Have you ever read something in Scripture and just sort or rolled your eyes? It OK you don’t have to answer, I know you have, we all have. This Torah Portion called in Hebrew Chukat חקה contains ordinances, the meaning of the word Chukat, supposedly beyond human understanding.
In this Torah portion, which is the shortest of the year, but contains some of the most important information in the Torah, we encounter the instructions for the Red Heifer, necessary for purification to allow us to enter the Tabernacle of YHVH. We read about the so-called brass serpent on a pole, required for healing the nation after an invasion of deadly snakes.
After more than 40 years of impeccable service to YHVH, and to the difficult people, we are shocked to find Moses and Aaron will not be allowed into the Promised Land “because ye believed me not” … say what?
We learn of the death of Aaron, the elevation of Eleazar to his position, and the passing of Miriam.
Many of the events contained in this parashat are out of chronological order, so we have to pay careful attention to see the message the Lord is sending by moving these events.
As with all of the Torah, the deeper we look, the more Jesus we see. A particularly fascinating section of Scripture of which we will only scratch the surface, leaving plenty for you to learn on your own.
