A clean person shall take hyssop and dip it in the water, sprinkle it on the tent, on all the vessels, on the persons who were there, or on the one who touched a bone, the slain, the dead, or a grave. (Numbers 19:18)
Thus far, we have looked at the waters of purification in relation to individuals who came in contact with something related to death — a corpse or otherwise. Yet, we also need to see this concept in light of the nation at large. In other words, when Israel turned to other gods and philosophies, they basically became “open vessels” in an environment of death and were, consequently, contaminated with the corrosive and destructive beliefs of the nations.
In time, the contamination reached a point whereby God was compelled to send them out of the Land of Promise and into captivity. According to the prophets, their exile among the nations — e.g. Babylon — was likened to death and being in the grave (Ezekiel 37:12-13). Because they had allowed themselves to be open to unclean things, the end result was death.
The same principle applies today: if we open ourselves up to corruption we shouldn’t be surprised if it results in death, physical and otherwise. That is exactly what happened in large part to God’s people and why a call from the Almighty goes out to them in the last days: “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.” (Revelation 18:4).
Furthermore, that call to come out from among the nations is a call to return to the Land of Promise, meaning that, as a Body, God’s people need to be sprinkled with waters of purification. Thus He says: “For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean” (Ezekiel 36:24-25).
Just because we are believers in Messiah doesn’t mean that we should disconnect ourselves from this principle. In other words, we shouldn’t look at this as just speaking to the people called Israel but should view it as a principle to be embraced by all who call upon the God of Israel. And so then, given that we live in a corrupt world and that it is almost impossible to avoid being splashed by the mud and filth existing in this world, we are in need of cleansing.
True, we have been born again but we are, nevertheless, in constant need of being refreshed and cleansed of the filth we come in contact with. According to Paul, this is why Yeshua came into the world — “that He might sanctify and cleanse her (the Body) with the washing of water by the word” (Ephesians 5:26).
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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