Ashes

Ashes (acceptance)

Ashes spoke of God's acceptance of the sacrifice. When the animal was consumed the ashes would be gathered beneath the altar as a memorial. Ashes are also a symbol of complete destruction, that is why people would sit in ashes and pour ashes on their head, or clothe themselves in sackloth and ashes as a sign of grief and mourning, saying, "God I'm nothing, please help". Ashes were also for cleansing and purification:

Num 19:17 `And for an unclean person they shall take some of the ashes of the heifer burnt for purification from sin, and running water shall be put on them in a vessel.

Num 19:17 `And for an unclean person they shall take some of the ashes of the heifer burnt for purification from sin, and running water shall be put on them in a vessel.