Mon.’s Devo - From Death to Life

Read: Numbers 19:1-20:29; Luke 1:1-25; Psalm 56:1-13; Proverbs 11:8
Moses gave the priest a ceremony to do to cleanse the congregation from sin. It included wood, hyssop, and scarlet wool thrown into the sacrifice of the red heifer. We saw all these symbols on the cross. Jesus was the red heifer, the wood was the cross; the hyssop was offered to Jesus to ease the pain but he refused it; and the red wool was a picture of the lamb covered in blood. Jesus’ sacrifice took away sin forever.
Once again, the children of Israel are before the rock at Meribah in the valley of Sin. It is time to cross over into the promised land again. And, once again, they are out of water and complaining. Miriam must die here. She stands for rebellion and rebellion cannot enter the promised land. She was a leader so much more was required of her. She was also leprous making her unclean.
This time, Moses was not to strike the rock but speak to it. The rock stood for Jesus (1 Corinthians 10:4) and he was struck only once for our sins. It was time to speak to him and ask for water. Moses was angry and struck the rock two times which distorted the picture God was trying to paint. Moses’ impulsiveness and anger would cost him his life.
Aaron was punished because of his rebellion. He had to be stripped of his priestly garments and they were given to his son, Eleazar. He died on Mt. Hor. Hor means “forefather” and that is what Aaron was. The law brings death but the new covenant brings life. In the Old Testament we read today of two people who died because of their sin. In the New Testament today we read about the birth of two babies who would bring repentance and salvation to the world.
Luke is the account of the life of Jesus in order (Luke 1:3) so we can use Luke to know what order the events happened. The angel came to Zacharias on the Day of Atonement and Elizabeth became pregnant. She would have a boy named John who would operate in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just and to prepare the people for the Lord. Turning the hearts of the fathers to the children had to do with turning the prophecies of the forefathers to these children. Because Zacharias didn’t believe, he was struck dumb. Elizabeth became pregnant with John the Baptist.
Lord, increase our faith. Prepare us for your next move on this earth. With you nothing is impossible.