4 Then Eleazar the priest is to take some of its blood on his finger and sprinkle it seven times toward the front of the tent of meeting. 5 While he watches, the heifer is to be burned—its hide, flesh, blood and intestines.
Can you imagine what a mess that made? When I hear about this kind of sacrifice....I usually think of it being evil. REALLY EVIL. But, here God is asking for very specific things, for the people to be cleansed. God always has a good reason for the things he is asking. I'm not seeing it clearly on this one. It all seems a little ritualistic, especially with the handling of the dead. But, maybe the intent here was to not spread disease. Who knows.
Very instuctional.
My take? Don't touch a dead person who has been killed with a sword today.
=)
tp
Ha you did better than I did, I had nothing today. Tom had some interesting observations. knut--
ReplyDelete“Anything the ritually unclean man touches becomes unclean, and the person who touches what he touched is unclean until evening.” Numbers 19:22 (MSG)
Throughout God’s message, water is used a physical word picture of spiritual cleansing.
•God cleansed the earth with a flood.
•Israel walked through the water of the Red Sea when escaping Egypt, and then those who enslaved them were washed away in the waters.
•Ritual cleansing and washing was prescribed in the laws of Moses for anything that made people “unclean” both physically and spiritually.
•Jonah tried to rebel by escaping God’s call over water, then was carried through the deep to the place of obedience.
•Baptism, literally defined as plunging forcefully, is prescribed as a public sign of their spiritual transformation for anyone who has cleansed their hearts by placing their faith in Him.
Jesus washed His followers’ feet, then told them to do the same for one another. The word picture is clear. We are expected to follow Jesus’ example. We are to walk through this world and actively love others in tangible ways. The journey carries us through some dark and dirty places. It is important that we are regularly cleansed and refreshed by one another. Otherwise, the dirt may pile up and have gravely ill effects.
Today, as I wash my hands, I’m reminded of the deeper meaning of being cleansed.
Add on by Knut--
Here's another citing of water I found as I was looking for some verses this morning to use in prayer
Micah 7:19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.