On this Thanksgiving Day here in the U.S., we celebrate a day of giving thanks for the blessings we have received, blessings that are so many regardless of our circumstances. And here, in Numbers 9, the people are instructed to celebrate their first Passover celebration free from their slavery in Egypt. They are free, they are together in a camp with God’s Presence with them above the tent of meeting, and they are doing everything just as God commanded Moses v. 4. Even those who could not celebrate at the appointed time in the first month were given instruction to still 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. v. 10-12. I know I say this a lot, but can you imagine? You have prepared unleavened bread, bitter herbs as the reminder of the bitter enslavement they suffered for so long, a lamb without blemish whose bones are not to be broken…and you celebrate at twilight on the appointed month and day. Can you imagine the mood of the people or what they thought of as they ate the simple meal knowing they were following all that God had told them? I can well imagine there was thankfulness. I can imagine they were trying to grasp the significance of what they were doing and why God had given these instructions, so specific.

Have you ever imagined how God viewed the Passover celebrations? They were a type of the Passover to come. Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture will be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” (Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12; Psalm 34:20), and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.” (Zechariah 12:10). John 19:31-37.

God the Father, the Word, and Holy Spirit were there with the people and they knew and understood the significance of this most special celebration. We may not understand fully all that God guides us into understanding but God knows. Our understanding is limited but His is not. He knows the big picture. My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul. Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. Psalm 108:1-5.

Let your glory be over all the earth…V. 15-23 tells of the glory of God present with the people as they camped. He led them faithfully and they followed as He led. What a remarkable and wonderful gift they experienced. One day His glory will be exalted above the heavens and over all the earth. Let us give thanks because every blessing comes from the Lord, the giver of all good things and the best gift we will ever receive is God. He gave Himself willingly for the people. He gave Himself willingly for those who called for His death. He foretold it Himself. He gave Himself willingly for you and me. Can we give thanks for the greatest blessing of all? We are loved by our Creator God. Oh let us celebrate with Thanksgiving!