Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 19:2, 9, 20

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 19:2, 9, 20

"This is the ordinance of the law which the Lord hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke:

And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin.

But the man that shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation, because he hath defiled the sanctuary of the Lord: the water of separation hath not been sprinkled upon him; he is unclean."

I started my study by wanting to know what the red heifer stood for. Especially, because I know the Jews are currently trying to bred an unspotted red heifer to make a sacrifice. Instead this is what I found.

Laws of Purification

"Anciently, an Israelite who had been in the presence of one who died or had been dead was held to be defiled. This chapter in Numbers describes the way in which such a person was purified. First, a red heifer was slain, burned, and the ashes laid aside. Then the ashes were placed in pure water and the mixture sprinkled upon those who had been defiled. This was known as “the water of separation,” since by it one was separated, or purified, from sin. Failure to avail oneself of the cleansing power in this way resulted in being “cut off from among the congregation”.

Much vital symbolism can be found in this ordinance. One who defiles himself with sin undergoes a spiritual death and is cut off from God’s presence through the loss of the Holy Spirit. Recovery from spiritual death is obtained by faith in Christ’s Atonement (symbolized by the death of the red heifer), repentance from sin, baptism in water, receiving the Holy Ghost, and obedience to God’s commandments. All who thereafter commit certain serious sins and refuse to repent are likewise “cut off from among the congregation,” that is, excommunicated.

(Old Testament Student Manual Genesis-2 Samuel, "Wilderness Wanderings, Part 2")

Instead of needing a red heifer what is needed is faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by immersion and the gift of the Holy Ghost. What is needed is to get on the covenant path.

Day 2295