Jesus Christ, revealed by Moses in the book of Leviticus

Prophecy from the Torah

Psalms 78:1-2

"1. Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

2. I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:"

The Lord tells us plainly, through his prophet David, that the Law itself is a parable. If the Law then is a parable; what is it a parable of?

Moses told us in the Law that he himself was a parable, an image or a shadow, of someone yet to come. Deuteronomy 18:18-19 " I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him".

His life with the great Jehovah was an image of another Prophet to come! It is this Prophet that we shall talk about today.

The Law of the Leper in the Day of His Cleansing

We can see a clear revelation of the parable of this Prophet in Leviticus Ch. 14. The law of the leper in the day of his cleansing.

The first thing that had to be done is the priest had to determine that leprosy had been healed. Leprosy has always been symbolic of sin. It was a horrible plague. People afflicted with it were separated from the camp of God's people and no one was allowed to touch them. (Just as we today, often forget we are to be separate from sinners.) After the priest confirmed that the leprosy was gone, the man/woman was to bring two clean birds alive, usually doves, and sometimes pigeons. Along with that is brought cedar wood, scarlet (wool), and hyssop.

Now the metaphors really get specific! The priest is to kill one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running (living) water. It needs to be noted here; throughout the Scriptures, God refers to men as vessels of clay (1.). Do you see where the Lord is going with this?

After this the priest is commanded to take the living bird, the wood, the scarlet, and the hyssop and dip them in the blood of the bird that was slain and proceed to sprinkle the man cleansed of leprosy with this same blood! Oh, it may conflict with our sophisticated senses, but understand the significance of what the Lord is saying!

After all this was done the bird that was left alive, and had been dipped in blood, was loosed into the open field, forever to be free!

Do you understand the beautiful picture that the Lord has painted?

Let's break down the imagery of the parable that the Lord is showing to his people. It is important to note, that nothing in the scriptures is left to private interpretation. The similitudes used by the Almighty, our Father, are consistent throughout scripture. The Lord himself builds upon these images though out the scriptures consistantly, speaking by his prophets and Apostles.

The doves, of course are an image of his Holy Spirit (2.). Luke 3:22 "And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased."

The Lord also refers to his people who have his Spirit as "his dove" in the "Song of Songs" written by Solomon.

Song of Solomon 2:14 "O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice, for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely."

The scarlet wool refers to the Prophet as the Lamb of God. (3.) This is the same way as the old Hebrew prophet Isaiah would refer the Messiah; "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth." And again, "Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he has put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin,"

This reference to the Messiah as the "Lamb of God" is prophetic in all the blood sacrifices of the Law of Moses. As we all know, the blood of sheep, bulls, or goats is not truly capable of taking away sin. (4.)

The hyssop, is a wonderful healing herb used to cleanse, purify, and heal. As Isaiah also prophesied of Messiah Isaiah 53:5 "But 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."

Do you see the wonderful portrait that The Almighty has painted? What must be done for one to be cleansed from sin? This is where the tender mercies of God shine through. The Almighty shows us what he will do.

The Holy Spirit, (the dove) will come to live in an earthen vessel. This is a man who will die but unlike other men there is life in his death! This paints a perfect picture of Jesus Christ the Lord! He will be slain, but as the bird that was slain over running water, so his death was for our life.

The cross we carry is stained with blood of a sacrifice far greater than ours. This also is symbolized by the cedar wood, dipped in blood. Through that blood, the sinner is made whole.

Through that blood we receive the wonderful liberty of God's Holy Spirit. As the bird set free in the open field, "Whom the Son sets free is free indeed".

Following these things there was the washing with water and shaving of all hair, these are representative of the new birth. On the eighth day, the man/woman was again anointed with blood. They then received sprinkling of the anointing oil, with the remainder poured upon the head. Need I tell you of the anointing God promises to his people?

The question remains. Where do you stand in the presence of the Almighty? Have you been cleansed from your leprosy? We have all been lepers in our lives. We have failed and sinned and fallen short, but there remains a sacrifice. It was told from the days of Eden, and through the Law of Moses, to this day.

It is the Lord Jesus Christ; he is the Son of God. The Lion of the tribe of Judah has prevailed! His blood is able to make the vilest sinner whole. All that is required is to come to him with an open heart and confess him as Lord and Christ, and believe in your heart that God the Almighty Father raised him from the dead by the power of the Holy Ghost.

If you know him already I hope you were strengthened and encouraged. Give out what the Lord gives you. You will find that just as the miracle of the loaves and fishes, the more you give out the more abundance you have when you are finished.

May God's peace be upon you, yours in Christ, Tom Alford

(1.) Isa 29:16, 45:9, 64:8, Jer 18:6

(2.) Matt 3:16, Mark 1:10, Luke 3:22, John 1:32

(3.) Isaiah 53:7, John 1:29

(4.) Hebrews 10:4

For more Bible messages from my friend and brother Dale Garris go to, http://www.rivivalfire.org/

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