The Resurrected Hand
“Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart…” (Psalm 24:3-4)
In Leviticus, an Israelite is to lay his hand on the sacrifice that covers his sin and allows him to draw near to God. It was the red hand of death and the whiteness of a pure sacrifice willing to take the “stroke” (plague).
“And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.”
Genesis 22:10
But the Lord Himself covered Moses with His hand as the consuming fire of His glory passed-over the mountain. It was the hand of life and the whiteness of imparted glory. As far as was possible, Moses saw the Lord as He was, because he was like Him.
We see this pattern of the chosen Head and the resurrected Body in Exodus 4:6-7:
Furthermore the LORD said to him,
…..“Now put your hand in your bosom.”
……….And he put his hand in his bosom,
……….and when he took it out,
…..behold, his hand was leprous, like snow.
And He said,
…..“Put your hand in your bosom again.”
……….So he put his hand in his bosom again,
……….and drew it out of his bosom,
…..and behold, it was restored like his flesh.
The flesh and blood are separated in death and reunited in life.
So, in the Sacrifice, Jesus, death begins to “work backwards.” He starts laying hands on Israelites who are plagued like Egyptians and destined for judgment. As the eyes of the destroyer pass-over, no one can pluck them out of His hand.
Then His ministers (His “cabinet”) do likewise. They are those who identify themselves with Him, willing to die His death to fill up His sufferings.
The Father laid His hand on the Son, with a knife. It was the five-fold hand of death. The Son lays hands on the Bride to rescue her, to wash her from her blood. It was the five-fold hand of life. These are the two Covenants, the dual approach of the High Priest (head and body), the whited sepulchre (Matt. 28:2-3) and the Warrior-Bride (Rev. 19:8; 14).
“And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, ‘Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.” Revelation 1:17
If our ministry is sacrificial in intent, our “white death” under the Law transmits, credits, imputes, the Spirit of “resurrection.” We are advocates, like our Master.
“Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the LORD,
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool.”
(Isaiah 1:18)
Why did Abraham exclude the birds from the division ministered to the other sacrifices? The dove/pigeon is the humble, pure, anointed Head. Although the Body might be divided, the Head is never crushed. (Gen. 3:15; Lev 5:7; 14:22; John 20:7) That judgment is reserved for the serpent and his ministers of accusation.
His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow…”
(Revelation 1:14)
