Rabbi’s Reflections – Sunday, July 14 2024
Shavuah Tov,
Rabbi’s note: This is a little long, but it is for Sunday. I wanted to take a brief break from our series on the Psalms (I anticipate picking that up tomorrow). This week’s Torah portion was Chukat, about the red heifer from Numbers 19. Since this is so mysterious, I decided to republish some previously preached sermon notes on the subject. I hope you enjoy it. End RN.
The Red Heifer and the New Testament Believer
By Rabbi H Michael Weiner
This week’s Torah portion is called “Chukat.” The text begins in Numbers 19, with instructions concerning the mysterious sacrifice of the Red Heifer. A “Red Heifer” Internet search returned an abundance of web pages. This is considered to be a prerequisite for the rebuilding of the Holy Temple. Tradition records that a red heifer in our generation is a herald of the Messianic era.
The Orthodox are waiting for a Red Heifer, as part of waiting for Yeshua. We are not waiting for Yeshua, but rather waiting for the return of Yeshua. In any case, our waiting is not passive, but interactive with God as we prepare to be His bride.
And there is your first clue to unlock the mystery of this “Chukat” sacrifice. The very name “Chukat” means a “mysterious commandment.” So, what does this have to do with Believers in Yeshua living in this day and age? This is part of our waiting too. We are awaiting the return of Yeshua from Heaven.
Is this something of which the author of Hebrews was aware when he wrote to the Messianic Jews in Israel?
Hebrews 9:13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Messiah—who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God—cleanse our conscience from dead works to serve the living God? See also Hebrews 9:23-24 and Hebrews 10:1-2
We have been living in a time when there are no sacrifices offered after the order of the Aaronic Priesthood. Yet there are still spiritual sacrifices after the order of Melchizidek.
1Peter 2:4 As you come to Him, a living stone rejected by men but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house—a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Messiah Yeshua. The Scripture goes on to say that He, Yeshua, is that Chief Cornerstone in that spiritual house.
Hebrews 13:15 Through Yeshua then, let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips giving thanks to His name.
God is preparing us for a time when we will be together with Him on the Temple Mount. The last 3 verses of Ps 92 (A Psalm for the Sabbath Day). Psalm 92:13 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree. He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 14 Planted in the House of Adonai, they will flourish in the courts of our God. 15 They will still yield fruit in old age. They will be full of sap and freshness.
So, what would the ashes of the Red Heifer mean to us? Everything, once we understand the significance of the Bride of the Messiah, which is the reality of this mysterious sacrifice. Let’s “unpack” the first 10 verses of Numbers 19 to enhance our understanding.
Numbers 19:1 Adonai spoke to Moses and Aaron saying, 2 This is the statute (Chukat) of the Torah which Adonai commanded saying: Speak to Bnei-Yisrael that they bring to you a flawless red heifer on which there is no blemish and on which has never been a yoke.
This is called the mysterious offering. Let me count the ways. There are 7 of them.
(1) Why a female? All the other offerings are either male or neuter such as grain. (2) Why red? (Rashi says that even one hair can disqualify a heifer.) (3) It was not a sin offering. (4) It was not eaten by the priesthood or the offeror (5) It was not killed in the place of sacrifice. (6) Why is it not killed by a priest? (7) Why are its ashes not brought into the Holy Place?
So what is the spiritual reality of this sacrifice?
1Peter 1:18 You know that you were redeemed from the futile way of life handed down from your ancestors—not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with precious blood like that of a lamb without defect or spot, the blood of Messiah. 20 He was chosen before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
Because we have been redeemed with His own blood, we have a calling as the Bride of the Messiah.
Isaiah 62:5 For as a young man marries a virgin, so your sons will marry you. As a bridegroom rejoices over a bride, so your God will rejoice over you. 6 On your walls, Jerusalem, I have set watchmen. All day and all night, they will never hold their peace. “You who remind Adonai, take no rest for yourselves, 7 And give Him no rest until He establishes and makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
John the Baptist, who did not live to see the crucifixion, said this…
John 3:29 “The one who has the bride is the bridegroom, but the best man rejoices when he stands and hears the bridegroom’s voice. So now my joy is complete! 30 He must increase, while I must decrease.”
And the “holy city” is not a geographical place, but a people, even the people of God. Revelation 21:2 I also saw the holy city—the New Jerusalem—coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Numbers 19:2b …on which has never been a yoke.
Isaiah and Jeremiah both inform us regarding the symbolism of a yoke…
Isaiah 58:6 “Is not this the fast I choose: to release the bonds of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to tear off every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the homeless poor into your house? When you see the naked, to cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh and blood?
Jeremiah 30:8 “It will be in that day”—it is a declaration of Adonai-Tzva’ot—“that I will break his yoke from off your neck, and will tear off your bonds. Foreigners will no longer enslave him. 9 Instead they will serve Adonai their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.”
Paul also mentions a yoke with which we can also identify. Galatians 5:1 For freedom, Messiah set us free—so stand firm, and do not be burdened by a yoke of slavery again.
So this is the calling of the Bride (female) [us]. We are called to feed others with the milk of the word. Red? Yes, covered by the blood of Yeshua. As blood washed we are called without spot or blemish…totally unyoked to this world. We are not the sin offering, only Yeshua is.
So how is the red heifer vital to the plan of God? Do you think we need purification? Would you agree with me that the body of Messiah is too full of the Philistine spirit (spirit against truth and obedience). How is the red heifer like our own calling, that we should identify with her?
Numbers 19:3 Give her to Eleazar the kohen. He will take her outside the camp and slaughter her in his presence.
The name Eleazar means “God is my helper.” Each of us, as followers of Yeshua, must die to self. Galatians 2:19 For through law I died to law, so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Messiah; 20 and it is no longer I who live, but Messiah lives in me. And the life I now live in the body, I live by trusting in Ben-Elohim—who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Numbers 19:4 Then Eleazar the kohen is to take some of the blood on his finger and sprinkle it seven times toward the front of the Tent of Meeting.
Sprinkling the blood is for purification. Seven times represents complete purification, the theme of the rest of our verses from Numbers 19.
Numbers 19:5 “While watching, he is to burn the heifer, her hide, flesh, blood and refuse.
It is not eaten, but burned to ashes. These ashes become an important right of purification.
Numbers 19:6 The kohen is to take some cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet wool, and cast them into the midst of the burning heifer.
Cedar trees are suitable for building foundations. They are straight, tall and strong. Spiritually, they represent strength, longevity, and spiritual abundance. Hyssop is mentioned throughout Scripture in connection with purification (Leviticus 14:4). Tea made from hyssop has medicinal properties. Red wool represents the blood of Messiah. His blood is the reality of every sacrifice.
Num 19:7 “Afterward, the kohen is to wash his clothes and bathe his flesh with the water, and afterward he may come back into the camp. Still the kohen will be unclean until evening.
Even though the priest is a casual observer, he is considered unclean along with the helper. God is meticulous about these instructions. Galatians 5:9 A little hametz works its way through the whole batch of dough! No unrighteousness is acceptable before God. The following verses also testify to this truth.
Numbers 19:8 Also the one burning it is to wash his clothes and bathe his flesh with the water, and he will be unclean until evening. 9 A clean man is to gather up the ashes of the heifer and put them in a clean place outside the camp. They are to be for the community of Bnei-Yisrael to use as water of purification from sin. 10 The one who gathers the heifer’s ashes is also to wash his clothes as well as be unclean until evening. It will be a permanent statute for Bnei-Yisrael and for the outsider living among them.
There you have it, mysterious but necessary to the people of God. Many followers of Yeshua are excited to see the reestablishment of Temple worship. https://templeinstitute.org/ Me, not so much. Why not? Because there is prophesy that Satan will hijack the process. (Watch for it.)
2Thessalonians 2:3 Let no one deceive you in any way, for the Day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the one destined to be destroyed. 4 He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in the Temple of God, proclaiming himself that he is God.
Watch out… This is going to be trouble! You’ve been warned.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
8 Tamuz Sunday 14-Jul-24
Numbers 22:2-12 Ezekiel 1 Ezra 3 Luke 6:27-49 Galatians 4