Numbers 19:1-10 – To approach God we need to be cleansed

Israel’s holy God expects His people to be holy like Him. No unclean person was allowed into His presence. They were barred from the assembly until they were ceremonially cleansed. When a person had been contaminated, he would have to go through a cleansing process. What could be used for His cleansing? Numbers 19:1-10 described that for us. In these ten verses, God instructed Moses and Aaron to prepare the ashes of a red heifer for the purpose of cleansing and purification.

The red heifer, a young cow, must be one that was unblemished and had not had a yoke placed over its neck. Apart from having a choice heifer, the process of reducing it to ashes to be mixed with water for cleansing was also elaborate. The unblemished young cow was to be brought to Eleazar. He would bring it outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence. The blood would then be ritually sprinkled toward the tent of meeting seven times. The whole carcass would be burnt in his sight as well. “Cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet material” were also thrown in to be burnt with the heifer. All who took part in the killing and the burning of the heifer were ceremonially unclean for the remainder of the day. Another person who had not been contaminated would then gather up the ashes which would be kept in a clean place outside the camp. The ashes would be used by the Israelites to mix with water for the purification of their sin.

These ten verses show us that to approach God we need to be cleansed. No one can guarantee that he or she has not been contaminated in his or her daily walk. Hence, daily cleansing is needed. That is why Psalm 66:18 says, “If I regard iniquity in my hearts You (God) will not hear.” Only when we are cleansed can we confidently approach God. In Numbers 19:1-10, the cleansing was provided for using the ashes of the red heifer. And those ashes of the sacrificed red heifer point us to the finished work of Christ that God has provided for our daily cleansing. So The Apostle John said in 1 John 2:1-2, “And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins” and in 1 John 1:9 he tells us that “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” And Hebrews 4:16 urges us, “Therefore, let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.” Let’s do it!