INTRODUCTION: The red heifer is a glorious sacrifice. It was a grand thing for the people of God in the Old Testament, but it is much more than that. In it we can see the glories of God’s working in our daily walk. We can see the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit and the word of God.

1. THE SACRIFICE OF THE HEIFER (Numbers 19:1-10 [1] And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, [2] This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke: [3] And ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest, that he may bring her forth without the camp, and one shall slay her before his face: [4] And Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle of her blood directly before the tabernacle of the congregation seven times: [5] And one shall burn the heifer in his sight; her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, shall he burn: [6] And the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer. [7] Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until the even. [8] And he that burneth her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the even. [9] And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin. [10] And he that gathereth the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: and it shall be unto the children of Israel, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among them, for a statute for ever.
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1. The Command from the Lord (Numbers 19:1-2 [1] And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, [2] This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke:
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1. Given to Moses and Aaron (Numbers 19:1And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
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2. The two LORDs (Numbers 19:1-2 [1] And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, [2] This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke:
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2. The Character of the Heifer (Numbers 19:2This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke:
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1. It was to be a red heifer
2. Without spot
3. Wherein is no blemish
4. Upon which never came yoke
3. The Composition of the Sacrifice (Numbers 19:2-10 [2] This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke: [3] And ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest, that he may bring her forth without the camp, and one shall slay her before his face: [4] And Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle of her blood directly before the tabernacle of the congregation seven times: [5] And one shall burn the heifer in his sight; her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, shall he burn: [6] And the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer. [7] Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until the even. [8] And he that burneth her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the even. [9] And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin. [10] And he that gathereth the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: and it shall be unto the children of Israel, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among them, for a statute for ever.
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1. Bring the red heifer to Moses (Numbers 19:2This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke:
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2. Moses and Aaron give the red heifer to Eleazar (Numbers 19:3And ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest, that he may bring her forth without the camp, and one shall slay her before his face:
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3. Eleazar takes the red heifer without the camp (Numbers 19:3And ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest, that he may bring her forth without the camp, and one shall slay her before his face:
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4. One slays her before his face (Numbers 19:3And ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest, that he may bring her forth without the camp, and one shall slay her before his face:
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5. Eleazar the priest takes her blood with his finger and sprinkles her blood directly before the tabernacle seven times (Numbers 19:4And Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle of her blood directly before the tabernacle of the congregation seven times:
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6. One shall burn the heifer in his sight (Numbers 19:5And one shall burn the heifer in his sight; her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, shall he burn:
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7. The priest shall cast cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet into the burning: (Numbers 19:6And the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer.
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8. The priest shall unclean (Numbers 19:7Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until the even.
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9. He that burneth the red heifer shall be unclean (Numbers 19:8And he that burneth her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the even.
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10. A man that is clean shall: (Numbers 19:9And a man that is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up without the camp in a clean place, and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water of separation: it is a purification for sin.
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1. Gather up the ashes of the heifer
2. Lay them up without the camp in a clean place
3. Wash his clothes
4. Be unclean until even
2. THE PROVISION MADE BY THE HEIFER (Numbers 19:11-16 [11] He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days. [12] He shall purify himself with it on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean: but if he purify not himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean. [13] Whosoever toucheth the dead body of any man that is dead, and purifieth not himself, defileth the tabernacle of the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water of separation was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is yet upon him. [14] This is the law, when a man dieth in a tent: all that come into the tent, and all that is in the tent, shall be unclean seven days. [15] And every open vessel, which hath no covering bound upon it, is unclean. [16] And whosoever toucheth one that is slain with a sword in the open fields, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.
   See All...; Hebrews 9:13For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
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1. Touching the Dead (Numbers 19:11-13 [11] He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days. [12] He shall purify himself with it on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean: but if he purify not himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean. [13] Whosoever toucheth the dead body of any man that is dead, and purifieth not himself, defileth the tabernacle of the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water of separation was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is yet upon him.
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1. The defilement (Numbers 19:11He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days.
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2. The purification (Numbers 19:12-13 [12] He shall purify himself with it on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean: but if he purify not himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean. [13] Whosoever toucheth the dead body of any man that is dead, and purifieth not himself, defileth the tabernacle of the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water of separation was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is yet upon him.
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2. Open Air Contact with Death (Numbers 19:14-16 [14] This is the law, when a man dieth in a tent: all that come into the tent, and all that is in the tent, shall be unclean seven days. [15] And every open vessel, which hath no covering bound upon it, is unclean. [16] And whosoever toucheth one that is slain with a sword in the open fields, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.
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1. The defilement (Numbers 19:14-16 [14] This is the law, when a man dieth in a tent: all that come into the tent, and all that is in the tent, shall be unclean seven days. [15] And every open vessel, which hath no covering bound upon it, is unclean. [16] And whosoever toucheth one that is slain with a sword in the open fields, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.
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1. A man dies in a tent (Numbers 19:14This is the law, when a man dieth in a tent: all that come into the tent, and all that is in the tent, shall be unclean seven days.
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2. Every open vessel (Numbers 19:15And every open vessel, which hath no covering bound upon it, is unclean.
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3. Touching death (Numbers 19:16And whosoever toucheth one that is slain with a sword in the open fields, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.
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2. The purification (Numbers 19:19-20 [19] And the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day: and on the seventh day he shall purify himself, and wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at even. [20] But the man that shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation, because he hath defiled the sanctuary of the LORD: the water of separation hath not been sprinkled upon him; he is unclean.
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1. He shall be purified on the third day and on the seventh day and on the seventh day he will be clean (Numbers 19:19And the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day: and on the seventh day he shall purify himself, and wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at even.
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2. If he does not purify himself on the third day (Numbers 19:20But the man that shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation, because he hath defiled the sanctuary of the LORD: the water of separation hath not been sprinkled upon him; he is unclean.
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1. He has defiled the sanctuary of the Lord (Numbers 19:20But the man that shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation, because he hath defiled the sanctuary of the LORD: the water of separation hath not been sprinkled upon him; he is unclean.
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2. That soul shall be cut off from Israel (Numbers 19:20But the man that shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation, because he hath defiled the sanctuary of the LORD: the water of separation hath not been sprinkled upon him; he is unclean.
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3. THE WATER OF SEPARATION (Numbers 19:17-19 [17] And for an unclean person they shall take of the ashes of the burnt heifer of purification for sin, and running water shall be put thereto in a vessel: [18] And a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it upon the tent, and upon all the vessels, and upon the persons that were there, and upon him that touched a bone, or one slain, or one dead, or a grave: [19] And the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day: and on the seventh day he shall purify himself, and wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at even.
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1. The Preparation of the Water of Separation (Numbers 19:17And for an unclean person they shall take of the ashes of the burnt heifer of purification for sin, and running water shall be put thereto in a vessel:
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1. Take the ashes of the burnt heifer
2. Add running water
3. Place it in a vessel
2. The Application of the Water of Separation (Numbers 19:18-19 [18] And a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it upon the tent, and upon all the vessels, and upon the persons that were there, and upon him that touched a bone, or one slain, or one dead, or a grave: [19] And the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day: and on the seventh day he shall purify himself, and wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at even.
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1. A clean person shall take hyssop
2. Dip it in the water
3. Sprinkle it the third and the seventh day upon:
1. The tent
2. All the vessels
3. The persons that were there
4. The person that touched a bone, one slain, one dead or a grave
3. The Person Applying the Water of Separation  (Numbers 19:19And the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day: and on the seventh day he shall purify himself, and wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at even.
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1. Must be a clean person
2. He shall wash his clothes, bathe himself in water, and be clean at even
4. THE PASSING OF UNCLEANNESS (Numbers 19:21-22 [21] And it shall be a perpetual statute unto them, that he that sprinkleth the water of separation shall wash his clothes; and he that toucheth the water of separation shall be unclean until even. [22] And whatsoever the unclean person toucheth shall be unclean; and the soul that toucheth it shall be unclean until even.
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1. He That Touches the Water of Separation Shall be Unclean
2. Whatsoever the Unclean Touches Shall be Unclean
5. THE TYPOLOGY OF THE RED HEIFER
1. The People or Elements Present
1. The red heifer typifies Jesus Christ
2. The priest typifies Jesus Christ
3. The unclean typifies a defiled saved man
4. The one who slays typifies several different parties acting in unity
5. The ashes typify the Holy Ghost
6. The running water typifies the word of God
7. The dead typifies the wickedness of this world
2. The Typology in the Red Heifer
1. The dual nature
1. The humanity
1. The red is a symbol of humanity
2. Many believe Adam was red.
3. For one, he was made from the dust of the ground and it is often red.
2. The deity
1. Without spot – no external sin to condemn Christ of (1 Peter 2:22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
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2. Wherein is no blemish – no internal sin to condemn Christ of (1 John 3:5And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
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3. No yoke
1. A yoke was used to bring an animal into submission.  The animal was not naturally cooperative and this would bring it into submission.
2. Christ had no need of yoke for He always did what was pleasing to the Father. (John 8:29And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
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3. The Typology in the Sacrifice
1. The place of the sacrifice
1. The red heifer was taken outside of the camp
2. Jesus Christ was sacrificed without the camp (Hebrews 13:12-13 [12] Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. [13] Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
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2. The performance of the sacrifice
1. The red heifer was slain without the camp.
1. The one who killed
1. Notice the obscurity of the one who killed the red heifer.
2. Who killed Jesus
1. The Romans
2. The Jews (Acts 2:23Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
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3. The sins of the world (Isaiah 53:5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
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   See All...; 1 John 2:2And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
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4. God the Father (Isaiah 53:10Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
   See All...; Acts 2:23Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
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2. The death of the red heifer
1. The red heifer was not only killed but it was also burnt
2. Christ not only died in the flesh on the cross, he suffered our hell for us on the cross as well.  When Christ said “it is finished” it is very possible that He was talking about His suffering for sins.
2. The sprinkling of the blood
1. The person sprinkling
1. The priest was responsible for the sprinkling of the blood.  He sprinkled it seven times.
2. Jesus Christ sprinkled His own blood on the mercy seat in Heaven. (Hebrews 9:11-15 [11] But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; [12] Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. [13] For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: [14] How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? [15] And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
   See All...) The seven symbolizes completeness.
2. The place of sprinkling
1. The priest sprinkled the blood, not on the mercy seat but directly before the tabernacle of the congregation.
2. This should tell us this sacrifice may picture something a little different than the idea of eternal redemption
3. It was sprinkled between the presence of God and the presence of people.
3. The care for the remains
1. The ashes are to be gathered and put in a clean place
2. When it is time to apply they are to combine it with running water.
3. The ashes are the earthly representation of a sacrificed heifer.  The Holy Ghost is the Spirit of Christ.  He is here to represent the ascended Christ who is at the right hand of God.
4. The water is a picture of the word of God. (Ephesians 5:25-27 [25] Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; [26] That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, [27] That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
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3. The purpose of the sacrifice
1. The emphasis of this sacrifice is not present forgiveness, but future cleansing.
2. It pictures the daily cleansing of our walk.
3. We come into contact with the deadness of this world and become defiled. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18 [14] Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? [15] And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? [16] And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. [17] Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. [18] And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
   See All...; 2 Corinthians 7:1Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
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4. We need the ashes of the red heifer (the Holy Ghost) and the running water (the word of God) to cleanse us and make our fellowship sweet with the Father.
1. The water of separation was taken from a vessel and sprinkled
2. In the age of grace we need not that it be sprinkled for we are the vessel in which the Spirit of God dwells.

CONCLUSION: The red heifer teaches us much about the defilement of this world, and our need for cleansing. Are you walking with the Lord, and allowing the Holy Spirit to use the word of God to cleanse you from the defilement of this wicked world?