Numbers 9

It is pretty crazy to think that a year has now passed since the events of early Exodus! This chapter covers the second Passover celebration - or more precisely, the first celebration since the real Passover in Egypt. This recognition of God's work was so important that even those ceremonially unclean were allowed to participate!

There is also a description of the way that God led the Israelites in their wanderings, and if it isn't sacreligious to say so it reminds me of the game "Red Light - Green Light". When God's presence lifted, they traveled - when it settled, they camped. Quite elegant, really :)

Exodus 12

Wow, a long chapter today - and a sad one for the Egyptians. Having a son myself now I can say that it would be a terrible thing to lose him like this. In fact, if you take the "firstborn" rule to include adults who were the first children in their families then I, my wife, and my son would all have died.

This is a happy time for the Israelites, though, as they are not escaped from slavery! It was also the start of the Passover tradition, which extends to this day. 430 years to the day they were in Egypt, and the 70 people who were a part of Jacob's household have now grown to be 600,000 men along with their wives and children! Quite impressive.