The Second Passover, known as Pesach Sheni, is a one-day celebration that says, “It is never too late.” Celebrated in Israel on May 12 this year, it signifies that there is always a second chance. It is God’s message to us that it is never too late to return to Him. We see an example of this second chance in the ninth chapter of Numbers.

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘If any one of you or of your generations becomes unclean because of a dead person, or is on a distant journey, he may, however, observe the Passover to the LORD. In the second month on the fourteenth day at twilight, they shall observe it; they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. (Numbers 9:9–12)[1]

Our God is a God of second chances. He loves us so much that when we humble our hearts and return to Him, He is gracious and merciful in His lovingkindness toward us. “For the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate, and will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him” (2 Chronicles 30:9).

You can read more about the second Passover in 2 Chronicles 30:1–27.

For a multitude of the people, even many from Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than prescribed. For Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the good LORD pardon everyone who prepares his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though not according to the purification rules of the sanctuary.” So the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people. (2 Chronicles 30:18–20)

This concept of returning to the Father is found in the Torah’s idea of teshuvah (“return”). Rabbi Yanki Tauber explains that this returning to the Lord “is not just the undoing or correcting of a past error. Rather, teshuvah is about transforming the past. It means reaching back to change the significance and the consequences of what happened, so that the end result is better than what would have been had it not occurred.”[2]

If we return to the Father and confess our sins before Him, “He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). That is an elementary foundational principle of the Bible that we find in the teachings of Yeshua (Jesus). Whenever we violate these simple principles, the edge is removed from our authority and our anointing. But if we look to Him and return to Him, then He will bring us back into His divine protection and presence. Father, we come back to You, and we confess Your name. We turn from our sin and disobedience, from our passivity and indifference, and we seek Your face.

The Hebraic concept of repentance is to simply walk away from the wrongdoing and go in another direction. God has gone to so much trouble to reconcile us to Himself by sending His Son to die on a cross. So why do we think He would be unwilling to forgive us for anything we have done? Confess your faults before Him. Do not hide anything from Him. “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). God will reverse the consequences as He washes and cleanses you. And He will give you a second chance as you return to Him.

[1] All Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995).

[2] Yanki Tauber, “A Second Chance,” Chabad.org,