Numbers

Numbers 19: God gives a way to cleansing

Begin in prayer

Before learning how God provided cleansing from contact with death, let us ask Him to open our hearts to His care. Pray that we will see our need for the deeper cleansing Jesus gives.

My soul is laid low in the dust. Revive me according to your word!

Psalm 119:25

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us why Your holy presence calls for cleansing, and lead us to the blood of Jesus that cleanses guilty hearts. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

God commands Israel to bring a red heifer without defect that has never carried a yoke. It is killed and burned outside the camp, and its ashes are kept for the water of cleansing. Those who prepare the ashes must wash, and they remain unclean until evening. Anyone made unclean through contact with the dead must receive the cleansing water on the third and seventh days. Washing then completes the cleansing, so the person may be clean at evening. Refusing God’s provision leaves the person unclean and brings the penalty of being cut off for defiling His sanctuary.

As you read Numbers 19, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God provides cleansing so His people may live near His holy presence.

Death makes people unclean in the camp where the living God dwells. A person may become unclean by touching a grave or by being in a tent where someone dies. God gives Israel a way back through water mixed with the ashes of a red heifer. The animal must have no defect and must never have carried a yoke. Its ashes are kept so cleansing can be given when it is needed. The water must be sprinkled on the third and seventh days, followed by washing. Refusing this cleansing defiles God’s sanctuary, and that person must be cut off from the people.

How does Numbers 19 show us that God provides cleansing so His people may live near His holy presence?

God prepares the cleansing His people need.

The red heifer is burned outside the camp, and a clean person gathers its ashes. These are stored in a clean place until someone needs the water for impurity. God provides a way to deal with the uncleanness that death brings.

God’s holy presence makes cleansing a serious need.

Contact with a dead body, a bone or a grave brings uncleanness. Everyone in a tent where a person dies becomes unclean too. These rules teach Israel to treat death and God’s presence with care, without making every contact a deliberate personal sin.

God’s way of cleansing must be received as He commands.

A clean person sprinkles the water on the third and seventh days. The unclean person then washes and becomes clean at evening. Refusing that provision defiles the sanctuary, and the person must be cut off from the assembly.

Memorise

The clean person shall sprinkle on the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day.

Numbers 19:19

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what guilt do I try to wash away without coming to Jesus?

The heifer’s ashes are kept “for a water for impurity”. Death has made someone unclean, and God provides a way to be cleansed. Even the person who sprinkles the water must wash his clothes.

Hebrews 9 verses 13 and 14 takes these ashes as a picture of the cleansing Jesus gives. His blood cleanses the conscience from sin so His people may serve the living God. He died for His people, bearing their sin and suffering the punishment that was theirs. He rose from the dead, having completed the sacrifice that fully meets their need.

So turn from sin and trust Jesus for cleansing. He forgives those who come to Him with their guilt. Please do not rely on outward washing or a record of good deeds. The Savior who conquered death cleanses His people within and brings them near the holy God.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God gives cleansing, and outward washing cannot do what the blood of Jesus does for a guilty heart. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for providing cleansing and showing the deeper cleansing Jesus gives, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

He stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.” Immediately the leprosy left him.

Luke 5:13

Holy God, thank You for making a way for Your people to be clean. Please show us the guilt we cannot remove ourselves. Turn each of us from sin to trust Jesus and His cleansing blood. Help us honour Your holiness and live before You with honest hearts this week. Amen.