Daily Devotionals

Voice of the Lord

Devotional: 14th of Iyar

If any of you ...is on a trip abroad, nevertheless he is to observe Pesach. But he will observe it in the second month on the fourteenth day (Numbers 9:10-11).

My grandmother marks down all of her special days on a new calendar each year. It includes all the birthdays, wedding anniversaries and yahrtzeits (death anniversaries) in our family. Why does she go to this trouble? Because she loves to send cards; in a way, it's her part-time job. The older I get, the more meaningful it is to receive a card from my grandma. When I open her cards, knowing how much she loves me, I can't help but think, "She remembered ...amazing! My special days are her special days, too."

The Lord has his special days and one of them is the fourteenth day of the first month. He just loves that date. Like a birthday, wedding anniversary or yahrtzeit, it's engraved on his heart. Is he sentimental? Maybe more than we realize. Many don't think the Lord is concerned with little details like dates, but I would beg to differ based on the above Scripture.

Here, the Torah tells us that if an Israelite did not celebrate Pesach (Passover) because he was far away on a journey, he could not merely celebrate Pesach on a day of his own choosing or not celebrate it at all. God had an alternative date for him to celebrate a belated Pesach— day 14 of the second month, which is today—exactly one month after Passover.

God just loves that date—the 14^{th of the month. On Nisan 14, and Iyyar 14, the Lord remembers every detail of the redemption he brought us. And when his special day is our special day, he is happy.}

...reflect on the events of the Exodus and make it a special day. If I know of someone who was unable to observe Pesach on Nisan 14,I will help them prepare for this evening's Passover meal (seder).

DR