Week 53, Day 4: Waters of Purification
Today’s Reading: Numbers 19:1-22
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
We are told about how the Israelistes were to make waters to remove impurity. They are told to bring an unblemished red heifer for sacrificing. After the sacrifice they are to put the ashes into water. This water is then to be used in the process of cleansing a person from becoming unclean from touching a dead person (vs. 11). This practice is interesting to consider. One could ask how the waters had anything to do with actually cleansing the person. I doubt that there would be any logical explanation or medical explanation for how this would cleanse someone. But it was what God commanded to be done in order for a person to become cleansed. In a way this makes me think about baptism. So many want to say “there’s nothing magical about the water” or “I don’t understand how this takes away your sins”. Whether or not someone understands it, baptism is commanded to be done in order for someone to receive the washing away of their sins. With the cleansing process in chapter 19 the sons of Israel were told if anyone did not cleanse himself with these waters remains unclean (vs 13) and shall be cut off from the assembly (vs 20). It wasn’t optional, it was required for someone to be clean and to continue worshipping God properly.
Question: Why was it important for someone to cleanse themself?
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Week 53, Day 3: The Portions
Today’s Reading: Numbers 18:1-32
Some thoughts from today’s reading…
I appologize for missing the post yesterday. I will be posting twice today to keep up with the scheduled reading.
What I wanted to point to today was the way in which this text mentions that the Levites received the tithe they were still expected to give an offering from that to the Lord. So they gave a tithe of all that they received. It was a tithe of the tithe. They were to treat it as if it was the grain that came straight from the threshing floor or from the wine vat. Like they had harvested it or produced the wine themselves The tithe was given to the Levites in return for their service in the tent and as their inheritance in Israel. I just find it interesting that they were still expected to each one give/ make offerings to God even though the source of these offerings were from the requirements of Israel to give the tithe.
Question: If the tithe was given to the Levites for their service. What was given to the priests for their service?
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