Today is the 19 day of the 2nd Biblical Month and the 30th day of the counting of the Omer. In my Torah study this morning I came across Numbers 19. This chapter dealt with the issue of cleanliness and uncleanliness; more specifically how must Israel (more so spiritual Israel) deal with corpses. Now I realize that for the vast majority of you, this may never be an issue, but for me, this issue is huge. As some of you may or may not know, my profession is that of a Coroner’s Investigations administrator. I deal with death each work day. Fortunately I am now an administrator, having left field investigations duties some years ago. During that time, I was tasked with investigating the circumstances that caused an individual’s death and from that investigation determine the cause and manner of death. Part of my investigation, more times than not, required that I respond to the death scene and physically examine the corpse in question. The primary reasons for doing this body examination was to rule out or rule in potential trauma that could have contributed to the death and to determine or estimate the time of death. As I mentioned earlier, I am no longer a field investigator but am primarily an administrator. I am, however, often called to the autopsy suite to view unexpected findings (such as bullet wounds, broken this and that, excessive blood in the chest cavity, and other pathology) that could have contributed to the decedent’s death. Additionally, since I am responsible for the crew conducting autopsies and who operate our morgue, I made it a point each day to visit the autopsy suite to see how things were back there. Having studied this passage some time ago, however, I have ceased making my daily trek back to those spaces so as not to intentionally make myself unclean.
Many would say, I presume, that this mitzvah would not apply to me. Some would likely say that this mitzvah was given to the children of Israel to prevent the spread of disease in the camp resultant from coming in to contact with a dead individual. I believe this certainly may be true. Would this directive directly apply to me and my crew today if indeed this mitzvah was health related? Not likely. We employ a number of prophylactic tools and practice sanitary methods to prevent the contraction and spreading of disease and filth that would be common to handling corpses. Although I believe some elements of this mitzvah could be health related, I also believe there are other areas of concern that Father has regarding His children coming in to contact with dead bodies. What those concerns may be, I’m not all that certain. However, given that Father made a directive that His chosen avoid coming into contact with dead bodies, that to me is reason enough for me to have ceased going back to the autopsy suite. Now, if it became absolutely necessary for me to go back to the autopsy suite and or even manipulate a body, I will do so, but with the full knowledge that I will be unclean for a period of seven-days. Fortunately, my having to do this has become a rarity and I will do all that I can to avoid having to go back there.
The primary take-away for me regarding this chapter has more to do with the issue of being clean or unclean than anything else. Father has spoken and relayed to us a requirement that His chosen be holy and steer clear of unclean things. Fortunately for us, Father has provided a means by which we may be made clean again if we are forced to deal with a situation that makes us unclean. At the time this mitzvah was given, Father instituted a perpetual ceremonial purification rite for purposes of addressing this particular situation. With the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 68 C.E., that purification rite is no longer in force. I’m not certain, however, that with the passing of the Temple and thus by default any and all associated ceremonial rites involving the Temple, that those situations that make us unclean before Father have also passed. For me, unless someone can prove to me from the Bible that the things the Father has deemed makes us unclean have ceased being an issue such as coming in to contact with a dead body, I will continue to honor and respect that command. For me, there is nothing more important than my relationship with Father. His Torah stipulates the terms for maintaining that relationship. When it comes to things that cause me to be unclean before the Creator, when within my power to do so, I can make provision to avoid becoming unclean. And by chance if I do find myself in an unclean state, I have the blood of Y’shua HaMashiach to purify me and make me clean once again. As He did in the days of Moshe, so He has done for us today: provide a ready means by which we can be made clean before Him and not hinder our relationship with Him.
Lastly, one of the reasons why we were to remain clean at all times back in the day was to avoid defiling Yah’s temple. Today, the temple of two-millennia ago has become our individual bodies (I Cor. 3:16). In order that we not defile our bodies, these temples of Yehovah, we have been given an understanding of those things that bring defilement. More importantly, we’ve been given the remedy for addressing that defilement—the blood and advocacy of Y’shua HaMashiach. Certainly, a much greater deal than our forefathers, wouldn’t you agree.
Now all that being said, I am a firm believer that one must make up in his or her mind whether or not they will follow this and other related mitzvot. Many will contend that we have no need for concern regarding such things that Father had indicated in Moshe’s day would make one unclean. Many hold to the belief that the work of Y’shua erased any such concern. I am not convinced of this at all. I believe the work of Y’shua permanently eliminated the need to sacrifice animals to atone for our sins and temporarily address our recurring impurities. However, I believe that which Yah has deemed makes us unclean has not and will not change (Mal. 3:6). I believe we, Yah’s anointed, must assume fully the role of Yah’s anointed. We cannot simply ignore what Father has told us to do because our denominations have given us a pass to do so utilizing the perverted grace doctrine as the passkey. It just makes sense that we live our lives a cut above the rest of the world and do that which the Father has asked us to do. Shalom fellow saints in training. Rod.