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Numbers 9: 1-14

So God tells Moses to enforce the observance of the Passover celebration. It's to happen on January 14th (or their equivalent- month one, day fourteen). So Moses passes the word along and they worship as commanded.

However there were some who were excluded from the celebration because they were unclean because of contact with a dead body. So they approached Moses and said- "Hey, why should we miss out on this party just because we're unclean?"

Moses says. "Hmmm, let me check on that for you- I'll see what God says."

God agrees with the unclean man- He says "people shouldn't be excluded from the celebration. If an Israelite is unclean on the big day or on a journey, he should celebrate on February 14th at twilight." He is to eat lamb, unleavened bread and bitter herbs. He's not to leave any of it until morning or break it's bones.

However, if you're not unclean or on a journey, you must celebrate on the first day (God's offering is due). This isn't a pick your more convenient feast day kind of deal. If you don't celebrate the first day and you don't fit this exemption, you are to be cut off from your people. It seems that your sins will not be forgiven.

If an alien (person from another country, not outer space) decides to celebrate- they can, but they must follow all the same rules.

This passage intrigues me. There seems to be some pretty deep revelation here.

First off, the idea of forced celebration is odd. It seems like a mandatory party wouldn't always be that much fun. But I think the idea is more that sacrifice is due- and perhaps "observe" is a better word than "celebrate" for what actually is happening.

But a bigger deal is the exception made. God makes a law- and someone says, yeah, but what if...?

And God rethinks it and makes exceptions. Beyond what was even asked.

So why hadn't God already realized the conflicting rules?

And what does this mean for God's laws now? Are there times when what He's asked is impossible to fulfill? When telling the truth would hurt an innocent party? When two rules have to be considered and one chosen?

I don't think we should enter deliberation assuming that we're the exception. I think it's easy to find reasons to not do what God wants, but we may end up finding ourselves there. And when we do- like Moses, we talk to God about it- and proceed the best way that we can.

And maybe it's partly because of this issue that Jesus later boils it all down to "love God and love your neighbor." These take precedent over them all.