In this video listen to Numbers 19 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.

In Numbers 19 we meet the red heifer. A heifer is a female cow that hasn’t had a calf yet, so is technically a virgin cow. This is an interesting symbol which represents both Christ and the Church. First of Christ because it is a sacrifice that happens outside the camp, just as Christ was sacrificed outside the city. But secondly of the Church because this is a female heifer without spot and wrinkle, and is red. The church is also described as the wife of Christ, pure and spotless and red meaning under the blood of Christ.

As Christ dies for the Church, symbolised by the sacrifice of the red heifer, the church is also dead in him in the same symbolism. In baptism we are told that we died with Christ, so this symbol is both of these things. Numbers ...