This is the Bible Book Club. And we're in the book of numbers. Welcome to the club.

Last episode was a jump back to the narrative of Moses's story. And I say jump back because the Bible is now picking up where the story left off back in Exodus 40. Moses has set up the tabernacle,

and this was a really big deal for the nation of Israel because they're celebrating and they're

honoring God, thanking him for saving them from slavery in Egypt. So now they are back to this

point where they have all of these celebrations and holidays that God's laying out for them to execute once a year or however often he tells them to do to honor him.

Now God can dwell among his people and that is great news.

The last thing that happened is the ceremonial cleanse.

The Levites are installed and they are told that they are now responsible for everything that happens when the tabernacle needs to move.

Correct. It was a big episode for sure. We covered a lot of ground. Today, we are actually going to celebrate the second Passover. So in our story timeline, it is exactly one year

since the Israelites were liberated from Egypt at the very first Passover, where they actually

physically put the blood of the lamb over their doorpost. The Passover feast is a ritual

that is still practiced by Jews. Ritual plays a really important

role in most religions. Now, the purpose for rituals is this. When a person or organization

wants to convey something really important, they write it down. That is why we have books.

That is why we have the Bible because there are certain things that need to be remembered.

A ritual actually goes beyond reading a book. It is a visual and physical experience where the people become active participants, creating a deeper, more emotional response. They

remember it. The young nation of Israel didn't have books. This was before the printing press.

And clearly had a very short memory, as we learned in Exodus from the Golden Calf incident.

Remember Moses only went up to the mountain for a few days and they forgot all about him.

Therefore, the people need to regularly see and be reminded of what God had done for them.

They needed rituals.

The Passover was a ritual involving the retelling of the story of the redemption of the Israelites from slavery and Egypt.

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