Old Testament: Num 19.11–13

To read the Bible in a year, read Numbers 18–20 on February 27, In the year of our Lord Christ 2022

By Don Ruhl 

The Law of Moses listed various reasons why an Israelite might become unclean, such as when someone touched a dead body: 

“He who touches the dead body of anyone shall be unclean seven days. He shall purify himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third day and on the seventh day, he will not be clean. Whoever touches the body of anyone who has died, and does not purify himself, defiles the tabernacle of the LORD. That person shall be cut off from Israel. He shall be unclean, because the water of purification was not sprinkled on him; his uncleanness is still on him.”

– Numbers 19.11–13 

Note that touching a dead body was not sinful, nor was it sinful to be unclean because one touched a dead body. People die and someone has to deal with the body. 

Therefore, the Lord made provisions for such things, and he expected an Israelite to observe the laws concerning what one was to do when he became unclean. 

Failing to follow those laws would be sin. 

Even as the children of Israel had to observe everything that the Lord taught them, so followers of Jesus Christ must also follow his teachings, otherwise, why are they followers of his? 

Questions: 

• Are you careful to do everything that the Lord wants you to do? 
• When you fail to keep his commandments, do you run to him for forgiveness? 

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