A year has passed since the exodus from Egypt.  As they prepare to observe the first Passover celebration since their exodus from Egypt, a problem surfaces. Some of the Israelites were ceremonially unclean because of their contact with a dead body and could not celebrate the Passover. Because they were unsure of what to do in light of the regulation restrictions, they went to Moses with their confusion. Moses did the right thing by taking it to the Lord.  When we are unsure or confused about something, is our first thought to take it to the Lord?

The celebration of the Passover is extremely important.  It was important to the children of Israel and it is just as important today (or maybe even more important).  To understand just how important it is for Believers in Jesus, check out the website (www.philandpatti.com) writing for The Biblical View of Holy Week.

There is a line in the commentary on page 158, "God has told the Israelites that they will have to fight for the land."  In reality, God told them that if they were obedient to Him, He would drive out the inhabitants from the land.  It was because of their disobedience that there would be a need for them to do their own fighting for the land.

The Lord orders a numbering or a census of the sons of Israel from age 20 years or older. This was a daunting task. During this census, the people are still encamped at Sinai. Again we would caution you to not become discouraged in the reading of the miniscule details.

Again in the numbering of the tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh represent the tribe of Joseph. Then the tribes are given their placement to camp and the order for marching whenever they are given the word to move. The tribe of Judah always leads. Dan always comes last.

The families of the tribe of Levi are not counted along with the others. Interestingly, the Levites were the ones to do the fighting at the "golden calf" incident.  Now, they are the tribe that will do no fighting. It is clear that this tribe is set apart. Even their tents are set up in a circle around the tabernacle so that wrath will not fall on the Israelite community.They guard the tabernacle. No one gets in without going through the Levites. And we continue to see how "set apart" this tribe actually is. Just as God instructed Moses to purify and consecrate the tabernacle and all its furnishings, and as He ordered the sanctification of the Levites, He also sanctifies us.

Jude 1:1
Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to the ones called in God the Father, having been set apart, and having been kept by Jesus Christ: 

We as Believers have been "set apart". Do we act as if we are???