Cleansing from sin Numbers 19

Cleansing from sin BACKGROUND Numbers is an account of the time between the Exodus and the entry into the Promised Land We have seen times of rebellion against God, Moses and Aaron God has dealt with the rebellions and the rebels The Israelites are still in the wilderness and there are many corpses strewn around the camp How will God deal with this situation?

CEREMONIAL UNCLEANNESS Cleansing from sin CEREMONIAL UNCLEANNESS According to the Law any contact with a dead body will make a person ceremonially unclean (see v 11) If a person is unclean he cannot approach God (Leviticus 22:3 – 7) God provides a way in which many can be made clean again A cleansing water will be made to apply to people

Cleansing from sin CLEANSING WATER (1 – 10) A perfect red heifer will be sacrificed The sacrifice will be made outside the camp Eleazar the priest will make the sacrifice rather than Aaron – possibly because he represents the next generation He will sprinkle some blood seven times at the tabernacle or facing the tabernacle He will burn the heifer The ashes of the heifer will be mixed with water to make a cleansing solution

Cleansing from sin CLEANSING WATER (1 – 10) Wood, hyssop and wool are added to the fire – these are elements used in other sacrifices Everyone who takes part in the sacrifice and the preparation of the ashes will be unclean until they have washed and until evening The ashes will be stored outside the camp This ceremony was to be a lasting ordinance for the Israelites and those who dwelt with them

HOW TO USE THE CLEANSING WATER (11 – 22) Cleansing from sin HOW TO USE THE CLEANSING WATER (11 – 22) An unclean person should use the water on the third and seventh day after they become unclean If they do so they will be clean but if they do not they will cut off from the camp and tabernacle Examples of what happens when someone dies in a tent or in the field are given – everyone in the tent and any open vessel in the tent are unclean, anyone even touching a dead bone in the field will be unclean

HOW TO USE THE CLEANSING WATER (11 – 22) Cleansing from sin HOW TO USE THE CLEANSING WATER (11 – 22) The water can be applied by any person who is clean, not just a priest Anyone applying the water will become unclean and will need to be washed and will remain unclean until the evening Sin spreads, is contagious and is serious

Cleansing from sin LESSONS FOR TODAY Sin separates us from God and from His people We cannot approach a holy, pure and perfect God without being cleansed and made pure We no longer need to sacrifice a red heifer Jesus has become our all sufficient sacrifice Hebrews 9:13 – 15 refers back to this incident – “how much more shall the blood of Christ...cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God”

Cleansing from sin LESSONS FOR TODAY A sacrifice once for all (see Hebrews 10:10) A sacrifice made outside the camp (see Hebrews 13:11 – 15) A sacrifice that equips us to serve (the cleansed Israelite could serve God again) A sacrifice that guarantees our inheritance (the cleansed Israelite was once again counted amongst the camp)