Water, Water Everywhere

Today's reading is in Number 19, 20

The first part of this reading concerns the water of cleansing that is made from the sacrifice of a heifer - literally, a red cow - and in mixture with other materials: hyssop, other red components from trees, flowers, was all burnt, and its ashes was mixed with water to make up this water of cleansing. The resulting ashes when mixed were red in color, a symbol of the blood. It's interesting that this probably follows later than the next chapter, since Eleazer, Aaron's son is priest at this time. Perhaps it's the next chapter that creates the occasion for this to be put into place.

Now, why do it? Most of the laws concerned the cleansing from times of being unclean. This usually had to do with the death of another person. It might be within the family, in the same tent, or in some cases militarily in battles. The rituals all make sense in the context of health, sanitation, and respect for life.

The next chapter has to do with two main things: first, there is water provided miraculously in the desert from a rock. But, this water from the rock story - the second one in the Torah - is marked by the frustration, anger and disobedience of Moses and Aaron in striking the rock (twice) when God had told them to speak to it. What seems a bit trivial, and given all of the complaining that had been occurring, we can give Moses some room to understand his frustration, nevertheless it is crossing over a line before God.

"But the lord said to Moses and Aaron, 'Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.'"

The chapter ends with Israel's failed negotiations to take the nation through the land of Edom (which were descendants of Esau) and the death of Aaron on Mount Hor and the consecration of Eleazor, his son, as the new High Priest.

Moses' disobedience is a reminder that leadership has it's responsibilities that should stop us to make sure what we do is done for the honor and glory of God and not just for our own selves.


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