God makes a way for those who earnestly desire to draw near; he made a way for these men, and he honors the earnest desire to worship him, as these men, distressed to be kept from the offering of the LORD, sought and were given a way to draw near.

Lord, as Israel keeps the Passover in the wilderness, some men who had become ceremonially unclean find themselves unable to keep it on the appointed day, and they are troubled by this. They come to Moses with an earnest question: why are we kept back, that we may not offer the offering of the LORD in its appointed season? They did not shrug off their exclusion with relief; they were distressed to be kept from your worship, and earnestly sought a way to share in it. Show me the earnest desire of these men to draw near to you in worship. They could have accepted their exclusion passively, even with relief; but they were troubled to be kept from the offering of the LORD, and came seeking a way. Their hearts longed to draw near to you, and they would not simply accept being kept back. And you made a way for them. Take that earnest desire to my heart, for I can be indifferent to drawing near to you, accepting hindrances passively rather than seeking a way past them. When something keeps me from worship, from drawing near to you, I can accept it passively, even with a kind of relief; but these men were troubled to be kept back, and earnestly sought a way. Keep me from being indifferent to drawing near to you; let my desire to draw near be earnest, seeking a way past what would keep me back. And let me take heart that you make a way for those who earnestly desire to draw near, Lord; you honor the earnest desire to worship you.