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