National Church Establishments Pt. 9 - (Christ and the Nations 3 — Like unto Moses)
James Dodson
National Church Establishments
(Christ and the Nations 3—Like unto Moses)
The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken. (Deut. 18:15)
Question.—How does the Bible teaching that Christ is like unto Moses reflect the national character of His work?
Answer.—The national, not merely individual, character of Christ’s work is set forth in the consideration of His work as the like unto Moses. The character of redemption contemplated in and through Moses yields the following points of similarity and contrast:
First, Moses was born at a time when the church of God (i.e., Israel) was in bondage to a pagan empire (i.e., Egypt), Ex. 1:8-14; Christ was born at a time when the church of God (i.e., Israel) was in bondage to a pagan empire (i.e., Rome), Luke 2:1-7.
Second, The king of Egypt tried to kill Moses after he was born, Ex. 2:15-22; king Herod tried to kill Jesus after he was born, Matt. 2:16-18.
Third, Moses was offered lordship (i.e., legal title) over the world apart from the path of true religion and holiness, Heb. 11:24-27; Christ, too, was offered lordship over the world apart from the obedience of true Sonship, Matt. 4:8, 9.
Fourth, It was the office of Moses to stand between God and the nation of Israel as mediator, Deut. 5:5; it was the office of Christ to stand between God and the nations of men as Mediator, 1 Tim. 2:5; Isa. 11:10; Rom. 15:12.
Fifth, Moses revealed the will of God as one who spoke with the Lord face to face, Deut. 34:10; Christ revealed the will of God as one who declared what He knew from face to face communion with the Father, John 1:18. Moses was a lawgiver, Deut. 31:9; Christ was a lawgiver, Gen. 49:10.
Sixth, Moses, as lawgiver, gave birth to the nation of Israel from Zion, with its civil polity through which they gained lawful possession of the land, Ex. 31:18; Deut. 11:8; Christ, as lawgiver, is to give birth to the nations from Zion, together with their civil polities through which they shall gain lawful possession of their respective lands, Rev. 12:5; Ps. 2:6-12.
Seventh, Moses was set as a king in Jeshurun (i.e., “upright one”) over the nation of Israel (i.e., “prince of God”), Deut. 33:4, 5; Christ was set a king in Zion (i.e., “parched place”) over the kings of the earth, Rev. 19:16.
Eighth, Moses, as the civil ruler, led the nation into the waters of baptism, 1 Cor. 10:2; Christ, as ruler of the kings of the earth, commands all nations to follow Him in baptism, Matt. 28:19. This is, of course, because it belongs to the office of the Mediator to bring nations to birth by means of the true religion and baptism unto faith, Isa. 52:15.
Ninth, Moses intercedes for the nation of Israel in order to retain their obedience and submission to God, Ex. 32:12-14; Deut. 9:13, 14. Christ intercedes for His people to the end that all nations be brought to obedience and submission to God, Ps. 2:8; Rom. 15:18; 16:26.
Tenth, Moses made sure his national aspirations by sending out twelve disciples to spy out the land, Num. 13:2, 3; he also appointed seventy men, according to the number of the nations, to represent the international intentions of the true religion, Deut. 32:8; Ex. 24:9-11. Christ made sure his national aspirations by first sending out twelve disciples into all the land of Israel, Matt. 10:5, 6; He additionally sent forth seventy men before whom the international intentions of the true religion were confirmed, Luke 10:17, 18; Rev. 20:2, 3.
Eleventh, Moses, as the civil ruler, appoints these seventy men to the tabernacle work and the Spirit descends upon them making them prophets, Num. 11:16, 24, 25; Christ appoints His disciples to tarry at Jerusalem to be outfitted for the international designs of the tabernacle work under the Gospel, Acts 1:8; 2:1-11; 15:15-17.
Twelfth, Moses, as the king of Israel, paid tribute (i.e., he made distribution of the monies for the support of the true religion), Num. 31:41; Christ, as king of the Jews, also paid this tribute for the support of the true religion, Matt. 17:24-27.
Thirteenth, Moses appeared with Christ upon the mount of transfiguration as the representative of the law to indicate that Christ came to fulfill the law, Matt. 5:17, 18; 17:1-9; this He came to do in and through all nations, Hag. 2:6-9.
Fourteenth, Moses was faithful over his house which he built (i.e., the family, or nation, he created), Heb. 3:2-5; Christ, a prophet like unto him, was faithful over His house, Heb. 3:6; 1 Pet. 2:9. Moses built his house to possess the land of Israel, Num. 12:7; Neh. 9:14; Christ built His house to possess the earth, Zech. 6:12-15.