Daily EncouragementSample

“The water of cleansing” was effective because in it were mixed the ashes of a red heifer, sacrificed in accordance with the directions given here. This “requirement of the law” had to do mainly with the ceremonial defilement incurred through contact with a dead body. A person so defiled could return to take his place with the people of God after being sprinkled with this water. A close connection between death and sin is implied, because the sacrifice of the red heifer was a sin offering - “it is for purifications from sin.” The importance of this offering was its availability and effectiveness. The ashes were immediately available and the result of sprinkling was cleansing. In this sense, together with other sacrifices, “the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean” (Heb. 9:13) - but only in that limited sense. “How much more then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” (Num. 9:14). This is the perfect sacrifice which “purifies us from every sin,” (1 John 1:7) and its benefits are always available.