What I Noticed Today (Numbers 19-20)
Numbers 19
Numbers 19 deals with how someone who had become ceremonially unclean could become clean.
In verses 1-10, the Lord spoke to Moses and instructed him to have the Israelites bring an unblemished red cow that had never been worked.
Note: Although this was a sin offering (v. 9), it was not to atone for sin, but to purify the person who had become contaminated.
- The bull was to be brought to Eleazar (Aaron’s son). He will take the bull outside the camp, and the bull will be slaughtered in his presence.
- Eleazar must take some of the blood and sprinkle it before the tent of meeting seven times and then burn the bull on the altar.
- The priest is to take cedar, hyssop, and crimson yarn and burn it on the fire with the bull.
- Then the priest must wash his clothes and bathe. He may then re-enter camp but is unclean until evening.
- A man who is clean is to gather up the ashes of the bull and deposit them outside the camp in a ceremonially clean place. The ashes are to be kept for the preparation of the water for the impurity ceremony.
In verses 11-22, the Lord describes the purification process for someone who has become unclean:
- The person who touches a human corpse will be unclean for seven days. He is to purify himself with the water on the third day and will be clean on the seventh day.
- Anyone who touches a human corpse and does not purify themselves is unclean. They defile the tabernacle and are to be cut off from their people.
- This law covers someone who enters a tent in which someone has died, anyone who touches a person killed by the sword, or even someone who touches a human bone.
- To be purified, someone who is clean must mix some of the ashes of the burnt sin offering and mix them with water. Then using hyssop sprinkle the tent, furnishings, and people.
- The unclean person must be sprinkled on the third and seventh days.
- Then they must wash their clothes and bathe, and they will be clean in the evening.
- The person who sprinkles the water of impurity is unclean. He must wash his clothes and will be unclean until evening.
Numbers 20
Numbers 20 jumps forward in time 40 years. All the Israelites over 20 years old who had left Egypt had died in the wilderness except for Miriam, Aaron, and Moses.
In verse 1, the Israelites entered the Wilderness of Zin in the first month of the fortieth year and settled in Kadesh. Miriam died and was buried there.
Note: Miriam died when they arrived at Zin because she had spoken against God regarding Moses (Numbers 12).
In verses 2-13, Moses brought forth water from the rock:
- There was no water there, and the whole congregation came up against Moses and Aaron again!
Note: These are the sons and daughters of those who left Egypt, and they are still thinking things were better under the oppression of the Egyptians. They complained to Moses and Aaron in the same way their parents had complained 40 years before.
- Moses and Aaron fell facedown before the Lord, and the Lord told Moses to take the staff in the sight of the community with Aaron and speak to the rock.
- They were to tell it to bring forth water. Instead, Moses calls the people rebels and strikes the rock twice.
- Water gushed out, and the people water their flocks.
- The Lord told Moses and Aaron because they did not trust Him to show His holiness to the Israelites; they would be denied entrance to the Promised Land.
- The waters there were named “Meribah,” which means “quarreling” because it was there that the Israelites quarreled with the Lord.
Note: The Lord, in His mercy, brought forth water from the rock even though Moses didn’t follow his command exactly. Moses had drawn attention to himself by striking the rock rather than allowing the miracle of the Lord to speak for him.
In verses 14-21, the Edomites deny the Israelites permission to cross their land:
- As the Israelites got closer to the Promised Land, they attempted to cross through Edom on the King’s Highway, but were denied passage by the king of Edom.
- The king of Edom even sent troops out to the border, so the Israelites turned away from them.
Note: The Edomites were descendants of Esau while the Israelites were descendants of Jacob. It seems the issues between the tribes remain even after 400 years!
In verses 22-29, Aaron’s death is recorded:
- The Israelites turned away from Edom and went to Mt. Hor on the border of Edom.
- The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron and said Aaron would not be allowed to go into the Promised Land because he had quarreled with God at Meribah.
- The Lord directed Moses to take Aaron and his son Eleazar to the top of the mountain where he was to strip Aaron of his priestly garments and give them to Eleazar.
- So Moses did as the Lord commanded; stripping Aaron of his priestly garments and giving them to Aaron’s son, Eleazar.
- Aaron died there on the top of the mountain.
- Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain, and the whole Israelites nation mourned Aaron’s death for 30 days.
Some thoughts for additional consideration:
- Leadership can be a heavy burden. People complain and come up against the leaders God has appointed out of selfish ambition, envy, and fear. Ultimately, though, leaders are responsible for their conduct and for obeying God in all they do. With great privilege comes great responsibility!
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.
