Happy Valentines Day! For those men who have forgotten what day it is - jump on it!
Today, we read about at least 3 interesting things: the "red heifer", the tragic sin of Moses and Aaron, and Aaron's premature death. Let me discuss a couple of thoughts with you today:
1) Many people believe that the "Red Heifer" of Numbers 19 is, in part, a future necessity for Israel as a sign of the 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ. In this chapter, God requires Moses to find a "red heifer, a perfect animal that has no defects and has never been yoked to a plow." They were to find this unblemished animal and slaughter it somewhere "outside the camp" instead of at the entrance to the Tabernacle. They were to then sprinkle it's blood on the front of the Tabernacle, and burn it in the place where they slaughtered it. As it was burning, the priest was to throw a stick of cedar, a branch of hyssop, and a scarlet thread into the fire with it. Not only was this a very unusual act, but also very different than all the other sacrifices God had prescribed.
Once the red heifer was completely burned, it's ashes were to be kept in a special place just "outside the camp" and later sprinkled into a bowl of water. This was to become the "water of purification." This water of purification was to be primarily used for a purification process when anything touched a dead person. The priest would sprinkle the water of purification with a hyssop branch on the tent or person who had become "ceremonial unclean" by touching a dead person. This process allowed them to become ceremonially "clean" again. And, it would allow them to stay in the camp and participate in any feasts or festivals Israel was having at the time.
Regarding the 2nd Coming of Christ, there are many people who think that a "perfect" red heifer is required to be found before Jesus can actually return! Of course, Jesus can return at any time with or without the finding of the red heifer. You see, they think that since the Scriptures speak of the rebuilding of Solomon's Temple as a sign of the second coming of Christ (which it does!), they believe that the Ultra-Orthodox Jews living in Israel will insist on finding the perfectly unblemished red heifer in order to reinstate the old Mosaic laws concerning purification. Therefore, many believers are looking to the events concerning the finding of the red heifer to conclude the timing of Jesus' 2nd coming.
My suggestion is the same as Jesus' - "always be ready!" The Bible does NOT give any indication that the finding of a perfectly unblemished "red heifer" is in any way a sign of the coming of Christ. It might be an interesting topic of discussion, but it is NOT a sign we're to be looking for.
2) Moses wasn't perfect! As we read Numbers 20 and 21, we hear God accusing Moses and Aaron as having a lack of faith and trust in Him! Wow...of all things! That's kind of hard to believe isn't it?
While the Bible doesn't say...it seems to me that perhaps Moses struck the rock the second time because nothing happened on the first strike. Or, perhaps Moses was so extremely frustrated with the people that he lashed out and vented his frustration by striking the rock twice out of pure rage. Whatever happened, God was NOT pleased! This action caused God to sentence Aaron to a premature death on the top of a mountain within the next few weeks, and forced Israel to re-route back into the desert because the Edomites had refused to let them go through their land towards the Promised Land.
Why? Why did Moses and Aaron lack faith? They had been so full of faith before!
I think they're just like all of us! They were growing weary in the battle, there's no doubt about that! Perhaps the constant verbal abuse and the recent challenge made by Korah and the 250 Levitical leaders started messing with their minds. Maybe they started questioning God's ability to use them and work through them. They were both very humble, that's for sure. It seems that maybe they simply started focusing on their own weaknesses and circumstances rather than in God's Power. Whatever happened, God accused both Moses and Aaron as lacking faith (20:12) And later, He accuses them of "rebellion" (20:24).
May God help you to be strong in your faith today! If you feel weary in the battle, find a friend you can talk to. We all need each other to keep going! Have a God-blessed day.
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