Numbers 19, the red heifer….sorry, I couldn’t resist.
As I am reading along in Numbers 19 suddenly the Lord gives a new command to the Israelites. They must obtain a perfect red heifer (cow) and slaughter it outside camp. Verse 9 tells us that the ashes of this cow will be used as part of a ceremony to remove sin.
The red cow conundrum certainly can cause confusion. (ahem). First, this cow isn’t slaughtered in the usual way; that is, on the altar. Aside from this cow, there is never a sacrifice made outside the camp. Secondly, the entire animal including it’s innards and dung are burned. That is also unusual. Usually the hide and the dung, and different parts were removed before burning. Third, it’s part of a ritual but not part of the actual law for cleansing from sin…and it comes later in the exodus..not at the beginning of the journey with all the other laws. You probably aren’t going to hear any sermons on red heifers anytime soon.
So what’s up with special blog post? Actually, I was kinda curious, so I Googled it. And I found out that no one really understands the metaphorical significance of the red heifer.
Unless maybe YOU know, and if you are positive that you do, you are smarter than Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived. The Talmud says that of all the Jewish Law, this was the only part of it that Solomon himself didn’t understand. So… I guess if he didn’t get the significance we don’t have to feel all that bad.
Let me make two contemporary observations:
1. The appearance of a perfect red heifer could be the prelude to world war.
In all of Israel’s history there have only been 9 red heifers recorded. That may be because they were rare, or it could be because the ashes lasted so long they didn’t need a new supply very often. In any case, you can’t work in the temple unless you’re purified, and you can’t be purified without the red heifer….so the Jews have been looking hard for a perfect red heifer for about 30 years…maybe longer.
The Temple Institute (which I visited on my trip to Israel) has begun raising red heifers in-country. Since the purpose of the Institute is to usher in the third temple period, and that requires a red heifer, they are raising them. They began in 2015 after realizing that even a single perfect red heifer was going to be hard to find. They must be raised in a certain way, and have special genetic markings. Since it takes three years to raise one, the earliest they could be ready is 2018, but I can’t find anything that says they have a candidate yet. However, I doubt they would advertise it.
Here’s why:
In 1997 a red heifer was born in Texas that appeared to be perfect…it created such an uprising that some opponents of Israel were demanding that the animal be killed before it incited a war. In 2014 another animal appeared perfect, and the buzz began again…but as it turned out it also had some problems. These heifers have to be completely red, and the last couple have had 2 or 3 white or black hairs. Yes, you heard me right…..only 2 or 3 and they were disqualified. So if a perfect red heifer appears on the farm, it is likely that the people of Israel will take that as a sign from God that it’s time to start building the temple again. The problem is, the Muslim “dome of the rock” is sitting right in the middle of where the temple is supposed to be. In order to build the temple for the Jews, the Muslim community would have to lose or move on of their most holy sites. That probably isn’t going to happen without a war.
2. The need for any sacrifice ended with Jesus. Only by His blood are we made pure.
Jesus was the completion of the need for any and all sacrifice, including the red heifer. My friends in the Jewish community will stringently disagree with this statement, but that is the distinction between us, after all. I don’t know what the significance of the red heifer was as pertains to Jesus and his sacrificial death, I only know that He completed all requirements for forgiveness of sin and purification. No other sacrifice is needed.
So if you hear of a red heifer in the news….now you know.
Faithfully,
PR