Highlights:
Red Heifer Sacrifice; Miriam's death; Moses strikes the rock twice; Edom refuses Israel passage; Aaron's death.
Verses for Today:
Bring . . . a red heifer without spot . . . And one shall burn the heifer. . . . And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin (Num. 19:2-9).The Red Heifer Sacrifice was instituted in the wilderness of Paran at a time when all Israel was under the sentence of death: The two hundred and fifty men who were consumed by fire (16:35) and the 14,700 who died in the plague, beside them that died about the matter of Korah (16:49). The Law required that whosoever toucheth the dead body of any man that is dead, and purifieth not himself, defileth the Tabernacle of the Lord (19:13). If . . . the ashes of a heifer sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ . . . cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the Living God? (Heb. 9:13-14).
The blood of the red heifer was burned (Num. 19:5), its ashes were mixed with running water (19:17), and then it was sprinkled upon the defiled ones to restore them to the Holy God (19:18-19). The Hebrew word for "running" also means "living" — implying not only cleansing from sin but renewal of life. The water of purification was made from the ashes of only one heifer for all the people.
The Red Heifer Sacrifice is symbolic of Christ who cleanseth us from all sin (I John 1:7). Through His death on the cross, He has given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the Divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust (II Pet. 1:4). The plan of God is that Christ's own life be reproduced in Christians.
Through the red heifer ordinance, God revealed the importance of cleansing our thoughts, conversations, the books we read, associations with unbelievers, or whatever else defiles our minds or bodies. Holiness is commanded in both the Old and New Testaments. Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God (Lev. 20:7). So be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy (I Pet. 1:15-16).
As we pray for Christ to live out His life in us, we will express His character. Paul said: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me (Gal. 2:20).
Thought for Today:
But whoso keepeth His Word, in him verily is the love of God perfected (I John 2:5).
Christ Revealed:
Through the rock that Moses struck (Ex. 17:6; Num. 20:8-11). Christ, our Rock, who was struck once through His death on the cross, does not need to be struck again. That spiritual Rock (Petra) that followed (accompanied) them . . . was Christ (I Cor. 10:4). For in that He died, He died unto sin once (Rom. 6:10).
Word Studies:
19:6 hyssop = bushy plant used for cleansing; 20:3 chode =argued; 20:12 sanctify Me =uphold Me in reverential honor; 20:13 strove =contended; 20:14 travail =hardship; 20:15 vexed =afflicted; dealt harshly with.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for Staff: Mary Kay Wagner • Government Officials: Rep. Charles Boustany (LA), Rep. Phil Hare (IL), Rep. John Lewis (GA), Rep. John Shimkus (IL), and Sen. Olympia Snowe (ME) • Country: Algeria (31.5 million) in North Africa • Major languages: Arabic and French • Opposition to the Gospel is intense • 95.7% Muslim; 3.02% non-Religious; .29% Christian; .01% Baha'i • Prayer Suggestion: Seek the Lord's teaching; grow and mature in your prayer life (Luke 11:1).
Optional Reading: Luke 8
Memory Verse for the Week: Exodus 20:13-16