Light In Torah

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 f...

It does not happen very often in my life, but the topic of the Red Heifer in Israel is in the news again. Within this week's Torah portion is the topic of the Red Heifer (Num. 19). It is a very strange ceremony, and though I have considered and studied it for many years, I am perplexed with the simplicity and the complexity of the eternal decree (Num. 19:21). Every year God gives me a deeper understanding concerning this topic, but, as I shared with a buddy this morning, I have a loooooong way to go when it comes to understanding this topic of how God restores us from coming into contact with death. We live in a world that is saturated with death. We cannot watch a movie, TV show, or any YouTube series without being desensitized with the death mindset. Add to that the overstimulation of sex into our society and the longing to be loved, felt, or heard, and we are in desperate need of the Red Heifer—whatever the complete meaning of that could be. Like many topics in life, it is one w...