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Today’s Parasha is called “Chukat” (translated: Decrees or Ordinances)and covers Numbers 19:1-22:1. Chapter 19 prescribes the offerings and ashes of the Red Heifer. This red female cow was to be used for purification. It had to be without any defect or blemish – meaning it was physically perfect and had no other colors on it. The sacrifice of the red cow was performed outside the camp. After it was killed and burned along with cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet material, the ashes were kept outside the camp. The heifer’s ashes were mixed with running water and then applied with hyssop on the individual who had become ritually unclean. This was the way that God provided purification for any Israeli who had become ceremonially unclean.

In chapter 20, the death of Miriam takes place. After 37 years of wandering, the Jewish people are camped at Kadesh. Miriam’s burial is performed quickly, seemingly without much of a mourning period. Once again, water has become scarce. This is a moment of crisis for the Jewish nation. Without water, we will die in the wilderness. Of course, the Lord would never permit this, but instead of knowing that and trusting the Lord to provide, the Israelis kvetch that they do not have enough water.

The Lord summons Moses and Aaron, and instructs them to take the staff and to speak to the rock to yield its water. Unfortunately, Moses and Aaron do not heed Adonai’s instructions.  Instead, Moses and Aaron gather the assembly before the rock and say to them: “Listen now you rebels, shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” Following this comment, Moses strikes the rock twice. Did God tell him to strike it twice?  No, not even once.  I will also mention that In Exodus 17 God did tell Moses to strike the rock but not this time, therefore it was presumptuous of Moses to do this.  Many people say that God’s punishment of Moses and Aaron was due to the fact that Moses struck the rock. But we must remember what Moses said to the Israelis: “Listen now you rebels, shall WE bring water for you out of this rock?”  Moses was taking the credit for bringing forth the water. Had Moses acted privately, God might have dealt with Moses differently. Since this was a public display, El Gibbor, the Mighty God severely punished Aaron and Moses. They would not be permitted to enter the Promised Land with the rest of Israel – they would die in the wilderness. Not long after this, Aaron would die and Israel would mourn for him. Aaron’s son Eleazar would become the High Priest.

Think about what happened. God gave an instruction to His two leaders, but instead of obeying His directive, Moses and Aaron followed their own course of action and suffered serious consequences. This warns us that those who are in a position of leadership in the New Covenant Community have a higher calling and therefore greater responsibility; and to whom much is given, much is required.

We frequently find pastors and even Messianic rabbis who want to gain the favor of the world, and depart from the truth of Scripture and begin compromising the truth. For example, these compromisers tell us there are alternative ways to Heaven than just believing in Messiah. Yet Yeshua told us in no uncertain terms in John 14:6 that there is no way to the Father but through Him. Don’t be like those who hear the Word of God but then disregard it. The consequences of disobedience are just not worth it!

But, here is some good news. El-Chai – the Living God, is very gracious and forgiving to His children, even when they make mistakes. While Moses did not enter the Promised Land with that next generation, he was given the privilege of  seeing the Promised Land, and eventually he did enter it – since he appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration with Elijah and Yeshua!

In Chapter 21, the king of Arad comes and fights against Israel. God’s mighty hand gives them the strength to conquer those Canaanites. All of the king’s armies and cities are destroyed. After the battle, our people set out toward the Promised Land.

Again, the Israelis become dissatisfied with the lack of variety of food and begin kvetching about eating only manna. Adonai becomes angry with their attitude and sends poisonous serpents among them. The snakes bite the people and many die. The Israelis approach Moses and admit that they have sinned by having spoken against God and against him. Moses intercedes with Adonai on behalf of the people to remove the serpents. The Lord tells Moses to make a bronze snake and put it up on a pole; and that anyone who is bitten can look at it and they will live.

Notice that the cure is connected to the sin. Looking at a bronze representation of a snake is the cure for being bitten by a snake. Repentance – the willingness to come out of one’s tent and admit to being a ‘sinner’ together with faith in God’s gracious provision will save them.

Centuries later, during his reforms in the Land, King Hezekiah had to destroy this bronze snake, because in Israel’s apostasy the people had begun using it for idolatrous purposes. By the way, it is interesting to note that the insignia that the American Medical Association uses is essentially a cross with a snake wrapped around it – a visual reference back to this chapter in Israel’s history.

Brothers and Sisters, how often do we selectively choose what to follow and NOT to follow.  It is very important that we read the word, study the word, identify the truth in the word and obey! James 1:22-25 tells us, “ Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”

What do our rabbis say: “If the literal sense makes sense, seek no other sense or you get nonsense?”

Much like the people of the Jewish nation that wandered the desert for 40 years, when they sinned, God humbled them and they repented. In the same way, the perfect provision for our sin was our Lord Yeshua, as He Himself said in John 3:16 ^“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”

There is only one way, and the gate is narrow, but the invitation is extended to all mankind!  God has given His mercy and grace to everyone in this room.  God’s forgiveness is such an incredible gift.  Remember, a gift worth having is a gift worth sharing. In a few weeks, we will be heading to the Ann Arbor Art Fair.  Will you sign up and hand out tracts?  We will have the opportunity to have discussions with unbelievers and share Yeshua.  This is what God has commanded, not asked, of us. Will you proclaim our Lord Yeshua’s Good News?

Let me draw two applications from Parasha Chukat:

First, in the ashes of the Red Heifer we see yet another parallel to the work of Yeshua, since He was sacrificed “outside the camp”, as the author of the Letter to the Messianic Jews writes: “The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean.  How much more, then, will the blood of Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God” (9:13-14)! WhenYeshua is talking to Nicodemus, Yeshua states that just as Moses lifted up a serpent in the wilderness, He Himself would be lifted up (crucified), our Substitute, but that the net effect would be the same: the salvation of the people who believe and our loyal to Him.

Secondly, let’s remember that our people begged Moses to intercede between themselves and God on account of the poisonous snakes, as well as on several other occasions, to act as the go-between on their behalf. How false the often-repeated claim that “Jewish people don’t need a middleman”. We really do need a Mediator. The Good News is that there is no better sacrifice or intercessor than Yeshua the real Messiah, once and forever!