14 Lessons Toward Passover: What We can Learn from the Second Passover (Part 14)

Did you know that there is a second Passover for those people who unintentionally missed the first Passover? This “second” chance teaches us about the great love and mercy of God. Since it is quite rare for baptized members of the Church to miss the Passover, not much is said about the second Passover. It is not even marked in our Holy Day Calendar.

As this might be the case, the second Passover teaches us vital lessons that we must all consider. In this post, let me share with you the important lessons we can learn from the Second Passover.

14 Lessons Toward Passover: What We can Learn from the Second Passover (Part 14)

The instruction regarding the Second Passover

We specifically read the instruction when the Passover should be kept. Leviticus 23:5 tells us:

“On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the LORD’s Passover”.

However, it is inevitable that some of the Israelites will not be able to keep the Passover during the appointed time. This situation is recorded in Numbers 9:6-11:

Now there were certain men who were defiled by a human corpse, so that they could not keep the Passover on that day; and they came before Moses and Aaron that day. And those men said to him, “We became defiled by a human corpse. Why are we kept from presenting the offering of the Lord at its appointed time among the children of Israel?”

And Moses said to them, “Stand still, that I may hear what the Lord will command concerning you.”

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘If anyone of you or your posterity is unclean because of a corpse, or is far away on a journey, he may still keep the Lord’s PassoverON THE FOURTEENTH DAY OF THE SECOND MONTH, AT TWILIGHT, THEY MAY KEEP IT. They shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.

From this passage, we can learn that God specifically gave instructions for those people who missed the first Passover. They can keep the Passover on the fourteenth day of the following month.

Lessons from the Second Passover

There are interesting lessons that we must note. These lessons will help you appreciate more the Passover and examine ourselves in order to partake it in a worthy manner.

Lesson no. 1: God gives us the chance to repent of our sins.

We are all humans and we are all bound to commit sin. As this might be the case, the important thing is that we continually strive to overcome sin and not let it overcome us. Though we may sin, we can always ask God for forgiveness provided that our repentance is accompanied by a change of heart and the willingness to obey.

God is always ready to forgive us the moment we ask for forgiveness. This is made possible through the death of Christ. However, God expects us to stop committing sin. He looks at our heart and determines if we really have the motivation to change our ways.

This is what the Second Passover is telling us. It is teaching us that God understands our weaknesses and physical limitations. He is more than willing to give us the chance to right our wrongdoings.

Lesson no. 2: We need to have the desire to partake of the Passover.

The men who missed the Passover were very concerned about missing the Passover. They know the seriousness of keeping the Passover and the accompanying penalties of missing it.

These men cried out and said, “Why should we be deprived?” They have the passionate zeal and strong desire to partake of the Passover. This is the type of zeal and desire that we must all have. We must not let any trial or tribulation to prevent us from keeping the Passover.

Lesson no. 3: Passover connects us with God.

There is no doubt that there will be things that will keep us distant from God. In this case, these people were defiled by dead bodies and others are far away on a journey. If we miss the first Passover, the second Passover gives us the chance to be reconnected with God. Repentance, baptism, and the receiving of the Holy Spirit help us to establish a strong and intimate relationship with God the Father and Jesus Christ.

Lesson no. 4: Trials should bring us closer, not farther, from God.

The men who missed the Passover encountered challenges and trials that prevented them from keeping the first Passover. Notice, these trials did not discourage them but rather it motivated and encourages them to keep the Passover though in a different time.

This must teach us about the right attitude when facing trials in our lives. The more we suffer, the more we need to stay close to God.

Lesson no. 5: God should have the final authority in our lives.

When the men approached Moses and Aaron, they did not immediately made a decision about their case. Instead, they asked God about what must be done to them.

In making decisions in our lives, it is important to involve God. Notice the response of Moses, he said that these men should “STAND STILL”! How many times in our lives that we find it too difficult to stand still? We are too impatient that we don’t wait for God’s response and we rely on our own reasoning. Most often than not, this is a formula for failure.

After waiting for God’s answer, we must be ready. We need to have the obedient heart to yield to His will and purpose.

Passover and reconciliation

The Passover pictures our reconciliation to God. It also pictures the future and final reconciliation of the entire humanity to their Creator. The majority of people today don’t keep the Passover. Many would find the Passover as strange, archaic, and Jewish. We can say that the majority of human beings today have missed the first Passover.

Thankfully, they will not be forever lost. There will come a time that their minds will be open. For the first time, Satan’s veil of deception will be removed and they will now see the need to keep the Passover. For them, God reserved the second Passover. God is “not willing that any should perish but ALL should come to repentance” (II Peter 3:9).

So let us have the faith that God’s plan is ultimately for our own good. The second Passover magnifies the mercy and love of God toward all of us. I hope this will give you a much deeper appreciation of the Passover.

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