Reflect
Several men came to Moses because of the predicament they faced: They were “unclean” because of contact with a dead body, and this prevented them from participating in the Passover meal. Notice that God did not adjust the requirements of the Passover. The standards of holiness were maintained, and the men were not allowed to participate. But God did make an exception and allowed the men to celebrate the Passover later. This upheld the sacred requirements while allowing the men to participate in the feast.
Similarly, God made provisions for non-Israelites. They too could celebrate Passover by following God’s instructions. Foreigners were expected to obey the same laws and ordinances as the Israelites. “They must follow these same decrees and regulations.”
God singled out Israel for a special purpose—to be an example of how one nation could, and should, follow him. His aim, however, was to have all people obey and worship him. Often we think God is strict and harsh, but a story like this shows that God is flexible and willing to show grace to any and all who love him. God may have called Israel to be his chosen people, but his goal was to use them to bring all people to himself.
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