CHUKAT “Ordinance/Decree”

2 July 2011

Numbers 19:1-22:1

Judges 11:1-33

Isaiah 66 (due to Rosh Chodesh)

John 3:10-21

Summary of CHUKAT:

The Red Heifer: the one who performs the ceremony becomes unclean

Miriam’s death

Lack of water

The people protest

GOD commands Moses to bring water

Moses and Aaron err and are punished

Moses strikes the rock

Aaron dies

Moses will not be allowed into the Promised Land

Amalek attacks

A New Challenge-The people complain about going around Edom

The Song (Story) of the Book of Wars of HaShem-History of their battles

The Battle of Sihon and Og

Even though Israel, and Moses, were afraid, Israel won

The Israelites encamp on the banks of the Jordan, opposite Jericho

This portion speaks many things to us, especially about GOD’S provisions for food and water. He even has personal guardianship over us as He protects His people from their enemies. As we read, they are attacked by Amalak, then by Sihon and Og both powerful Kings. Yet we know from Joshua 23:3 and Deuteronomy 20:1-4, that the Lord our GOD goes with us to fight for us against our enemies and will bring us victory. GOD tells us thru Yohanan (John) the Shaliach (Apostle), that the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

As the people of GOD, we are engaged in a battle, a spiritual battle, for ourselves and our families. We are to remain a pure and holy nation. GOD refers to us as an AM HaKodesh (Holy nation), a Royal priesthood. We are to be the messengers of GOD’s plans to bring back not only His people, but all the nations, to serve GOD.

GOD has provided the removal of all defilement thru Yeshua as Redeemer and thus we are no longer defiled but now are sanctified; set apart, to come before HaShem.

The portion regarding the red heifer is a great mystery. The ritual of the red heifer provides for the removal of defilement resulting from contact with the dead. It offers no explanation for GOD's reasoning, except to do it. Even more mysterious is that the aim of this ritual is to purify the defiled, yet the ritual itself defiled those who were in any way connected with the preparations of the ashes or water of purification. It purifies the impure, and at the same time renders impure the pure. There is no explanation for this mystery except that it is decreed by HaShem to be done. The picture here is that of the Messiah, who represents this mystery.

It took the Children of Israel 40 years to be prepared to enter in. It took our Messiah one afternoon to bring cleansing and purity.

Shavua Tov

Rabbi Z.

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