Today’s Thought “The Largest Cemetery” G. Ward

Numbers 19

1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, ² “This is the statute of the law which the Lord has commanded, saying, ‘Speak to the sons of Israel that they bring you an unblemished red heifer in which there is no defect and on which a yoke has never been mounted. ³ And you shall give it to Eleazar the priest, and it shall be brought outside the camp and be slaughtered in his presence. 

 

The concept of ritual impurity or uncleanness in religious contexts that makes one unqualified to participate in certain religious practices or enter sacred spaces is something unfamiliar for this spiritual era, but was the demand for Israel. Their wilderness experience involved over 1.2 million cadavers (from their own countrymen) lying all around (as these were judged by God and condemned accordingly) and whereas there were laws governing being around those things deemed “unclean” and because this actuality was unavoidable, the Almighty offered HIS standard of purification rites.

The demand for believers now, although considerably different (i.e., without slaughter of animals) – is with a great charge unto sanctification (a state of separation unto God, so as to be useful, for HIS purpose) and this separation involves a no conceding to the world’s standards, but full devotion to HIS commands (*1 John 2:15-17).