Numbers 19 - 8.2.2024

Scripture - Pick one verse that stood out to you.

Numbers 19:1-10

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: “This is a requirement of the law that the Lord has commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red heifer without defect or blemish and that has never been under a yoke. Give it to Eleazar the priest; it is to be taken outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence. Then Eleazar the priest is to take some of its blood on his finger and sprinkle it seven times toward the front of the tent of meeting.  While he watches, the heifer is to be burned—its hide, flesh, blood and intestines. The priest is to take some cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet wool and throw them onto the burning heifer. After that, the priest must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water. He may then come into the camp, but he will be ceremonially unclean till evening. The man who burns it must also wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he too will be unclean till evening.

“A man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and put them in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp. They are to be kept by the Israelite community for use in the water of cleansing; it is for purification from sin. The man who gathers up the ashes of the heifer must also wash his clothes, and he too will be unclean till evening. This will be a lasting ordinance both for the Israelites and for the foreigners residing among them.

Observation - What about this verse stands out to you?

As I was reading numbers and reading about the requirements for purification I was partly startled by the sheer amount of detail that went into the process of pre-Christ cleansing of sin. The water that is created from Numbers 19 is to be used by the Israelite community for “the water of cleansing; it is for purification from sin”.

Application - How will you apply this to your life?

What also struck me as odd was this verse in Numbers 19: The man who sprinkles the water of cleansing must also wash his clothes, and anyone who touches the water of cleansing will be unclean till evening.

The water of cleansing itself caused “uncleanness”.

So understanding the above, how much do I really understand about what is happening when Jesus is brought a paralyzed man on a mat  in Matthew 9 and responds with, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” 

In light of the unclean cleansing-water,  when Jesus would eventually take on the penalty for all of our sins, cleansing all of us, what mind-boggling astro-physical-spiritual thing was actually going on??

My mind is so blown right now.

Prayer - Write out a prayer.

Father God, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit. I am just so in awe right now. And I am so grateful. I feel like today you showed me a depth to your sacrifice that I wasn’t aware of. Please, teach me if I am thinking in error. Please guide me to grow further in my understanding of your love for me. Help me to grow in my love and understanding of You as You always do. Thank you for humbling me further today, Lord Jesus. I fear I will never understand all that you have done for us, but I am so grateful for You. I thank you Lord. I love you Lord. In the name of Jesus do I pray, Amen.

-kenneth lee