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Our parasha for this Shabbat is entitled Chukat, meaning “Statute” and covers Numbers chapters 19 through 21. Chapter 19 opens with the commandment concerning the ashes of the now-famous ‘Red Heifer’. I say it’s famous because in recent years there has been a renewed anticipation of the re-building of the Temple in Jerusalem, especially among Christians and Messianic Jews who are more biblically literate and have love for Israel. You see, in order to reinstitute Avodat HaMishkan the Temple services, a consecrated priesthood is necessary, and that isn’t possible without the ashes of a flawless, all-red heifer – something which until just a few years ago had not existed in Israel for millennia. A heifer is a young female cow that has never given birth. The heifer not only had to be all red, and flawless, but could not ever have had a yoke put on it. The ashes of the red heifer were for cleansing those who had come in contact with a dead body. Priests were not to have any contact with the dead – a law which, by the way, continues down to this day among priestly families (for example, those whose last name is Cohen). But it could happen inadvertently, and without those ashes the priest could no longer attend the altar.
There was great symbolism in the sacrifice of the red heifer. It points us to the sacrifice of Messiah Yeshua. First, red is the color of blood, and blood is necessary for atonement. Second, the heifer had to be flawless – just as Yeshua lived a perfect life. Third, the heifer could not ever have had a yoke put on it, which speaks to the fact that Messiah Yeshua, being God incarnate, never had the yoke of sin upon Him – until He willingly bore ours. And, finally, those who handled the sacrifice and the ashes and the water of the red heifer had to become ceremonially unclean in order for the priests to be made clean. So, likewise, in His death, Messiah bore our sin and uncleanness on Himself, in order for us to be made clean.
Much sadness and sorrow occupies chapter 20. Miriam died and was buried in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin. Not much later the congregation would arrive at Mount Hor, where God summoned Moses, Aaron and Eleazar up the mountain, telling Aaron to place his mantle on his son Eleazar, and there on the mountain top, Aaron died. Moses, already burdened with leading a hot-headed, rebellious people, lost his sister and brother in fairly short order.
The Edomites refused peaceful passage to Israel, despite assurances from Moses that the Israelis would not take anything for themselves, and even pay for any water they drank. The Edomites – Esau’s descendants – refused, and even threatened Israel with a large military force, so that our people had to take a much longer, less hospitable route.
But in between the passing of these two great leaders, Miriam and Aaron, our people once again complained, accusing Moses and Aaron of malice in having brought us into the arid, desolate wilderness, conveniently forgetting that the wilderness wandering was our own fault. We chose to go along with the bad report of ten of the twelve spies, and refused to enter the land. Our unbelief earned us God’s judgment: forty years of wandering.
Meanwhile, there was no water in the wilderness of Zin. Moses and Aaron came to the Tent of Meeting, where God told them to assemble the people, speak to the rock and God would provide water. The people assembled, but then Moses did a grievous thing. He said, “Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?” Striking the rock twice with his staff, water began to gush forth – enough for everyone! But by taking credit for it, rather than giving honor to God, Moses forfeited the privilege of bringing Israel into the Promised Land.
In chapter 21, the Israelis complained about the arduous journey and the manna. Because of this sin, God sent venomous serpents into the camp. I don’t believe the snakes bit people arbitrarily, but by divine direction, zeroed in on the complainers. Many died, and the people came to Moses, confessing their sin and asking him to intercede before God for forgiveness and rescue.
God ordered Moses to design and hammer out a bronze serpent, and set it high on a pole. Whoever was bitten by the venomous snakes needed only to come out of their tent, look up to that snake-on-a-pole, and they would live. Of course, if that was you, it meant that now everyone knew you were one of the sinners, but, hey, being embarrassed for a few minutes sure beats dying!
Yeshua alluded to this event as He spoke to Nicodemus in John chapter 3. The serpent on the pole foreshadowed Messiah dying on a Roman cross, in order to give us life. Just as the sinners among Israel had to come out into the open, admit their sins, look up to that standard and live, so it is today – we must come to Yeshua openly, admit our sins, look to Him and live. God is the same merciful God today, but salvation is always on His terms!