Red Heifer Redo 2
Every animal that was to be offered as a sacrifice or offering was to be
without spot, perfect. The LORD had to provide these animals, nature alone could
not. The unique red heifer was no different. All sacrificed animals were a
picture of the spotless Jesus Christ. Hebrews 10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into
the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast
thou prepared me:
Numbers 19:9 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.
Read verses 12-22 Everyone who came in contact with the red heifer would have to
wash their cloths and be unclean until even. this washing was for
Water of Separation: when unclean one must be separated from the camp
Purification from sin: Purification must take before the one separated from the
congregation can be clean and reenter camp and be among the other people
(fellowship)
Why the ashes of the red heifer What specific sin: death
1) Numers19:11 ¶ He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean
seven days (touching the body of a dead beast made them unclean only till even)
For 40 years they wondered in the wilderness so over 1,000,000 who came out of
Egypt 20 years old and older would die.
Isaiah 31:1 ¶ Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses,
and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are
very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the
LORD!
Numbers 14:4 And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us
return into Egypt.
The death of the generation that came out of Egypt was the direct result of
their unbelief, they did not believe their LORD was greater than anything on
this Earth. The sting of death is sin, here the sin of unbelief. Those who would
enter the promised land were not to be tainted by the unbelief of those who
died.
2) Numbers 19:16 And whosoever toucheth one that is slain with a sword in the
open fields, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean
seven days.
More of the consequences of their unbelief and desire to go back to Egypt -
death in battle, as they wondered they may have traveled the same area more than
once and came upon graves and bones of others.
3) Numbers 19:14-15 This is the law, when a man dieth in a tent: all that come
into the tent, and all that is in the tent, shall be unclean seven days. And
every open vessel, which hath no covering bound upon it, is unclean.
The tents were their dwelling places would be where thy stored food and water.
They had to purify their tents and all and everything within the tent. That
sting of unbelief had to be purged from their dwelling places..
Here was the method of purification: Unclean for seven days
The ashes of the red heifer, cedar, hyssop and scarlet would be mixed with water
from a stream (running water) in a vessel. On the third and seventh day a clean
person would dip hyssop into the vessel and sprinkle the unclean persons and
tents and vessels. Then on the seventh day they all were to wash their cloths in
a water of separation (v9) they were purified after even no longer separated
from the congregation. Their tents and all that were in them were declared
clean.
When did the ashes run out? Maybe
When they entered the Land - the generation twenty and over had all died
When Eleazar died (Joshua 24:33) at this time the land was divided and permanent
dwelling placed were built.. The tabernacle was in permanent location (Joshua
18:1)
Hebrews 9:11-14 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by
a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not
of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood
he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for
us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer
sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more
shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself
without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living
God?
Hebrews 10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and
offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me
1Corinthians 15:55-56 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy
victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
Matthew 5:17-18 ¶ Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets:
I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven
and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till
all be fulfilled.
Jesus Christ through His death, burial and resurrection removed the sting of
death and fulfilled the law, breaking the strength of sin.
*What about the running water the ashes were to be put in? What is running water
a picture of?
The Holy Spirit that flows from our savior. (John 7:37-39) It is the Holy Spirit
that brings our daily sins to our conscience and will take our prayers asking
for forgiveness to Him.
The physical points to the spiritual.
How can we be tainted by dead people? The unsaved.
Keep ourselves from being corrupted by the world’s unbelief
Keep our homes pure from the worlds influence. [and all in it]
In John 17:15 Jesus prayed “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the
world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.” See Note #1
John 16:7 ¶ Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go
away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I
depart, I will send him unto you.
2Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the
excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
2Timothy 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of
silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are
sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the
Spirit of our God.
blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the
spirit of burning.
Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water
by the word,
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his
mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy
Ghost;
Isaiah 4:2-6 In “That Day” all the people of Israel and their homes will be
purged
Note#1 - Not evil one as many say this verse should say. Satan is not the only
evil in this world. Evil comes in many forms. It could come in the form of the
lost we associate with.
Next lesson: Your questions & comments. Also What other ceremony would you see
cedar, hyssop & scarlet. Hint: Read Leviticus 14