Blessed are You, YHVH our Elohim, King of the universe, who has made us
set apart through His commandments and commanded us to actively study Torah.
Please YHVH, our Elohim, sweeten the words of Your Torah in our mouths and in
the mouths of all Your people Israel. May we and our offspring, and the
offspring of Your people, the House of Israel, may we all, together, know Your
Name and study Your Torah for the sake of fulfilling Your desire. Blessed are
You, YHVH, Who teaches Torah to His people Israel. Blessed are You, YHVH our
Elohim, King of the universe, Who chose us from all the nations and gave us the
Torah. Blessed are You, YHVH, Giver of the Torah.
Joh
2:1 And on the third day there was
a wedding in Qanah of Galil, and the mother of יהושע was there.
Joh 2:2 And both יהושע and His
taught ones were invited to the wedding.
Joh 2:3 And when
they were short of wine, the mother of יהושע said to Him, “They have no wine.”
Joh 2:4 יהושע said to
her, “Woman, what is that to Me and to you? My hour has not yet come.”
Joh 2:5 His mother
said to the servants, “Do whatever He says to you.”
Joh 2:6 And there were six stone water-jugs standing there, according to the mode of cleansing of the Yehuḏim, each holding two or three measures. (cleansing water contained ashes of red heifer)
Heb 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a
heifer, sprinkling the defiled, sets apart for the cleansing of the
flesh, (Note all present tense verbs)
Heb 9:14 how much more shall the blood of the Messiah, who through the everlasting Spirit offered Himself unblemished to Elohim, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living Elohim?
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, we believe that these instructions can only begin to make sense when we 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. These are instructions we obey even if we don’t understand them.
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”
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 men but as the result of the desire of YHVH and the
perfect obedience of one sinless man – Yahshua.
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 – see
Heb 13:10-15
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. Also the Hebrew word for man is
‘’adam’’ and can also mean ‘’red’’.
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. Rom 8:29
Seven
times could be pointing to the 7000
years YHVH provides 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. Modern religion avoids this stark reality and try to
avoid its implications.
Even during the millennium
there will be death, but not for those who are part of the bride of Messiah.
Isa 65:20 “No more is an
infant from there going to live but a few days, nor an old man who does not
complete his days, for the youth dies one hundred years old, but the sinner
being one hundred years old shall be lightly esteemed.
Isa 65:21 “And they
shall build houses and inhabit them, and plant vineyards and eat their
fruit.
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, (mei niddah) 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.
When we desire to obey these instructions,
we declare our faith in YHVH to
completely separate us from destruction –
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 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 on earth experiences a kind of
mourning or weeping because he or she struggles with their imperfections and
are not able to create or produce righteous life of themselves.
We cannot make ourselves clean
or righteous. The only righteousness we will have in this life is the righteousness
of YHVH in Messiah –
Isa 64:6
And all of us have become as one unclean, and all our righteousnesses
are as soiled rags(woman’s menstrual cloth- Strongs 5708) And all of us fade
like a leaf, and our crookednesses, like the wind, have taken us away.
We don’t have intercourse with
our wives during nidah because they are dirty, but because this a “chock” or
instruction we are to strictly observe. We need to remind ourselves that for “seven
days” (figurative of 7000 years) we are
unable to produce the kind of life that will be produced 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 much just ‘’in
part’’ but grows as we see the unfolding revelation of Messiah as it is
revealed in the Torah and the rest of all other scripture – all scripture that
is given to us is meant to bring us into the fullness of the Torah in Messiah.
Mat
5:18 “For truly, I say to you, till the heaven and the earth pass away,
one yod or one tittle shall by no means pass from the Torah till all be done.f
Footnote: f Luk_16:17.
Mat
5:19 “Whoever, then, breaks one of the least of these commands, and teaches
men so, shall be called least in the reign of the heavens; but whoever does and
teaches them, he shall be called great in the reign of the heavens.
Every
time this law of the red heifer was applied – it was a reminder that we too
need to continually sprinkled with the knowledge of how Messiah will ultimately
cleanse and present us perfect to the Father.
Let us remind ourselves that
this “chock” 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 NOT COMPLETE – THERE IS MUCH, MUCH MORE WE
STILL NEED TO LEARN AND UNDERSTAND ABOUT YAHSHUA.
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. Aměn.
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 eternal life.
1Co 15:54 And when this
corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality,
then shall come to be the word that has been written, “Death is swallowed up
in overcoming.” Isa_28:5.
1Co 15:55 “O Death,
where is your sting? O She’ol, where is your overcoming?” Hos_13:14.
1Co 15:56 And the sting
of death is the sin, and the power of the sin is the Torah.
1Co 15:57 But thanks to
Elohim who gives us the overcoming through our Master יהושע Messiah.
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.
This too is a hidden reference
to Yahshua who arose from the grave on the third day and in so doing conquered
both death and sin. We are possibly coming to the end of the sixth day – during
the “seventh day” Messiah will return, and His bride will be spotless and
immortal at his second coming.
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,(chock)
and you shall keep my ordinances,(mishpatim) 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(tamei) 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 (mei niddah) 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 (mei niddah) 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.’ ”
I believe the Torah is
teaching us that the Messiah took upon himself our uncleaness. In that act of
taking our sin upon himself he too became unclean until he arose from the dead
and ascended into heaven where he now sits on the right hand side of the
Father.
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.
Psa
2:12 Kiss the Chosen, b lest He be enraged, And you perish in the way, For
soon His wrath is to be kindled. Blessed are all those taking refuge in Him.
Footnote: bHebrew, Nashqu ḇar. Ḇar - Chosen in Hebrew but Son in Aramaic.
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,(strife and
contention) because the children of Yisra’ĕl contended with יהוה, and He was
set apart among (Heb ‘’in’’)them.
It’s almost like Moshe was
saying ‘’no one will ever be able to enter into the promised land’’ This is not
the teaching of the Torah and the prophets. The scripture says a remnant will
return to enter the promised land ……The set-apart seed is its stump!”……Is 6:13
Isa 10:20 And in that
day it shall be that the remnant of Yisra’ěl, and those who have escaped of the
house of Ya‛aqoḇ, never again lean upon him who struck them, but shall lean
upon יהוה, the Set-apart One of Yisra’ěl, in truth.
Isa 10:21 A remnant
shall return, the remnant of Ya‛aqoḇ, to the Mighty Ěl.
Isa 10:22 For though
your people, O Yisra’ěl, be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall
return – a decisive end, overflowing with righteousness.
Isa 10:23 For the Master יהוה of hosts is making a complete end, as decided, in the midst of all the earth.
(Blessed are you Yahveh, our Elohim, King of the Universe, you have given us your Torah of truth, and have planted everlasting life within our midst. Blessed are you, YHVH giver of the Torah – Ameyn