Today’s verses describe God’s prescription for a priest helping someone with a serious skin condition in the time of Moses. The person had to be separate from the community until they were healed. In the instructions, there was a component of atonement and a component of cleansing and being restored to the community. The second bird was released after being dipped in the blood of the first bird mixed with water. 

King David recognized this example as applying to sin as well as physical disease when in repentance he prayed, “Cleanse me with hyssop and I will be clean.” (Psalm 51:7) David also likened the person experiencing God’s salvation to the bird that got to go free, “For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.” (Psalm 91:3)

Pastor Franklin reminded us that this is one of several types in Scripture of how Jesus’ blood and the water of baptism are combined in God’s answer for the serious disease of sin. We are all dead in our sin and separated from fellowship with God. We are caught like a bird in a trap with a death sentence. But Jesus, who is the permanent high priest, shed his own blood so that, like the bird who got to go free in today’s passage, we can be freed from slavery to sin and its death sentence. It was meaningful that, when the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side when he was on the cross, blood mixed with water flowed out. (John 19:34) Jesus further commanded that those who repent and trust in him be baptized in water – in part as a cleansing of our conscience as we are restored to fellowship with him.

Dear Heavenly Father,

What love is this, that paid so dearly, that I, the guilty one, may go free? Amazing love, oh what sacrifice! The Son of God, given for me. My debt He paid, and my death he died, that I might live. Thank You for the washing of baptism. Thank You for making the way that I could be restored to relationship with You and not be left separated, now, and especially for eternity. Praise the Name of Jesus! In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

 

If you are in Christ, declare this portion of Psalm 124 aloud today: “Blessed be YHWH, who has not given us as prey to their teeth! We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped! Our help is in the name of YHWH, who made heaven and earth!” Remember today, that Jesus’ name (Yeshua in Hebrew), means YHWH saves. Jesus is the Name above all names, and there is no other name given under heaven by which we can be saved. (Acts 4:12).