Last Saturday we celebrated what the bible calls “Second Passover” (in Hebrew: Pesach Sheni). It’s an important date that many aren’t aware is actually mentioned in the Bible in Numbers 9:6-12.
In ancient times, while Israelites were wandering through the desert after leaving Egypt, they naturally experienced loss of life, with many having to bury by themselves their loved ones who would pass. That would entail having to deal with dead bodies, which would make them unclean according to Law, and they were forbidden from celebrating Passover while being unclean.
But the desire to serve the Lord and celebrate his appointed feast was so great, that people were unhappy with that and brought this dilemma before Moses:
Num. 9:6-7 — “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?”
The desire to honour and serve God must be so great, that you’re not willing to settle. You push through until God makes a way for you to serve Him even when circumstances don’t allow it.
And Moses said to them, “Stand still, that I may hear what the Lord will command concerning you.”
Notice Moses didn’t say he would consult the elders, he didn’t search for a solution within himself or around himself — he went directly to God for the solution, but not before asking people to “stand still, that I may hear what the Lord will command…”
When things are unclear, we are called to stand still and hear how the Lord will direct us.
Moses having interceded on behalf of the nation before God, brought back an answer from the Lord:
Num. 9:9-11 — “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, but they are to do it on the fourteenth day of the second month at twilight.”
What is the meaning behind “Second Passover”?
What message did God send us through “Second Passover”? The message is that God is the God of second chances! He gave the Israelites that couldn’t serve Him on an appointed time another opportunity to bring their offerings the second time around. You can serve God, you can rejoice and celebrate what you couldn’t the first time around.
If you missed something that God tried to do in your life, your church, or your family – God will always give you another chance to do things right. It’s never too late.
What is truly amazing about this feast is that it wasn’t actually initiated by God, it was the people who approached God looking for that second chance to celebrate, to worship, to serve Him.
God honoured that! He gave people that second chance called: Pesach Sheni — Second Passover.
How powerful to know we serve the God of second chances, that even when we think we missed the boat, God will honour our desire to make things right and give us another chance, a new beginning.
May God bless you with a Second Passover in your life!
Beit Hallel is a Messianic Jewish congregation in Ashdod, led by pastor Israel Pochtar, serving holocaust survivors and the poor and needy locally and throughout the nation of Israel, while building up the body of Messiah in the promised land of Israel.