Thur.’s Devo - The Red Heifer

Read: Numbers 19:1-20:29; Luke 1-25: Psalm 56:1-13; Proverbs 11:8 Moses was given the law of the red heifer. The people were to bring a red heifer to the priest that had never been yoked to a plow. It was to be slaughtered outside the camp and its blood sprinkled seven times toward the front of the Tabernacle. The heifer was then burned along with a stick of cedar, a hyssop branch and some scarlet yarn. Then the man who killed the animal must wash his clothes and his body in water. *** The red heifer stood for Jesus. He had never been yoked to the curse of sin and death. He was killed on the cross (the cedar stick) and given vinegar on a hyssop to deaden the pain, which he refused. The scarlet thread was the story throughout the Bible of the salvation through blood. The man who offered the sacrificed had to then bathe with water which was a picture of baptism in water that cleanses our soul and Jesus’ baptism in his Spirit that equips us for ministry. All who touched death would be unclean for seven days. We all touch death everyday because sin and death reign in the world. So we all need a savior. They were to purify themselves on the third and seventh day. The whole week represents our lives. So the third day is the day we conform to God’s image by realizing we need to be saved. We then, repent, confess, believe and are baptized. We are clean until the seventh day when we die and go to heaven. Then we are totally set free from sin. Our lives are burnt in the fire and only what we did for Christ remains. (1 Co. 3:1-17) *** This law of sin and sanctification is for those who go to church (in a tent), or those in the world (in an open field). If they see a person sin, they are responsible to not join with them. We are to remove it so it doesn’t affect and infect others. *** We are cleaned by repentance and the water of the Word. We apply God’s word which tells us to repent and turn away from that sin and not return it. *** The children of Israel arrived in the wilderness of Zin and camped at Kadesh. Kadesh means “set apart for purpose.” Miriam died and was buried there. There was no water so the people rebelled…again and complained to Moses that he had brought them there to kill them. They longed for Egypt. *** Moses went before the Lord and he told them to take Aaron and the staff and assemble the people before the rock. He was to speak to the rock and water would come forth. But, Moses struck the rock twice with the staff. Water gushed out, but God was most unpleased with Moses and Aaron. It cost them both their lives and they were not allowed to enter into the promised land. *** Jesus died once for our sins. Moses had struck the rock the first time they came there and the water came forth. Now Moses was to speak to it because that is how we communicate with God because of what Jesus did. Moses messed up God’s picture. He did not demonstrate God’s holiness to the people. *** Moses sent ambassadors to the king of Edom introducing themselves and asking if they could be allowed to pass through their land. They promised not to eat any of their harvest or drink from their wells. They just wanted to walk through the land. *** The king of Edom was very intimidated by them and refused to let them touch his land. He threatened to fight them with his army. So, the children of Israel had to go the long way. They arrived at Mount Hor where it was time for Aaron to die. First, Moses transferred his office of the high priest to his son, Eleazar. Then Aaron died on top of the mountain and the people mourned for him thirty days. *** Luke, decided to write an account of Jesus’ life for Theophilus, his wealthy friend. He investigated as a reporter would with interviews from eye-witnesses and dates so he would get the story in the right order. He began his story with Zechariah and Elizabeth and the miraculous birth of John the Baptist. Zechariah was a priest and it was his time to offer incense on the altar of incense. He was old and his wife barren. While he was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared and told him that his prayers were bing answered. He and his wife, Elizabeth would have a son and name him John. (I love that he named Elizabeth as the mother so he wouldn’t be tempted to have an “Ishmael” with some concubine.) He would bring joy to him and many others. He must not drink wine or alcohol and he would be filled with the spirit and power of Elijah. He would turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and would cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly. This was the same prophecy given by Malachi (Mal. 4:5-6). *** When Zechariah doubted God, he caused him to be muted until the child was born. When he walked out to the people, he couldn’t talk. He motioned and gestured so that they knew he had seen a vision. *** Elizabeth did become pregnant and hid away for five months. *** God, I thank you that you don’t forget our prayers like you didn’t forget Elizabeth’s. Help us to wait for you and your timing. Our ways are not your ways, but we know that yours are better.