Read: Numbers 19:1-20:29; Luke 1:1-25; Psalm 56:1-13; Proverbs 11:8
God gave the priests the commandments about the red heifer. It was to be without defect or blemish that has never been under a yoke. It was to be burned outside the camp but the one who sacrifices him was to be unclean until the next day which started in the evening at sundown. The red heifer is the picture of Jesus on the cross. He was blameless and not under the yoke of the Pharasee’s. His teaching came from God. The priests and any one involved in the ceremony would be unclean and must wash their clothes and themselves. He must be purified on the third and seventh day. The third day represents the day we are re-born. We repent on day one, our old man is buried on day two and our new man is raised on day three. Day seven represents the day we die and are raised to heaven.
Coming into contact with the dead just has to do with the sin of the world and the contaminates sin has. We cannot help but get the sin of the world on us so we have to be cleansed of it. We do that by repenting and the water of the Word washes us and makes us clean.
Once again, the children of Israel come to the same place - the desert of Sin and camped by the same rock that water had come from. Once again they are out of water and once again they are complaining. This time God told Moses to speak to the rock and water would come out of it. The last time he had told him to strike the rock once. Instead, Moses struck the rock twice and God was so angry with him that he was not allowed to enter the land he had spent over 40 years bringing the people to. It seems harsh but God had a reason for being so upset. The rock that had followed them all through the wilderness was Christ (1 Corinthians 1:4). He was struck once for our sins and now we are saved by confession of our sin and believing in our hearts. God wanted Moses to speak this time to show that concept. Moses messed up the picture that would be passed down for generations so he had to die. Miriam and Aaron also had to die before going into the promised land. Miriam and Aaron had both rebelled against Moses so they lost their privilege of entering in. Moses stood for the law. The law and rebellion will keep us from entering into the promises of God.
Between them and the promised land was the land of the Edomites. They asked them if they could pass through their land and they said refused so they had to go around them the long way. God would later punish the Edomites later through Saul.
Luke is the account of Jesus that is written in order. Luke wrote to Theopolis, a Hebrew priest to show him that it had been God’s plan all along to include Gentiles. He also wrote to the Greek followers who attended the synagogue and emphasized the fact that Jesus was the Son of man. He wanted to link the promises in the Old Testament with the events of Jesus life. He started his account at the beginning with the birth of John the Baptist. John the Baptist was the one the prophets had said would go before the Messiah and prepare the way for him. He made sure the miracle and wonder was told. He came with signs and angels proclaiming his birth and he came first to the priesthood of his people. Then, we see the same signs of Jesus’ birth. This was no ordinary beginning. God always talks through signs and wonders and angels when he is going to do something big.
Lord, help us not to miss the signs and wonders you put in our lives everyday. May we prepare our hearts for your coming.
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