Bring . . . a red heifer without defect or blemish. (Numbers 19:2)The red heifer was different from all the sacrifices detailed in Leviticus. First off, the red heifer was not sacrificed; it was slaughtered – outside the camp – nowhere near the bronze altar. Second, sacrificial animals were males; the red heifer was female. Third, sacrificial animals were not burned whole; the red heifer was.
The finished product, for which the ashes of the red heifer were the main ingredient, was cleansing water. This water was specifically formulated to restore a person’s ritual cleanness after that person came into contact with a dead body. This was a gift of grace, allowing a family member to minister to the deceased, knowing that their cleanness could be restored.
Hebrews 9:13-14 explains how, as the ashes of the red heifer cleanse the ceremonially unclean allowing them to continue in relationship with the community, the blood of Christ cleanses us from our uncleanness allowing us to live in relationship with God.
What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus
What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus
O precious is the flow that makes me white as snow
No other fount I know; nothing but the blood of Jesus [1]
[1] W/M: Robert Lowry – published 1876 – public domain
I love seeing how God was giving the same message all throughout time... Wow, cedar, hyssop and red wool were all burned up along with the heifer too. Very specific symbolism.
ReplyDeleteLots happening in this section - we also have Moses performing his big "oops moment" by striking the rock instead of speaking to it to bring forth the water. Obviously this particular visual demonstration was very, very important to God for the consequence to be so high to someone he favored.
Also, we see the somewhat infamous bronze serpent introduced! Talk about something that started out as a miraculous provision and went wrong later on. - Amy