(Ordinance Of (Concerning the Red Heifer) - Devastator, one who lays waste)
Num 19:1-22:1; Num 22:2-25:9; Judges 11:1-33; Micah 5:6-6:8; Hebrews 9:11-28; John 3:10-21; Rom 11:25-32
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This week's Parsha begins with Numbers chapter 19. The information given discusses the offering and ashes from the Red Heifer. These ashes were to be mixed with water and become a purifying solution for the Children of Israel. After the commandments concerning the heifer and the ashes the text goes into different things that would cause people to become unclean for different periods of time. Some were unclean until evening and some were unclean for seven days and so on. The number of commandments that dealt with the issue of cleanliness is striking. G-D seems to have spent quite a bit of time giving examples of what is clean and what is unclean. Being unclean diminished everything from the opportunity to worship in the Temple to what kind of relationships could be had between members of families and husbands and wives. Understanding that cleanliness is related to the flesh as Holiness is related to the soul and spirit we can better understand what G-D expects from us. He has given commandments concerning the physical nature as well as the spiritual nature of man. Although each is separate from the other they are also related to each other. Seeking to be observant to G-D's Mitzvot (commandments) will lead to not only spiritual holiness but also physical cleanliness and inversely one who seeks to follow G-D's Mitzvot concerning physical cleanliness will also more deeply understand the spiritual holiness G-D requires of His People.
During our Shabbat service we join together in liturgical prayer. One of these prayers is the Ma Tovu. In Hebrew it is Ma Tovu O'halecha Ya'akov Mishkenotecha Yisrael. These words come from this week's Parsha. In Numbers chapter 24 and verse 5, "How lovely are your tents O Jacob your dwelling places O Israel. These words were spoken by Bilam after he was asked by Balak the king of Moav to curse the Children of Israel. The king offered Bilam great riches to curse G-D's people, but Bilam could not curse them. Verse 1 of Chapter 24 tells us that Bilam saw that it pleased G-D to bless Israel, so instead of cursing Israel he spoke these words which we say on Shabbat during our prayers. One of the reasons these words are said is because we understand that it truly does please G-D to bless His people. This is something each of us needs to remember: G-D is pleased when He blesses us. Now that is a good thought to dwell on this week; be blessed!
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Over the past years we have heard much taught about the Red Heifer and the work of those who are tryingto breed cows to achieve the birth of a pure Red Heifer. This weeks Parsha discusses the original Red Heifer and it sacrifice and the use of its ashes to purify those who were contaminated. This commandmentis what is known as a “Chukat”. By definition acommandment that we do not nor can we understandfully. How can the ashes of an animal which areconsidered unclean when mixed with water and sprinkled on a person who is also considered unclean provided cleansing. This is something we must take by faith because it really makes no sense to us. Logically something that is unclean when brought in contact with something else unclean would give us two unclean things. As you think about this Parsha and especially this commandment remember that it was through the death of Yeshua that we have been made clean. It was by the offering of His blood that we have received atonement. Just as the offering of blood from an animal brought cleansing to Israel the blood of Yeshua has brought cleansing to those who will believe that it can even if we don’t fully understand how red blood can make some white as snow. Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (JPS)
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This week's parsha is Chukat (ordinance of). The parsha is found in Bamidbar (Numbers) chapter 19. It begins with the commandment concerning the offering of the red cow. Now most people have heard something about the red heifers that they are trying to raise in Israel. They shipped some over from Mississippi a few years ago, and they are trying to find a perfect red cow so they can cleanse the new Temple. Around the world news reporters and TV programs showed the cows, but they have not found one that is pure red. They wont until HaShem is ready for it. The teaching concerning this commandment is interesting. The rabbis say that in order to make up for the sin of the golden calf. G-D chose to have them sacrifice a red cow to remit the sin of the golden one.
I have watched for many years peoples lives. We many times have to sacrifice something that shows our willingness to give all to HaShem. For instance, many times when a person is very materially minded, they end up learning a new mindset which many times requires giving up some if not all of their materialism. I have seen the rich made poor, but when they give up their possessions they find out what true riches are. I have seen those that were to shy to speak about Messiah Yeshua made into the boldest people anywhere. I have seen those that were immoral in their lives share with others the deliverance of G-D, but they learned the lesson through personal sacrifice. It is interesting that the sacrifice was a Red Heifer to make up for a golden calf. In our mindset gold is very valuable...a prized treasure. But in G-D's mind it was not so. Yeshua Was and Is the sacrifice made and given to cover our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Many people that look at this through carnal minds, they only see a man dying. They do not see the great value that is represented by that death that a Perfect sacrifice was made for you and I perfect sacrifice was made. In the eyes of the world the people would have little value compared to a golden calf, but in the eyes of HaShem the people were more valuable then anything else. It was not enough for just any man to die; it had to be the perfect man: no blemish, no failure, and no sin but a perfect sacrifice.
It does not surprise me that the priests in Israel wont settle for close to perfect. They wont settle for ALMOST perfect, because G-D wouldnt settle for almost perfect. Yeshua was NOT just close to perfect. He did not follow the mitzvot ALMOST completely; He did not fulfill MOST of the prophecies. He did everything PERFECTLY and COMPLETELY EXACTLY as G-D's Word said He would without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. We need to remember that with G-D it is all or nothing; we need to serve Him perfectly. Now I know we are imperfect beings, but we as believers are not just what we were we are new creations; we are new creatures. We have become the body of Moshiach. We are imperfect people cleansed by the perfect sacrifice; and because he cleanses us, we become perfect, pure and righteous. All of our worshipping the ways of this world (the golden calf) are purged by His blood. And His blood is sprinkled upon us, because we are the Mishkan l'Ruach (the Tabernacle of G-Ds Spirit). It is only because He Was and Is perfect that we can stand before a Perfect G-D and be found righteous.