The Prophet Micah received notice: “YHWH finds no pleasure in the sacrifice of animals!” So why did God establish this system if He finds no pleasure in it?
Here is a thought. Does God seek maturity over ritual? Most fathers want their kids to learn to be wholesome and moral human beings. So, when their children are young, they teach boundaries that have consequences in hope their children will become wise. Can we compare this concept to YHWH’s pleasure or is there something deeper?
Let’s look at Micah 6:7-8 to gain a bit more understanding:
Does the Lord take pleasure in thousands of rams, In ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give Him my firstborn for my wrongdoings, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He has told you, mortal one, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?
The entrance of sin into this world, drove mankind to foolishness. That foolishness was one of self-centeredness driven by fear which led man towards a life destined to die. From that point forward, our genetic imprint was sin. Consequently, since God is love (I Jn. 4:8), He chose to work with man’s sinful state by providing guidelines, direction, and even a protective covering through the blood of His Son.
Therefore, does God establish systems to reveal Himself or are these systems established for our state of immaturity? On a more sinister side, are rituals set up by religious orders to keep people in a state of fear due to their natural tendencies to sin?
Let’s consider some of the pictures given to us in this week’s study:
Num. 19:1-25:9
- Red Heifer (Numbers 19): A ritual signifying purification of the Israelites from uncleanness. The ashes were used “in the water of cleansing; for purification from sin”. “Whoever touches a human corpse will be unclean for seven days. They must purify themselves with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then they will be clean” (Num. 19:11–12).
Scripture explicitly contrasts the red heifer ceremony with the greater sacrifice of Christ. The ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. While Christ cleans us from within and covers us with his water.
Outside of Scripture, according to rabbinical tradition, there have been nine red heifers sacrificed since Moses’ time. The rabbi Maimonides taught that the tenth red heifer would be sacrificed by the Messiah Himself (Parah Adumah, ch. 3, § 4). The Temple Institute, a group advocating the construction of a third temple, reports that five flawless red heifers from Texas arrived in Israel on September 15, 2022 (https://templeinstitute.org, accessed 9/22/22).
Here’s our first question. Do you believe the contrast given in Scripture or do you believe a description from another source? Is YHWH limited to Heifers?
- Complaints and Victories (Numbers 20-25). How does Yahweh work with Israel’s natural human tendencies of fear, complaining, priesthood positions, battles with giants, and sexual vice.
Here is the list of events: Israel’s Death of Miriam, complaints at the Waters of Meribah, Aaron is stripped of his priestly garments to die, vows are made to God to defeat King Arad, more complaining, bronze serpent, victory over giant kings, Balak and Balaam vows and prophecies, Sin of Peor.
Do you view Yahweh as vindictive or as a God of justice intervening for the sake of Isreal?
- Jephthah’s vow to sacrifice his daughter if given victory (Judges 11:1-33). In this scenario, is it man who believes he needs to make a vow or is Yahweh demanding a vow. Who is the foolish one? And what does it tell us about how we should approach God?
- Encounter with Nicodemus (John 3:10-21). In this revelation, we see a member of the Jewish Council who follows the religious order perfectly. He is pious on every account. In short, the religious dogma. But yet, Yeshua not only tells him that he must be re-born, but that he should have already known this.
Why is being born in the Spirit more important than keeping laws. Or is it?
- The gospel given to Gentiles (Romans 11:25-32). Paul’s desire for his Jewish brethren to be saved is intense in this text. But at the same time, Paul realizes how difficult this will be. He has to address ideas that a person is saved by their genealogy or tribe. In the midst of this, Paul addresses the Gentiles who are new to the gospel and how they must learn to respect the gift.
Here are some basic questions: Is it possible for people to worship a system over YHWH? It’s interesting to note that Paul talks about making the Jewish people jealous of what has been given to the Gentiles. What does this say to Gentiles. Does Paul ask them to look or act Jewish? If the Gentile did so, how does jealousy occur for the Jewish person?
In short, how is our human condition seeking to be saved? Is it by appearance? Is it by works?
Some of you may find offense by some of these questions. If so, I’ll ask you to consider I Corinthians 1:20-31. God has made the wisdom of man foolish. Jews ask for a sign and Greeks ask for wisdom. Christ has been made a stumbling block to those who are foolish. No human can boast before God.
“Let us love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind and our neighbor as ourselves.” It was the last requirement given to the rich ruler who was seeking salvation.
Be blessed,
Rollyn