The Red Heifer

The content of Numbers 19 has been misunderstood. Some affirm that the red heifer applies to Israel’s position. If that were true, it would have been recorded in the book of Leviticus. The sacrifices of Leviticus are associated with worship. The word “Leviticus” means “and He called.” It is God’s call to the redeemed to access, communion, holiness of life, and worship in His presence. The provision for sin in Numbers is for the wilderness, which refers to condition. It is called Numbers because it records two numberings of Israel—at Sinai (Num. 1) and at Moab (Num. 26). The first census was taken to determine the strength of Israel for warfare. Only true Israelites were allowed to fight Israel’s battles. Therefore, none of the mixed multitude was eligible. Only fully-grown males were numbered for military service. “In The Wilderness” seems to be a better title for the book, since it is a book of pilgrimage, warfare, failure, and victory. The book covers all the wanderings and experiences of the chosen nation of Israel in her wilderness journey.

There was just one month between the erection of the tabernacle at the conclusion of Exodus and the command to number the people (Ex. 40:17; Num. 1:2). All the information in the book of Leviticus was taught the Israelites during the period of one month. Just try to master that great doctrinal book over a period of thirty days. The relation of Leviticus to Exodus is the same as that of the Epistles of the New Testament to the four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Therefore, one proceeds from the chosen of God being set free by the blood of Christ in the Gospels to being indwelt by the Holy Spirit who regenerates to the walk of fellowship “with” and service “for” God in the Epistles.

This introduction to the study of the red heifer is absolutely necessary to realize the condition of Christians in today’s war that is being fought against terror. Christians stand between the Jews—descendants of Abraham through Isaac—and the Muslims—descendants of Abraham through Ishmael. Jews, Muslims, and Christians have their eyes on Mount Moriah, the place where the first and second temples were built and destroyed. In 586 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Solomon’s temple; and in 70 A.D., Titus destroyed the temple rebuilt by Herod. Before 685 A.D. the Muslims believed the site of the destroyed temple in 70 A.D. was the place from which Mohammed ascended into heaven riding a steed. They began in 685 A.D. to build the Noble Sanctuary on a 35-acre site in Jerusalem’s walled old city, which contains the Dome Of The Rock shrine and Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The rabbis who have examined the red heifer born last month (March 2002) declared her ritually acceptable, but according to Jewish tradition she will not be acceptable for sacrifice for three years. The Jews adhere to their tradition that the long-awaited Messiah will come to be the King of Israel and high priest of a rebuilt temple, which can only be on the Temple Mount. The Muslims believe an Antichrist figure will be a Jew who will lead an all-encompassing war against Islam, which will culminate in the return of Jesus (a Muslim prophet) and the final judgment below the Noble Sanctuary. Scripture teaches Christians that Jesus Christ is coming for His saints and then He will come with them. He will slay the Antichrist with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end the reign of terror by the appearance of His coming (II Thess. 2:8).

Politics can never solve the problem that exists between Jews and Muslims. It is a religious problem. All politics can do is cover the wound for a while, but no one can negotiate land for peace especially if things are shaping up for the battle of Armageddon. Ancient religious convictions are relentlessly driving both Jews and Muslims. Christians are driven by grace to fulfill God’s purpose in their lives as they view the following prophetical statements: “And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it shall be also in the days of the Son of Man” (Luke 17:26 NASB); and “While they are saying, Peace and safety! then destruction will come upon them suddenly…” (I Thess. 5:3 NASB).

The red heifer offering, which is recorded only in Numbers 19, is not one of the five offerings mentioned in Leviticus, each of which is an aspect of the offering of Jesus Christ. (1) The burnt offering denotes acceptance with God (Lev. 1). (2) The meal offering denotes the perfect object for worship for those accepted before God (Lev. 2). (3) The peace offering denotes fellowship (Lev. 3). (4) The sin offering denotes the root of sin (Lev. 4). (5) The trespass offering denotes the fruit of sin (Lev. 5). The book of Numbers has a fourfold message: (1) service, (2) the indispensableness of order in that service, (3) failure, and (4) victory.

The following four things are discussed in Numbers 19—

1. Cleansing was typically provided in the red heifer offering. This cleansing is not for a Christian’s position in Christ but for the sins he commits during his pilgrimage on earth. The offering was made once. Jesus Christ came to take away the sin of the elect for their position in Him (John 1:29), and His blood cleanses the children of God from their daily contact with sin (I John 1:7). The red heifer offering signifies the latter.

2. The persons to be cleansed are God’s regenerated people. His people must be cleansed from their unavoidable defilements while walking among the sons of men. While trying to help a Christian who is out of fellowship, the Christian trying to help is defiled and needs cleansing. A child of God may boast that he did not actually commit certain sins; nevertheless, he is guilty of some because he allowed them to linger in his thoughts. All of God’s people need cleansing many times each day.

3. The mode of cleansing is by the Holy Spirit applying the spoken or written word of God. Ashes denote the sacrifice, and the running water represents the Holy Spirit applying the spoken or written word.

4. The warning is mentioned twice in Numbers 19. The person who does not purify himself on the third and seventh days will not be clean. He will be cut off from the assembly (vv. 12, 20). What is typified in the Old Testament is clarified in the New Testament.

The Israelites had been delivered from Egypt, crossed the Red Sea, and were in their wilderness wanderings. The wilderness experience of the Israelites was the place where they manifested their true character. The red heifer offering was God’s provision for the Israelites’ sins of the flesh during their pilgrimage. The same principle is that Christians are to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit (II Cor. 7:1).

Some of the Israelites’ sins of the flesh are recorded in Numbers 11-18. They desired human guidance in preference to God’s guidance. They murmured and complained about the leadership God provided. They spoke against the Lord and against His appointed servants. They lusted after food they had previously enjoyed. They rebelled against Divine authority. The people complained because of the strictness of the law. Christians in any age commit the same sins. The flesh of each Christian is no better than that of an unregenerate person (Rom. 7:14-25). However, recipients of God’s grace have the strength to apply what God has provided for their spiritual good.

The red heifer offered was an unblemished female without defect and on which a yoke had never been placed. She was a type of the impeccable Son of God who made provision for Israel’s condition under the title of “wife” in the Old Testament and the title of “bride” in the New Testament. The Person of the offering is typified by the unblemished sacrifice of the red heifer that never bore a yoke. “No blemish” is more than “being without blemish.” Holiness is positive virtue. It is perfect in the Son of God. He was under no yoke. His only desire was to do the will of the Father.

During the Christian’s wilderness wandering he must learn the meaning of resurrection power in order that he may be cleansed from the polluting effects of the world. This provision is made in the death of Jesus Christ. The once-offered sacrifice needs no repetition. Jesus Christ died once to put away sin and sins. When the Christian sins, Christ does not go back to the cross. He made provision for the sin of nature (John 1:29) and the fruits of the sin of nature (I John 1:7).

Aaron did nothing in connection with the red heifer offering. This offering was a type of the priestly condition of the saints (I Pet. 2:9). The sacrifice was made in Eleazer’s presence (Num. 19:3). Priestly functions followed the death of the sacrifice. The internally spotless sacrifice has to do with the Christian’s standing, and the externally free condition from every trace of sin is dependent on the Christian’s daily confession of sin.

The red heifer offering was taken outside the camp. Eleazer dipped his finger in the blood of the slain heifer seven times. Seven is the number of completion. While the offering was burning, the priest threw in cedar, hyssop, and scarlet. Although a person’s sins are as scarlet, they shall be as snow. The real truth of the whole matter lies in the last act of grace. A storehouse of grace is laid up for all the chosen of God. The ashes from the heifer give the power of a past sacrifice. The water signified the cleansing effect of the sacrifice for the children of Israel.

The imperfection of those associated with the statute of cleansing is described in Numbers 19:7-10. From the third to the seventh day is an imperfect condition and an imperfect understanding of that condition. The third day may be likened to the power God provided for cleansing. The seventh day, the day of completion, will not be experienced until Jesus Christ comes to receive His own unto Himself.

The statement “unclean until evening” is found in verses 7, 8, 10, and 21. It denotes the purity of exercise during which the sinning Christian learns that his flesh is unclean and begins to think about his need for cleansing. God would have His appointed servants conscious of their sinful flesh. The servants of God must fulfill the same kind of exercise before they can effectively apply cleansing to another.

Death is the seal of the Divine curse. A dead body, a bone, or a grave was typical of moral and spiritual influences with which God’s people come in contact in their earthly pilgrimage. Since these are the facts of life, Christians cannot have fellowship with God with unclean hands. The water of purification must be applied to every person that is contaminated. Purifying oneself is not optional. It is necessary for the sinning Christian to be in fellowship with God and God’s people. The period of time between contamination and cleansing is a time of reflection and repentance.

The clean person must be pure before he can apply the water of purification on the unclean. The service of purification is continually called for in the assemblies of Christ. This is the one great test of spirituality. A person cannot in the present life go through the process of helping another without going through a humbling exercise of himself. Only the clean can help sprinkle the unclean (Num. 19:19). In helping the unclean, the clean is made unclean. A person cannot deal with sin in another without being defiled. The one who applies the water of cleansing must use it on himself.

The flesh is cleansed by running, living water. The provision of grace for the sins of the flesh can be known effectively only by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Spirit is grieved by any manifestation of the flesh, but He is at the disposal of the saints for the service of purifying when the sinning Christian repents.

The following lessons should be learned from this study: (1) The common priesthood of Christians is imperfect (I Pet. 2:9). (2) The water of purification applied by the cleansed person defiles the one applying it. The cleansing virtue was not in the servant but in God’s grace. (3) The ordinance itself was imperfect. The only perfection is in what Christ did, not the type of it. What it symbolized was perfect (Heb. 9:11-14). (4) The uncleanness of the ordinance must be viewed imputatively.

The unregenerate Jews do not understand the red heifer offering any better than they understand the five offerings of Leviticus 1-5. However, the day is coming when, like Saul of Tarsus, the scales will fall from the eyes of the remnant according to God’s election by grace. Then they will see and understand the truth as clearly as Paul (Rom. 11).