6.26.26 – Did Yeshua Ever Become Unclean? Part 4

In our last two studies, we drew parallel comparisons between Yeshua, living water, and the Word. We saw that even death—the most profound event that could render someone ceremonially unclean—cannot affect living water or the Word of God.

This week, in the Torah portion Chukat, the prophetess Miriam dies (Num. 20:1). We are now forty years after the children of Israel left Egypt, and an entire generation has died off in the wilderness, leaving the entire community of Israel unclean. At the beginning of this Torah portion, we are introduced to the red heifer—a ritual that specifically deals with counteracting the effects of death within the camp of Israel. And as I mentioned a few studies ago, the red heifer is back in the news.

This morning, it is only fitting that we pay tribute to this woman, who is responsible for the entire Torah—God's instructions—that we have today. How, you might ask? If it were not for Miriam, there would have been no Moses. Not only was she responsible for bringing her parents back together (Ex. 2:1), but she also prophesied to them about his birth—and how remarkably it all came true (Ex. 2:2). After Moses was born, she placed him in a basket and set him adrift on the Nile, waiting to see what would become of him. This was no easy task, given what was happening to all the male children at the time (Ex. 1:16, 22). Ironically, because of her bravery and her determination to see things through to the end, she was the very reason his own mother was able to nurse him in the Egyptian palace of Pharaoh (Ex. 2:3–10).

What a woman!

In many cultures around the world, women are often treated as inferior or second-class citizens compared to men. However, within the pages of Scripture, we find exactly the opposite (Gen. 2:18–24). And when we read the Exodus story (Ex. 1–Deut. 34:12), we see through Miriam's life an amazing pattern of endurance and "stick-to-it-ness"—a faithfulness over time to protect, support, influence, and help shape the man Moses became.

We have just finished the horrific and rebellious story of Korah (Num. 16–17). In that study, I encouraged each of us to self-identify with the different characters—Korah, Dathan, Abiram, On, the 250 men of renown, the murmurers, Moses, and Aaron—examining how we respond when life feels hopeless, when we are envious or envied, when we are attacked or when we attack, when we are verbally denigrated in the sight of others, and when our mettle is tested.

These stories in Scripture are not about head knowledge. Oh no—they are about time-tested decisions that ultimately reveal who we truly are. They are life processes that take time. This is not AI technology at your fingertips.

Today, I want to devote this study to Miriam and let you consider some of the reasons why the Rock stopped giving water to the entire nation of Israel when she died (Num. 20:2).

What a woman!

Let me say at the outset: every man needs a Miriam—as a sister, a friend, an advisor, a leader, or a wife. She is wise, time-tested, faithful, protective, and full of zest for life. And though she was not exempt from becoming unclean—as we saw in Numbers 12, when she contracted leprosy—we have a deep need for people like her in our lives. There is only one Yeshua!

Happy Preparation Day and Shabbat Shalom,
Alan

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