Weekly Torah Lesson
Parasha: Chukat “Ordinance or statute”
Torah:B’midbar 19:1 – 22:1
Chukat – ordinance – a command for which no reason can be offered
Avinu instructed the Jewish people to remain encamped at the border of the Land of Israel for 19 years after Korach’s rebellion. They then wandered in the desert for another 19 years, arriving at the border of the kingdom of Edom. On the 10th of Nisan 2487, Moshe’s sister Miriam died.
What does a red cow and people walking around in a state of spiritual “uncleanness” because of some form of direct or indirect contact with a corpse have to do with us? Some people will tell you that this passage was “done away with” when Yeshua died. Others, from another belief system, will tell you that there is nothing that we can do about this spiritual condition so we must “just live with it”. Lets see what scripture teaches us.
“19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, jealousies, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Contentions, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of Elohim.” (Ga 5:19-21 )
Notice the third “practice” on the list. The last part of this passage warns, “…those that practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of Elohim”. Spiritual “uncleanness” comes from various sources. One of the “more toxic” sources, coming into close contact with a human corpse is being discussed. Fortunately, for the Messianic Community, we have been given a solution for this condition.
Shaul teaches us
“16 And what agreement has the temple of Elohim with idols? for you are the temple of the living Elohim; as Elohim has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their Elohim, and they shall be my people. 17 Why come out from among them, and be you separate, said Avinu, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. 18 And will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, said the Lord Almighty. 7:1 ¶ Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of Elohim.” (2Co 6:16-7:1 )
** “..perfecting holiness in the fear of Elohim.” Is another way of saying, “Why, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Php 2:12 ) Both of these verses are commands to observe Torah to the best of our ability with the attitude of “the fear of Elohim”. Lets get back to dealing with “spiritual uncleanness” in our lives.
“For this you know, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Meshiach and of Elohim.” (Eph 5:5 )
This is the second time that Shaul specifically tells us that “practicing” uncleanness keeps us out of the Kingdom of Elohim!
I know, and am persuaded by Avinu
“For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.” (1Co 7:14 )
Notice that the opposite of ‘unclean’ is ‘holy’. The assumption here is that a “Believer” is supposed to be practicing a “holy” lifestyle that is acceptable to and at least partially followed by the “unbelieving spouse”. If the “unbelieving spouse” wants to continue living with a “Believer”,the household must be under the umbrella of Torah observance. This is the only way that the children could be considered “holy”.
Prior to 70 AD,when a Believer came into direct or indirect contact with a whole or partial corpse, he/she would go to a place outside the Temple and request being sprinkled with a spring water, ashes from a red heifer, cedar wood and scarlet thread combination by a priest. The process took seven days and included the washing of their clothes, a full body immersion a second sprinkling of the water / ashes combination and waiting until sundown after the seventh day to return to society.
When the Temple was destroyed in 70 AD, the process for cleansing was no longer available. The Torah states, “And it shall be a perpetual statute to them, that he that sprinkles the water of separation shall wash his clothes; and he that touches the water of separation shall be unclean until even.” (Nu 19:21 ) The statute is still in force. How do we deal with it? Shaul teaches in Hebrews,
“12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Meshiach, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to Elohim, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living Elohim?” (Heb 9:12-14 )
The shed blood of Yeshua brings us atonement, which gives us access; which allows us to ask Avinu to remove the “uncleanness” that has come upon us. The really good news is that not only is our flesh cleansed but our conscious as well! This enables us to continue living a Holy life until Meshiach returns.
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