Chukat “Statute”

Part 1

Numbers 19:1-22:1

Goodness….there is a lot going on in this reading! I think it would be best, to break it down into two parts, since there is a lot to dig into.

The Hebrew name for this portion is known as “Statute” and Chukat in Hebrew. I assume most of us understand what the word “Statute” means. But, let’s take a look at it from a biblical perspective.

The word “statute” refers generally to specific laws or decrees given by God, often pertaining to how people should live in accordance with His will. They are a type of divine law, alongside commandments, ordinances, and judgments. Statutes provide guidance on various aspects of life, including worship, moral conduct, and social interactions. 

God is giving clear instructions to His people. I believe He has their best interest at hand and He instructs based on His will and purpose!

The Bible emphasizes the importance of understanding and keeping God's statutes, as they are considered a path to blessing and spiritual growth for all those that are obedient!

Many of us over the last several years have heard about a “Red Heifer” and the animals direct relation to Israel. In scripture, this is where the “Red Heifer” is first mentioned. “Tell the people of Israel to bring you a red heifer without defect, in which there is no blemish, and on which a yoke has never come.”

So, what is the significance of this “red heifer”….it was to meet the requirements of the Old Testament law, a red heifer was needed to help accomplish the purification of the Israelites from uncleanness—specifically, the ashes of a red heifer were needed. Because red heifer ashes were necessary for the purification rites held at the temple, many have regarded the appearance of a red heifer today as pushing the construction of the third temple and the return of Christ. Red heifers were used up until the destruction of the 2nd temple. There is a group of people that are advocating for a 3rd temple to be built and they have already sought out red heifers to full fill a prophecy that some believe is a step forward for the 3rd temple and the 2nd coming of Christ.

Here is some more information on the red heifers, as they came from no other, than the great state of Texas ~ www.templeinstitute.org.

I find it interesting, that the commands that concern the red heifer were yet another foreshadowing of the sacrifice of Christ for believers’ sin. Jesus was “without blemish,” just as the red heifer was to be. As the heifer was sacrificed “outside the camp”, Jesus was crucified outside of Jerusalem (Hebrews 13:11–12). And, just as the ashes of the red heifer cleansed people from the contamination of death, so the sacrifice of Christ saves us from the penalty and corruption of death. It is so awesome when we see the beginning of the story coming full circle. That is why I enjoy digging in and learning!

Once the heifer had been burned, the ashes were collected and placed in a clean spot outside of the camp. The ashes were to be mixed with water and used to purify anyone that came in contact with a dead body. God is life and therefore, He cannot come in contact with anything that is ‘dead’. He is very specific to His people regarding death and when people die. In a sinless world, we would live forever and have no death. Those that believe, can have that one day! No more death, no grief. Jesus sacrifice and resurrection is a free gift for all of us to accept so we can have eternal life with our Heavenly Father.

Over these last few chapters, we have read a lot about “unclean and clean”. Anyone that is “unclean” and touches someone that is “clean”, that person then becomes “unclean”, etc. In today’s world, it makes me think of someone that has a contagious illness…we take the extra precautions, so we don’t contract whatever the illness may be. God knew the importance of keeping the clean people safe. I would imagine, a sickness that may have been contracted from someone alive or deceased, could have quickly wiped out many of the Israelites.

The community of Israelites continue on their travels. They come into a place a wilderness type place called, “Zin”, they stayed in Kedesh and this is the place Miriam (Moses & Aaron’s sister) dies. It is interesting, that just after the verse, “And Miriam died there and was buried there.” It states, that there was no water for the community. Numbers 19:2“Now, there was no water for the community”.

Although scripture doesn’t say exactly why after Miriam’s death, there was no water….but I did find some interesting thoughts relating to it. Some believe that, there was a well, ‘Miriam’s well’ that traveled with them and when she died, the well dried up. There are several symbolic connections & rabbinic interpretations that you can search. Keep in mind, we can quickly get tangled up in a rabbit hole, so be mindful and keep your focus on what God wants you to glean when trying to understand or make sense of something in His word.

Many of us have journeyed down a road, that God has paved the way for us and suddenly, we come to a huge pot hole and we get stuck in that pot hole. And we think, “God, why have you brought us down this road, when you knew it had a pot hole and we would get stuck”?? Well, we see the Israelite community facing the same challenge; however, the pot hole they were stuck in had no water. The people understandingly got upset with Moses and Aaron. And as any good leader would do; they both got down on their faces and the Lord appeared before them and tells them to assemble all the people and he and Aaron are to ‘tell the rock before them to yield water’. A miracle indeed that God wanted the people to see, so they would continue being obedient and honor His Holiness. So, Moses gathers the people and says, “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” Am I the only one that feels some anger or exasperation in his voice toward the people? And then, Moses raises up the staff and strikes the rock and water begins to freely pour out for the people and animals. Now, remember this was the same staff that was used in Egypt also turning it into a snake and back. The staff symbolized God’s power and authority. However, what did God tell Moses to do? “Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and ‘tell the rock’ before their eyes to yield its water.”

Unfortunately, Moses let his anger agains the ‘rebels’ as he called them and he struck the rock out of anger. Now, God tells Moses and Aaron that because they did not follow what He had asked them to do, and they also did not uphold God as Holy in the eyes of the people. The blessing God had for them has now been removed and they would not enter the land He had given them.

How many of us plan our route based on the quickest way to get there? Well, that is exactly what Moses tries to do….he seeks to find a shorter route through an area to shorten their distance. So, Moses sends messengers to the King of Edom and asks if he and his people can pass through their territory. Moses reminds the King of the hardship that the Israelites have faced. He reminds them of their bondage in Egypt for many years and how the Lord heard their cries and sent plagues to destroy the people bringing slavery to the Israelites and then, God delivers them all out of the land. Moses ensures, they will not take anything from the wells or the vineyards. They will stay directly on a road that passes through their territory and not veer off for anything. The King tells Moses, “No”. Moses pleads and the King brings an army of his people to fight against the Israelites should they try and pass through.

One thing we need to understand is who the Edomite people were. There had been a long standing of distrust and animosity for one. See, the people of Edom were descendants of Esau (Jacob’s brother) and with a history of sibling rivalry and enmity that existed between their nations. The Edomite’s lived in a mountainous and secluded region. They most likely feared the large number of Israelites, and worried that they would try to take over their territory and they would loose valuable resources while disrupting their community.

After Moses pleaded with the Edomites, they continued to stand against them traveling through and Moses had to take the people on a much longer and more challenging route.

As the people journeyed along, God tells Moses and Aaron that, “Aaron will not make it to the promised land”. God tells Aaron to gather his people, I would assume to say their “good byes”, because, Aaron tells the people that he will not be going to the promised land, because he did not follow God’s direction at the waters of Meribah. Moses was asked to take Aaron and his son Eleazar up to Mount Hor. This is where Moses strips Aaron of his priestly garments and gives them to his son Eleazar. I can imagine the embarrassment this had as all the people watched. Aaron dies on top of the mountain and when Moses and Eleazar return, the people mourn for Aaron for 30-days. According to what I could find, Aaron died almost immediately after Moses removed his priestly garments. Aaron was 123 years old when he died and it was the 40th year after the Israelites had come out of Egypt.

I will continue with part 2 as we finish up in Numbers 21-22, next week.

I find it interesting reading about that time in bible history. So much seems to happen in just a few short chapters. What is awesome, is the importance of what God wants me to glean changes every time I read His word. We are blessed today, that we have the Holy Spirit to seek wisdom and discernment from when we try and take matters into our own hands.

Blessings & Shalom ~ Deena