Christ in all the scriptures The Red heifer part 2

 Christ in all the scriptures

The offering of the Red heifer part 2 Numbers 19

"OUTSIDE THE CAMP"

We can now consider the distinctives of this seventh aspect of the offering of Christ, of which there are many.  The ashes of an heifer in running water were "a water of separation, a purification for sin for the congregation"-Numbers 19v9.  Thus it typifies the death of Christ to deal with post conversion defilement.  The letter to Hebrews expands on this...1v3 ("He made purification for sins"); 9v13-14 ("...the ashes of an heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God"); 9v23 ("It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these"); 10v2 ("the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins"); 13v12 ("Wherefore Jesus also that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate").  All these are reference to the red heifer offering.  The death of Christ deals with all aspects of sin, including sin defiling us by unavoidable association.

The offering was red, perhaps alluding to ahdam (for red earth) applying this to all men.

It was female: in the offerings both male and female animals are used, the female emphasising the care of man's need.

It was sacrificed outside the camp, not at the altar in the tabernacle as other offerings.  This is emphasising Christ becoming sin for us.  We have already cited from Hebrews Jesus was crucified outside Jerusalem.

The whole animal was burnt in contrast to others.  There was no laying out of the parts for our worship.  This was a conflagration for God cannot look upon sin.  What it meant to God to "make Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us", is not for perusal or worship it was done out of sight, it was done in the darkness, where no human eye could see.

The priest took of the blood to sprinkle 7 times before the tabernacle of the congregation.  Sin contracted from the dead defiled the whole camp.  The blood from the heifer cleansed the congregation!

A layman, (a clean man, not a priest) reduced the heifer to ashes, mixed it with running water (symbol of the Holy Spirit), and put it in a clean place for the purification of those members who became defiled.  What this means to us is awesome, every aspect of our defilement has been met by Divine beings.

As the man burned the sacrifice he also placed on the fire, cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet. These were the elements used in the cleansing of the lepers(Leviticus 14v4-6) the particular symbol of sin representing defilement.  Thus all defilement from sin from whatever source is removed in the death of the heifer!

None of us will ever know what sin means to God, nor the cost to Him to put it away so comprehensively.  Sin will be expunged from the universe, and from all believers, in all its forms.  For our part we need to be exercised, to keep ourselves clean by the gracious provision of God in Christ.  This will involve our approach to God as Hebrews 10v22 suggests, "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water".  Let us cease to mention our sins in public, God doesn't want to be reminded of sin.  Deal with it in the secret place, in the darkness, where it will remain for all eternity.  Burn the red heifer outside the camp, where Jesus died alone to take away all uncleanness.  Let us, in full assurance of faith, come with joy and worship, and approach Him, clean every whit, our consciousness of sin forever gone, for God remembers none of it.  Brethren, let us free ourselves from dead works to worship the God who has fitted us for glory yet to come.

Through Thy precious body broken
Inside the veil;
O what words to sinners spoken
Inside the veil!
Precious as the blood that bought us,
Perfect as the love that sought us,
Holy as the Lamb that brought us
Inside the veil.

When we see Thy love unshaken
Outside the camp;
Scorned by man, by God forsaken
Outside the camp;
Thy loved Cross alone can charm us,
Shame need now no more alarm us,
Glad we follow, nought can harm us
Outside the camp.

Lamb of God, through Thee we enter
Inside the veil;
Cleansed by Thee, we boldly venture
Inside the veil:
Not a stain; a new creation;
Ours is such a full salvation;
Low we bow in adoration
Inside the veil.

Unto Thee, the homeless stranger
Outside the camp,
Forth we hasten, fear no danger
Outside the camp.
Thy reproach far richer treasure
Than all Egypt's boasted pleasure:
Drawn by love that knows no measure,
Outside the camp.

Soon Thy saints shall all be gathered
Inside the veil:
All at home, no more be scattered,
Inside the veil.
Nought from Thee our hearts shall sever;
We shall see Thee, grieve Thee never;
Praise the Lamb! shall sound for ever
Inside the veil.

Hymn by Elizabeth Dark   Believers Hymnbook