God demands holiness. The Law, however, is something that man cannot achieve in his own sinful, imperfect efforts. In our reading, we are given 2 examples of Christ being the only fulfillment of that Law which provides the holiness that reconciles us to God.
1 . The purifying sacrifice of the red heifer:
““This is the statute of the law that the Lord has commanded: Tell the people of Israel to bring you a red heifer without defect, in which there is no blemish, and on which a yoke has never come.” ( 19:2). The sacrifice of the red heifer foreshadows the sacrifice of Christ who is “ without spot or blemish”.
John Wesley explains:
Red — A fit colour to shadow forth th
No blemish — A fit type of Christ.
Upon which never came yoke — Whereby may be signified, either that Christ in himself was free from all the yoke or obligation of God's command, till for our sakes he put himself under the law; or that Christ was not forced to undertake our burden and cross, but did voluntarily chuse it. He was bound and held with no other cords but those of his own love.
The heifer is burned outside of the camp which compares to the terrible sufferings of Christ which also took place outside of Jerusalem. “For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.” Hebrews 13:11-13
The ashes of the sacrifice were sprinkled upon the unclean person to purify Him. We also must be purified by having the purifying blood of Christ as our acceptable covering of righteousness.
“For the unclean they shall take some ashes of the burnt sin offering, and fresh water shall be added in a vessel.” Numbers 19:17
John Wesley : running water — Waters flowing from a spring or river, which are the purest. These manifestly signify God's spirit, which is oft compared to water, and by which alone true purification is obtained. Those who promise themselves benefit by the righteousness of Christ, while they submit not to the influence of his spirit, do but deceive themselves; for they cannot be purified by the ashes, otherwise than in the running water.
2. The healing restoration of the bronze snake.
The Israelites are in a land that lacks water and they are very thirsty. Snakes enter the camp and these snakes are “ fiery”. As the people are bitten they suffer even more thirst and discomfort.
I couldn’t help but think about all of the worldly pursuits we make in our attempts to quench our spiritual thirst. The more we try to find satisfaction apart from Christ, the more spiritual misery and suffering we endure.
God told Moses to put a snake up on a pole. This signifies Christ being raised up on the crucifixion cross for all to see. “So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.” (21:9). We must spiritually “see Christ”. We must see our need for him. We must see that we can not save ourselves. We must by faith see our redemption “ in Him” and by Him alone.
Mankind struggles to submit to God and be obedient. We see it over and over again in the examples of the Israelites in the wilderness. When God commanded Moses and Aaron to speak to the rock at Meribah and God would provide water, Moses decided to take matters into his own hands. He struck the rock twice instead of speaking to it. What a great price had to be paid for that sinful rebellion. “And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.”” (20:12 ). We can not attain our own salvation!
John Wesley: Because they rebelled — This was one but not the only reason. God would not have Moses and Aaron to carry the people into Canaan, for this reason also, to signify the insufficiency of the Mosaical law and Aaronical priesthood to make them perfectly happy, and the necessity of a better, and to keep the Israelites from resting in them, so as to be taken off from their expectation of Christ.
It’s all about Jesus. We desperately need Him. He’s the only way to be accepted and saved from our fallen, sinful condition. He’s the only perfect sacrifice. We can not save ourselves. We must “see Him” through the eyes of faith and accept the love he extends to us.
image: Wikipedia