1/24/2015

Parashat 39 Portion 114 B’Midbar 19:1-20:13 Ezekiel 36:16-36 Matt 6:19-24


Parashat Chukat.
The sages say that the commandment of the Red Heifer (para aduma) is “beyond human understanding”  The “chukat” or “statutes” of this portion can only begin to make sense when view them in the light of  Messianic redemption. These “chukat” unravel some of the deepest mysteries of our Messiah’s deep love and desire to be united with his bride, so that we can all one day be united to the Father. The meaning of the word “chukat” comes from the Hebrew verb “chukak” and means to cut upon, engrave or inscribe.

Some believe that Yahshua will always bear the scars of his nail pierced hands, evidence that will remind us forever of the Fathers love for us.
After his resurrection Yahshua invited Thomas to examine the scars on his body caused by his execution.

Joh 20:27  Then He said to T’oma, “Bring your finger here, and see My hands. And bring your hand and put it into My side – and do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
Joh 20:28  And T’oma answered and said to Him, “My Master and my Elohim!”1 Footnote: 1See Heb. 1:8-9.
Joh 20:29  יהושע said to him, “T’oma, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
Joh 20:30  There were indeed many other signs that יהושע did in the presence of His taught ones, which are not written in this book,

Joh 21:25  Now there is much else that יהושע did. If every one of them were written down, I think that the world itself would not contain the written books. Amĕn.

Talking of the Messiah the prophet speaks:

Isa 49:16  “See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are always before Me.

 הֵן עַל-כַּפַּיִם, חַקֹּתִיךְ; חוֹמֹתַיִךְ נֶגְדִּי, תָּמִיד

This verse is very misleading in the English translation.

The verse starts off by saying – behold – “hen” or pay careful attention. Then it says “al Kapaim chakotich” which literally means “on palms I have inscribed you” Please note it does not say that YHVH has inscribed our names on His hands. The question then remains “on whose palms then have we been inscribed?”

I believe we were inscribed in Messiah’s palms -Yesh/Is 49 is a Messianic prophecy.

The palms of Messiah have been “inscribed” the Hebrew root comes from the title of this parashah – “chukat’
The “chakikot” or engravings in the palms in Yahshua’s palms indicate that so far Yahshua has been the only man to fully obey YHVH perfectly without any question or any form of disobedience.
Psa 40:7  Then I said, “See, I have come; In the scroll of the Book it is prescribed for me.
Psa 40:8  I have delighted to do Your pleasure, O my Elohim, And Your Torah is within my heart1.” Footnote: 1Ps. 37:31, Ps. 119:11, Isa. 51:7, Heb. 10:7-9.
In modern Hebrew a “chukah” is a constitution. “The phrase in B’Midbar 19:2 “zot chuckat ha torah” this is the chukat of the Torah” appears only twice in the Torah (see also 31:21) This could be interpreted to mean “ this is the whole essence of the Torah” or “this is the constitution found in the Word of YHVH.”
Midrash:
We must not say we are saved because we are obedient. We should rather say we are obedient because we are saved.
Eph 2:8  For by favour you have been saved, through belief,(noun) and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of Elohim, (the verb –“saving” is an act of YHVH)
Eph 2:9  it is not by works,(actions you have taken) so that no one should boast.
It is important to know that we did initiate our salvation, YHVH did.  If we have been called and chosen by YHVH then works and fruitfulness will follow our lives as a confirmation of our calling.

Joh 15:16  “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain…

Joh 15:9  “As the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you. Stay in My love.
Joh 15:10  “If you guard My commands, you shall stay in My love,1 even as I have guarded My Father’s commands and stay in His love. Footnote: 1See 14:15.

Sadly in the last days there seems to be only a remnant that will guard His commands.

Rev 12:17  And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to fight with the remnant of her seed, those guarding the commands of Elohim and possessing the witness of יהושע Messiah.

Joh 6:44  “No one is able to come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him. And I shall raise him up in the last day.
So then who does the Father chose to come to the true Yahshua?

Those that Father knows will obey Him. So once again we are not saved and called by YHVH because we are obedient – we are obedient because He has chosen and saved us – even before the foundation of the world.

Eph 1:4  even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be set-apart and blameless before Him in love,1 Footnote: 12 Thess. 2:13.
That doesn’t mean we sit back and do nothing. We are not saved and chosen to do nothing.

2Pe 1:10  For this reason, brothers, all the more do your utmost to make firm your calling and choosing,1 for if you are doing these matters you shall never stumble at all, Footnote: 1Mt. 20:16, Mt. 22:14, Rev. 17:14.

What do we do? Read the previous verses and you will know.
2Pe 1:2  Favour and peace be increased to you in the knowledge of Elohim and of יהושע our Master,
2Pe 1:3  as His Mighty-like power has given to us all we need for life and reverence, through the knowledge of Him who called us to esteem and uprightness.
2Pe 1:4  Through these there have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, so that through these you might be partakers of the Mighty-like nature, having escaped from the corruption in the world, caused by lust.
2Pe 1:5  And for this reason do your utmost to add to your belief uprightness, to uprightness knowledge,
2Pe 1:6  to knowledge self-control, to self-control endurance, to endurance reverence,
2Pe 1:7  to reverence brotherly affection, and to brotherly affection love.
2Pe 1:8  For if these are in you and increase, they cause you to be neither inactive nor without fruit in the knowledge of our Master יהושע Messiah.
2Pe 1:9  For he in whom these are not present is blind, being shortsighted, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his old sins. (Even though they had been called and chosen they didn’t do what was proper and right according to the Word)
2Pe 1:10  For this reason, brothers, all the more do your utmost to make firm your calling and choosing,1 for if you are doing these matters you shall never stumble at all, Footnote: 1Mt. 20:16, Mt. 22:14, Rev. 17:14.

So once again our parashah not only points us to Messiah it reminds us that we too must become like him in all things even to the obedience of laying down our lives.
Php 2:5  For, let this mind be in you which was also in Messiah יהושע, Php 2:6  who, being in the nature of Elohim, did not regard equality with Elohim a matter to be grasped,
Php 2:7  but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, and came to be in the likeness of men. Php 2:8  And having been found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, death even of a stake.

Gal 2:20  “I have been impaled with Messiah, and I no longer live, but Messiah lives in me.1 And that which I now live in the flesh I live by belief in the Son of Elohim, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Footnote: 1Rom. 8:10, 2 Cor. 6:16, 2 Cor. 13:5, Eph. 3:17, Col. 1:27, 1 John 4:4.
Gal 2:21  “I do not set aside the favour of Elohim, for if righteousness is through Torah, then Messiah died for naught.”  

Aliyah Rishon 19:1-17
Bemidbar/Num 19:1  And יהוה spoke to Mosheh and to Aharon, saying,

Num 19:2  “This is a law of the Torah(zot chukat ha Torah) which יהוה has commanded, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, that they bring you a red heifer, a perfect one, in which there is no blemish and on which a yoke has never come.

It is believed that there have been nine perfect red heifers offered for the service of the Temple so far in history of the two temples that have stood in Yerushalyim.

Rabban Maimonides, who codified the Torah, prophesied that the Messiah would sacrifice the tenth Parah Adumah in human history [at his coming].

There are conflicting reports as to the present day existence of a Red Hefer (female cow). She is to have no blemish- if two hairs on her body are not red then she is considered to have a blemish.
  “No yoke” could imply that there was no burden on this animal which implies our messianic redemption did not come as a result of the effort of a man but as the result of the perfect obedience of one sinless man – Yahshua, by the will  and initiative of  YHVH.

Isa 53:7  He was oppressed and He was afflicted, but He did not open His mouth. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, but He did not open His mouth.


Num 19:3  ‘And you shall give it to El’azar the priest, and he
shall bring it outside the camp, and shall slaughter it before him.

The Red Heifer or “para aduma” reminds us of the Messiah who was slain outside the camp on the Mount of Olives. (There is growing consensus that Yahshua was executed on the Mount of Olives – see Heb 13:9-15)

Everything about this red heifer was red – red reminds us of blood. This points us to the fact that only by blood can death be overcome. This is at the very heart of the mystery of the chukat of the red heifer – death will be overturned by death.
The purpose of YHVH is to conform us into the image of Messiah. The Hebrew word for “image” is “damut” “dam” is the Hebrew word which means blood.

Num 19:4  ‘And El’azar the priest shall take some of its blood with his finger, and sprinkle some of its blood seven times toward the front of the Tent of Meeting.

Seven times could be pointing to the 7000 years YHVH extends His atonement to mankind in order to bring him to perfection to enter into the Eighth Day or eternity. This causes us to face the fact that for a period of seven thousand years we will be confronted with the contamination of death.

Num 19:5  ‘And the heifer shall be burned before his eyes – he burns its hide, and its flesh, and its blood, and its dung.
Num 19:6  ‘And the priest shall take cedar wood and hyssop and scarlet, and throw them into the midst of the fire burning the heifer.

“The hyssop was used in connection with the Messiah’s death, which connects him with the deliverance from Mitzrayim, when hyssop was used to sprinkle the blood on the doorposts.  Hyssop was also used in the cleansing process from “tzaraat” (“leprosy”Lev 14) which symbolizes sin. In this parasha hyssop was used in the cleansing from ritual uncleanness caused by contact with death.
Psa 51:7  Cleanse me with hyssop, and I am clean; Wash me, and I am whiter than snow.
 
The scarlet red wool yarn reminds us of how we too are bound to Messiah in his death. In the commentary on Leviticus 14:4 in Parashah 28, Metzorah, there are several details about the significance of the three elements used in this cleansing.”

The cedar reminds us of the execution stake upon which our Messiah was executed.

Num 19:7  ‘The priest shall then wash his garments, and shall bathe his body in water, and afterward come into the camp, but the priest is unclean until evening.
Num 19:8  ‘And he who is burning it washes his garments in water, and shall bathe his body in water, and is unclean until evening.
Num 19:9  ‘And a clean man shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and shall place them outside the camp in a clean place. And they shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Yisra’ĕl for the water for uncleanness, it is for cleansing from sin.

“Water of uncleanness” in Hebrew “mei nidah”
The verb “nidah” is a piel verb which means to exclude or
expel.
The noun “nidah” refers to a woman having her monthly cycle.

Lev 15:19  ‘And when a woman has a discharge, and the discharge from her flesh is blood, she has to be in her separation (nidah) for seven days. And whoever touches her is unclean until evening.

Some describe a woman’s monthly period as a time when her womb “weeps” because it has not produced life.
This in some mysterious way can be compared to the seven thousand years man experiences a kind of mourning or weeping because he or she is not able to create or produce a righteous life in ourselves.
We cannot make ourselves righteous. The only righteousness we will have in this life is the righteousness of YHVH in Messiah.

2Co 5:21  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of Elohim.

We don’t have intercourse with our wives during nidah; not because they are dirty, but because this a “choke” or instruction we are to strictly observe. We need to remind ourselves that for “seven days” (figurative of 7000 years) are unable to produce the kind of life that we will be able to produce on the “Eighth Day.”

This brings us to one of the most important spiritual lessons we can ever learn in these 7000 years – our knowledge of Messiah is initially very impartial but grows as we seek YHVH with all our hearts to love and obey Him in all things as did Yahshua His only brought forth son.
Every time this law of the red heifer was applied – it was a reminder that we too need to continually be sprinkled with the knowledge of how Messiah is the only one who can cleanse and present us perfect to the Father.

Let us remind ourselves that this “chok” of the red heifer will be reinstated when Messiah returns – Mat 5:17-19.

Why? Because this obedience will lead to a deeper understanding and love for Messiah – BECAUSE THEN AND NOW OUR KNOWLEDGE OF MESSIAH IS STILL VERY SUPERFICIAL – THERE IS MUCH MUCH MORE WE STILL NEED TO LEARN AND UNDERSTAND ABOUT YAHSHUA.

Num 19:10  ‘And he who gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his garments, and is unclean until evening. And it shall be a law forever to the children of Yisra’ĕl and to the stranger who sojourns in their midst.

Num 19:11  ‘He who touches the dead of any human being is unclean for seven days.

Dealing with death is at the very heart  of YHVH’s redemptive mission. His ultimate purpose is to overcome death by death and in so doing give life.

Num 19:12  ‘He is to cleanse himself with the water on the third day, and on the seventh day he is clean. But if he does not cleanse himself on the third day, then on the seventh day he is not clean.

It is possible that is also a hidden reference to Yahshua coming into the world on the “third day” or his birth being around the end of three thousand years after the creation of the first Adam. We are possibly coming to the end of the sixth day – during the “seventh day” Messiah will return.

Num 19:13  ‘Anyone who touches the dead of a human being, and does not cleanse himself, defiles the Dwelling Place of יהוה. And that being shall be cut off from Yisra’ĕl. He is unclean, for the water for uncleanness was not sprinkled on him, his uncleanness is still upon him. (Law forever)

Num 19:14  ‘This is the Torah when a man dies in a tent: All who come into the tent and all who are in the tent are unclean for seven days,
Num 19:15  and every open vessel which has no cover fastened on it, is unclean.
Num 19:16  ‘Anyone in the open field who touches someone slain by a sword or who has died, or a bone of a man, or a grave, is unclean for seven days.
Num 19:17  ‘And for the unclean being they shall take some of the ashes of the heifer burnt for cleansing from sin, and running water shall be put on them in a vessel.

“In Yezekel/Ezekiel 36:24-30, it is written,
“For I will take you from among the nations, and gather you out of all the countries, and will bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my ordinances, and do them. You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and you shall be my people, and I will be your Eloha. I will save you from all your uncleanness: and I will call for the grain, and will multiply it, and lay no famine on you. I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that you may receive no more the reproach of famine among the nations.”
 
Aliyah Sheni 19:18-20:6
Num 19:18  ‘And a clean man shall take hyssop and dip it in the water, and shall sprinkle it on the tent, and on all the vessels, and on the beings who were there, or on the one who touched a bone, or the slain, or the dead, or a grave.
Num 19:19  ‘And the clean one shall sprinkle the unclean on the third day and on the seventh day. And on the seventh day he shall cleanse himself, and shall wash his garments and bathe in water, and shall be clean in the evening.
Num 19:20  ‘But the man who is unclean and does not cleanse himself, that being shall be cut off from among the assembly, because he has defiled the set-apart place of יהוה – water for uncleanness has not been sprinkled on him, he is unclean.
Num 19:21  ‘And it shall be a law for them forever. And the one who sprinkles the water for uncleanness washes his garments. And the one who touches the water for uncleanness is unclean until evening.
Num 19:22  ‘And whatever the unclean being touches is unclean. And the being who touches it is unclean until evening.’ ”
Num 20:1  And the children of Yisra’ĕl, all the congregation, came into the Wilderness of Tsin in the first month, and the people stayed in Qaḏĕsh. And Miryam died there and was buried there.
Num 20:2  Now there was no water for the congregation and they assembled against Mosheh and against Aharon.
Num 20:3  And the people contended with Mosheh and spoke, saying, “If only we had died when our brothers died before יהוה!
Num 20:4  “Why have you brought up the assembly of יהוה into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here?
Num 20:5  “And why have you brought us up out of Mitsrayim, to bring us to this evil place? – not a place of grain or figs or vines or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink.”
Num 20:6  Then Mosheh and Aharon went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the Tent of Meeting, and they fell on their faces. And the esteem of יהוה appeared to them.

Messianic Midrash – the death of Miriam Aaron and Moshe before they entered into the Promised- Land should serve to remind us that one day in the future only the Messiah is able to lead us into our inheritance.

Aliyah Shlishi 20:7-13
Num 20:7  And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Num 20:8  “Take the rod and assemble the congregation, you and your brother Aharon. And you shall speak to the rock before their eyes, and it shall give its water. And you shall bring water for them out of the rock and give drink to the congregation and their livestock.”
Num 20:9  And Mosheh took the rod from before יהוה as He commanded him.
Num 20:10  And Mosheh and Aharon assembled the assembly before the rock. And he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels, shall we bring water for you out of this rock?”
Num 20:11  Then Mosheh lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod. And much water came out, and the congregation and their livestock drank.

The Messiah was only struck once (execution 2000 years ago) Now there is no more “striking” only talking with great respect and honour.

Num 20:12  But יהוה spoke to Mosheh and to Aharon, “Because you did not believe Me, to set Me apart in the eyes of the children of Yisra’ĕl, therefore you do not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”

Num 20:13  These were the waters of Meriḇah, because the children of Yisra’ĕl contended with יהוה, and He was set apart among them.