There simply is no cleansing without sacrifice. Even as early as the journey through the desert, the Israelites had to deal with sin. God Gave Moses and Aaron a method for cleansing. The method was elaborate, and those that prepared for it paid a price of being ceremonially unclean. Still, God made provision for the people to be able to be cleansed for their sin.
The ashes for purification would be a way to continue to be in community; even when there was sin. God never wanted to be separated from his chosen people. Still, God hated sin. He never wanted it in his presence. So, to deal with sin, He made a way for cleansing. The reality is that the people’s sins were not truly wiped away by spreading ashes in water, but, there would, one day, be a sacrifice that would actually and completely cleanse sin. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
We are blessed to walk in the forgiveness of sin. Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross made a full and final payment for that sin. We no longer need to kill heifers, spread ashes, or wash our clothes to be cleansed. Instead, we simply need to confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord; and, believe that God truly raised Him from the dead–and we will be saved. Romans 10:9. We can never underestimate the depth and breadth of God’s Love for us. Instead, we can only thank and praise the Lord for what He has done. He has made provision for our sin and given us the opportunity to experience full, meaningful and eternal life.
God Bless You
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: 2 “This is a requirement of the law that the Lord has commanded: Tell the Israelites to bring you a red heifer without defect or blemish and that has never been under a yoke. 3 Give it to Eleazar the priest; it is to be taken outside the camp and slaughtered in his presence. 4 Then Eleazar the priest is to take some of its blood on his finger and sprinkle it seven times toward the front of the tent of meeting. 5 While he watches, the heifer is to be burned—its hide, flesh, blood and intestines. 6 The priest is to take some cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet wool and throw them onto the burning heifer. 7 After that, the priest must wash his clothes and bathe himself with water. He may then come into the camp, but he will be ceremonially unclean till evening. 8 The man who burns it must also wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he too will be unclean till evening.
9 “A man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer and put them in a ceremonially clean place outside the camp. They are to be kept by the Israelite community for use in the water of cleansing; it is for purification from sin. 10 The man who gathers up the ashes of the heifer must also wash his clothes, and he too will be unclean till evening. This will be a lasting ordinance both for the Israelites and for the foreigners residing among them.
Walking With God 