#35 — Parshat Chukat
Numbers 19:1- 22:1
Overview
The Chukah (statute of the Torah) which gives our parsha its name is the statute to make dust or ashes of a red heifer. This red cow has to be burned outside the camp as a special sin-offering. The ashes must be mixed with “living” (free-flowing) water. This water of purification must be sprinkled on those who had been in touch with dead people – and even on the tent with its furnishings in which someone dies. Not purifying oneself from contact with the dead will defile the L-RD’s dwelling place. (Numbers 19)
Also in our parsha, the death of Miryam is recorded (Numbers 20:1). G-d’s people quarrel with Moses for lack of water. Moses and Aaron fail to believe in the L-RD and to uphold Him as holy in this situation and are barred from entering the promised land (Numbers 20:2-13).
Edom refuses Israel passage, resulting in a detour around Edom (Numbers 20:14-21). Aaron dies also (Numbers 20:22-29).
The king of Arad attacks Israel but his cities are destroyed in return (Numbers 21:1-3). Israel again speaks against G-d and Moses. In response the L-RD sends deadly fiery (poisonous) snakes. When the people admit their sins and Moses intercedes for them, G-d tells Moses to put a fiery serpent on a pole. Everyone who gazes at this bronze serpent lives, even if bitten (Numbers 21:4-9).
Israel continues its journey to the border of Moab (Numbers 21:10-20) and defeats the two Amorite kings, Sihon and Og. Thus Israel conquers a large swath of land across the Jordan river (Numbers 21:21-35).
Unbelief and the Messianic Remedy
Persistent unbelief
In our parsha we come toward the end of the forty-year journey through the wilderness. The generation that forfeited entry to the promised land by unbelief has passed away.
Unfortunately, the rebelliousness and lack of faith of the previous generation has not passed away in the desert but rather is passed on to the next. Twice we read in our parsha about rebellion and unbelief: first, when there is a lack of water; and second, when Israel has to make a detour around Edom.
The hope of Moses and the prophets
Israel’s persistent unbelief and rebellion shows again that the giving of the Torah alone is not enough to heal the rebelliousness of the human heart: a future work of redemption is needed.
The hope of Moses and the prophets is that the L-RD actually will give a future spiritual renewal to Israel. Moses describes this as a “circumcision of the heart” (Deuteronomy 30:6). The L-RD will do this spiritual makeover upon a future repentance of Israel.
Here is how the prophet Ezekiel describes it: “I will sprinkle clean water on you and cleanse you from all your filthiness and all your idols, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. I will take the heart of stone out of you and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes…” (Ezekiel 36:25-27).
Israel’s persistent unbelief shows us that such a radical renewal is indeed what’s needed. The light of this future hope also makes the way the L-RD deals with Israel’s unbelief extra significant.
Unbelief’s self-fulfilling prophecy
When God’s people have to make a detour and the road to the Promised Land becomes longer, we read that “the soul of the people became shorter” (Numbers 21:4, literal translation).
A grumbling impatience takes over and distrust of the L-RD (by doubting His gracious intentions) emerges again. “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?” (21:5). The miraculously-provided manna, which the L-RD gives daily, is despised by the people as “wretched food.”
The words of unbelief become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Indeed, many perish when in judgment the L-RD sends the fiery serpents.
The wisdom of G-d’s special remedy
At the request of the people Moses prays for the Israelites and the L-RD is very gracious. He does not simply send away the fiery serpents. In mercy, He provides miraculous healing. Even those who already have the poison of the serpents in their veins can still be saved.
But the people are not healed automatically. The L-RD provides this miracle in a particular way. Moses has to put a bronze likeness of a fiery serpent on a pole. Those poisoned by snakebite who gaze at it live.
In this way the L-RD makes the Israelites face what they brought upon themselves. But the judgment is taken away, stuck to a pole for all those who gaze at it in obedient faith.
The way to life is through facing what they deserved, thus taking it to heart. At the same time, looking at the judgment stuck on a pole is seen to be the L-RD’s provision for life and healing.
The L-RD provides a specific path to life, the way of repentance and faith. He will give the future “circumcision of the heart” in the same way. But not only this, G-d’s provision of life through the bronze serpent actually pre-figures the redemption which G-d gives through the Messiah.
A crucial conversation
“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life” (John 3:14).
These are the words of Jesus the Messiah to Nicodemus, a Pharisee during the Second Temple period. An elite teacher of Israel, Nicodemus knew the scriptures well. In this conversation Jesus talked about the deep cleansing and spiritual renewal needed to enter G-d’s kingdom. Alluding to the words of Ezekiel, Jesus describes being “born again, born out of water and Spirit” (John 3:3-8).
The term “Son of Man” (3:14) makes reference to the Messiah who, according to the book of Daniel, will come as “one like a son of man with the clouds of heaven” and bring G-d’s kingdom to earth forever (Daniel 7:14). But first, Jesus tells Nicodemus, this Son of Man will be the means by which G-d provides the much-needed cleansing and spiritual renewal.
Jesus Himself will be that promised divine provision in a special way: by being lifted up just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness. Here in John 3 Jesus is actually predicting His own death on the cross.
The Bronze Serpent and Messiah
Just like the serpent was lifted up, Jesus the Messiah was lifted up. In the wilderness, the Israelites saw the judgment of G-d raised up on a pole. When Jesus died on the cross something similar happened. When He died Jesus actually took upon Himself the curse for our breaking G-d’s covenant. Just like the serpent on the pole, His death was G-d’s judgment on display.
But Jesus wasn’t judged for His own sins; He had none. Rather, He took the judgment our sins deserve so we can be healed. Isaiah prophesied about this:
He was pierced for our transgression,
He was crushed for our iniquities.
Upon Him was the chastisement that gives us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed (Isaiah 53:5).
The life-look
This crucial recognition of G-d’s substitute for our atonement is the “life-look” that gives eternal life. Just like the poisoned Israelites lived by looking at the bronze serpent in faith, our recognition of God’s provision saves us today.
In a nutshell, repentance and faith have always been what G-d requires. This repentance and faith in the Messiah, who takes our punishment upon Himself, gives us the cleansing and renewal that allow us to enter the kingdom of G-d.
The Israelites gazed at the bronze serpent and lived. Make sure, in the same way, you gaze with faith at the Messiah who died for you.
Would you like to discuss this further? We would love to talk with you.