Chapter 13
The Gospel of The Burning Bush
“Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.” (Exodus 3:1-6)
Moses the Shepherd
“Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb” (v. 1). — Moses is on the backside of the desert in the land of Midian, the land of Cush, the son of Ham, among a cursed people, from whom he was pleased to take his wife. He was tending sheep as a shepherd. Those facts are not insignificant. They are intended by the Spirit of God to teach us more than a few, scanty details of Moses’ life in Midian. In all these things Moses typifies our blessed Savior.[1] The Son of God came into this world to live among a cursed people in this cursed land, and to be numbered among the cursed. The Lord of Glory was pleased to take his bride from the cursed people. And, like Moses, our dear Savior assumed the despised roll of a shepherd (Gen. 46:34; John 10:14-18).
The Angel of the Lord
“And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed” (v. 2). — In verse 4 we are specifically told that the Angel of the Lord who appeared to Moses is our Savior. There he is called both “Lord” (Jehovah) and “God” (Eloheem).
The Hebrew word translated “bush” is only used one other time in the Word of God. It is found only here and in Deuteronomy 33:16, where Moses speaks of “the good will of him that dwelt in the bush.” And the word translated “dwelt” in Deuteronomy 33:16 appears to have reference to the “shekinah.” In a word, that which Moses saw in the bush was the Shekinah glory of God. He saw Christ in his glory, just as Isaiah did in the year that king Uzziah died, and just as Paul did on the Damascus road.
Before Moses could be sent forth to deliver Israel, and before any many is able to preach the gospel, he must be made to behold the ineffable glory of the Lord God. And that glory is seen only in the face of the crucified Christ, in whom and by whom redemption has been accomplished (Isa. 6:1-8; 2 Cor. 4:4-6). Until a man sees what Moses saw that day in the Mountain of God, he has nothing to preach; everything he has to say (in so far as spiritual matters are concerned) is less than irrelevant. He who is God’s Messenger, the Angel of the Lord, is God’s Message — “Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2).
The Bush
“And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt” (vv. 3-4).
Here was a wonder that all the magicians of Pharaoh’s court could never imitate, a miracle that baffles all human wisdom. The Lord God our Savior performed a miracle to make himself known as our God and our Savior. Truly, there is much to be seen here ¾ “this great sight.”
I do not doubt that Moses was, at first, inspired by nothing but curiosity to turn aside to look at the bush; but, once he turned to look, he saw that which would forever change his life. He saw Christ in his glory! There are many who, like myself, first come to hear the gospel for the most insignificant reasons, and turn aside to consider the things of God only because of idle curiosity, like Jews did to see John the Baptist and to see the Lord Jesus performing miracles, who are caught by what they see. Hugh Latimer urged people to come hear the gospel, saying, “Though thou comest to sleep; it may be, God may take thee napping.”
Christ was in the bush; and Christ is in the gospel. That may appear terribly simplistic to some; but in my eyes it is profoundly wondrous. The burning bush appeared to Moses that he might see the glory of Christ as set forth in the gospel of God’s saving grace. The symbolism was startling.
The bush burned with fire, and yet the bush was not burned. That is profound, mysterious, and miraculous. But the mystery of the gospel is indescribably more profound, mysterious, and miraculous. Fire in Scripture is the symbol of God’s holiness and of divine judgment. — “Our God is a consuming fire” (Heb 12:29). This is the mystery: How can God, who is “a consuming fire,” burning up all that is contrary to his holy nature, reveal himself to fallen men without consuming us? How can he who is “of purer eyes than to behold evil and canst not look on iniquity” (Hab 1:13) have anything to do with fallen, sinful, vile, depraved men and women, except in judgment and wrath? The mystery is revealed and resolved only in the gospel, which tells us that “grace reigns through righteousness,” not at the expense of righteousness, but “through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 5:21).
How can that be? “Grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord”, only by Christ who is the Righteousness of God being made a curse for us (Gal. 3:13; 2 Cor. 5:17-21). Remember, the word “bush” means “bramble bush” or “thorn bush.” It is a vivid reminder of God’s curse upon the earth because of Adam’s transgression (Gen. 3:18).
The Son of God, our all-gracious, all-glorious Substitute and Savior, entered into the place of the curse for us. The fierce flames of God’s holy and furious wrath engulfed him; but they did not, and could not, consume him. The “Root out of a dry ground” not only survived the fire: He consumed it! It was not possible that death should hold the Prince of life. Three days after he died in our place, he came forth triumphant over death, hell, and the grave, and is now alive for evermore, King of kings and Lord of lords! He is not only God of the resurrection: He is the Resurrection and the Life! And, by virtue of his accomplished redemption, he has power over all flesh to give eternal life to whom he will (John 17:2; Rom. 14:9; Luke 20:37-38). That which Moses saw in the bush is the gospel we believe and preach (2 Cor. 5:17-21; Gal. 3:13-14).
The Gospel of the Bush
What is the Gospel of the burning bush? It is the gospel of Christ. It is the revelation of him who is the revelation of the invisible God. It is God assuming and forever dwelling in humanity. Here is “the tender plant, the Root out of dry ground,” in whom resides “all the fulness of the godhead bodily.” God is here; and he is God come to save.
The gospel of the burning bush is the gospel of atonement by a suffering Substitute. Fire was in the bush and engulfed it, just as the fiery hot assaults of divine wrath fell upon God’s dear Son when he died in our place at Calvary.
The gospel of the burning bush is the gospel of an irresistible, almighty, omnipotent, justice satisfying Sacrifice. The fire assailed the bush in vain. The bush was unharmed by the fire that engulfed it. So it was with Christ our Sacrifice. Every blow recoiled from Immanuel. Sustained by his eternal deity, he trod the winepress alone, and trod all his foes and ours beneath his feet. He burst the bands of death. He smashed the iron gates of the grave. He stood victorious on the ruins of hell defeated. He rode triumphantly into the heaven of heavens, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
The gospel of the burning bush is the gospel of the eternal security of God’s elect. Who can fail to see that, as this bush represents our Lord Jesus Christ, it represents the whole election of grace? Persecutions and trials are the fire, which assails us with ceaseless fury. But God’s saints thrive and gain strength, bud and blossom and flourish in the fire. How can that be? God indwells us; and where God resides there is unceasing, ever-springing life.
In all ages, though afflicted and distressed, God’s people are like to a thorn bush, in ourselves weak and without strength, contemptible and low, covered with the thorns of corruptions and temptations within and without, often in the fires of afflictions and persecutions. Yet, they are not, and never can be, consumed by the fire, for Christ is with us, among us, around us, and in us. Satan roars; but Christ is ours. Hell opposes us; but Christ is in us. We are weak; but he is strong. The world allures us; but Christ keeps us. Our very flesh would destroy us; but my Savior keeps us. Christ in us defies all and everything who oppose us.
Christ’s church is the chosen home of his unbounded love. Here his all-protecting might, his all-preserving care, his full delights repose. He received it from his Father as his spouse, his jewels, his peculiar treasure, and his portion. We are the fullness of his body, “the fulness of him that filleth all in all” (Eph. 1:23), the completeness of his mediatorial glory. He is engaged to present his body, the church, holy, unblameable, unreproveable, and complete before his Father’s throne. If one member be injured, Christ is marred. If one is absent, Christ is maimed. And Christ our God and Savior is ever with us. Someone once said, “He is all heart to love, all eye to watch, all hand to help, all wisdom to direct, and all power to beat back our foes.” Let the fire rage! Until Christ is consumed by the flame, we cannot be!
Good Will
Child of God, think much of the “goodwill of him who dwelt in the bush.” Fears will then flee away. If we stood alone, it would be presumption to hope; but, because you are not alone, it is unbelief to tremble. Though you have passed through many fires, the flame has never harmed you. How is that? In Paul’s words, “The Lord stood with you and strengthened you.” “The bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.” You may now be enduring some great trial, but your Savior says, “Fear not, for I am with you.” The bush burns with fire, and the bush is not consumed. You may yet be required to endure great trials, but that same voice gives cheering assurance. — “Fear not, for I am with you; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shall not be burned.” The bush shall burn with fire, but it shall not be consumed.
May God the Holy Spirit cause you to now turn aside and see this great sight and trust him who reveals himself in the gospel of the burning bush. May he be pleased to reveal himself to you in the glory of his saving grace in Christ as God in the covenant with you and for you, as he did to Moses.
“And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God” (vv. 5-6).
[1] A. W. Pink suggests that Moses may be viewed as a type of Christ in the following 75 points of similarity. — “1. His nationality. Moses was an Israelite. (Ex 2:1,2) So, according to the flesh, was Christ.
2. His Birth. This occurred when his nation was under the dominion of a hostile power, when they were groaning under the rule of a Gentile king. (Ex 1) So the Jews were in bondage to the Romans when Christ was born (Mt 2:1 cf. Lu 24:21).
3. His Person. "In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair to God". (Ac 7:20) How blessedly did he, in this, foreshadow the Beloved of the Father! His estimate of the "fairness" of that Child which lay in Bethlehem’s manger, was evidenced by the sending of the angels to say unto the shepherds, "Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord". (Lu 2:11)
4. His Infancy. In infancy his life was endangered, imperiled by the reigning king, for Pharaoh had given orders that, "Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river". (Ex 1:22) How this reminds us of Mt 2:16: "Then Herod... sent forth and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof"!
5. His Adoption. Though, previously, he was the child of another, he yet was made the son of Pharaoh’s daughter: "And became her son". (Ex 2:10) Thus he had a mother, but no father! What anointed eye can fail to see prefigured here the mystery of the Virgin-birth! Christ was the Son of Another, even the Son of God. But, born into this world, He had a mother, but no human father. Yet was He, as it were, adopted by Joseph: see Mt 1:19-21.
6. His Childhood. This was spent in Egypt. So also was Christ’s: "Behold the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young Child and His mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word". (Mt 2:13) Thus was fulfilled God’s ancient oracle, "And called My Son out of Egypt". (Ho 11:1)
7. His Sympathy for Israel. He was filled with a deep compassion for his suffering kinsmen according to the flesh, and he yearned for their deliverance. Beautifully does this come out in Ac 7:23,24, "And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren of the children of Israel. And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him." So too Christ was filled with pity toward His enslaved people, and love brought Him here to deliver them.
8. His early knowledge of his Mission. Long years before he actually entered upon his great work, Moses discerned, "how that God by his hand would deliver them". (Ac 7:25) So as a Boy of twelve, Christ said to His perplexed mother, "Wist ye not that I must be about My Father’s business?". (Lu 2:49)
9. His condescending Grace. Though legally the "son of Pharaoh’s daughter," yet he regarded the Hebrew slaves as his brethren: "And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren". (Ex 2:11) So it is with Christ: "He is not ashamed to call them brethren". (Heb 2:11)
10. His great Renunciation. "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt". (Heb 11:24-26) What a foreshadowing was this of Him "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant"! (Php 2:6,7) Like Moses, Christ too voluntarily relinquished riches, glory, and a kingly palace.
11. His Rejection by his brethren. "And the next day he showed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another? But he that did his neighbor wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?". (Ac 7:26,27) This is very sad; sadder still is it to read of Christ, "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not". (Joh 1:11) This same line in the typical picture was before us when we considered Joseph. But mark this difference: In the case of Joseph, it was his brethren’s enmity against his person; (Ge 37:4) here with Moses, it was his brethren’s enmity against his mission. Joseph was personally hated; Moses officially refused—" who made thee a ruler and a judge over us"? So it was with Christ. Israel said, "We will not have this Man to reign over us". (Lu 19:14)
12. His Sojourning among the Gentiles. "But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian". (Ex 2:15) Following Christ’s rejection by the Jews, we read, "God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for His name". (Ac 15:14)
13. His Seat on the well. Away from his own land, we read of Moses, "And he sat down by a well". (Ex 2:15) So the only time we read of the Lord Jesus seated by the well, was when He was outside Israel’s borders, in Samaria. (Joh 4:4,6)
14. His Shepherdhood. "Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law". (Ex 3:1) This is the character which Christ sustains to His elect among the Gentiles: "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold, them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one flock, one Shepherd". (Joh 10:16)
15. His Season of Seclusion. Before he entered upon his real mission, Moses spent many years in obscurity. Who had supposed that this one, there "at the backside of the desert," was destined to such an honorable future? So it was with the incarnate Son of God. Before He began His public ministry, He was hidden away in despised Nazareth. Who that saw Him there in the carpenter’s shop, dreamed that He was ordained of God to the work of redemption!
16. His Commission from God. He was called of God to emancipate His people from the house of bondage: "Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth My people the children of Israel out of Egypt". (Ex 3:10) So Christ was sent forth into this world to "seek and to save that which was lost". (Lu 19:10)
17. His Apostleship. Thus he was God’s apostle unto Israel, for "apostle" signifies one "sent forth": "Now therefore go". (Ex 4:12) So Christ was the Sent One of God; (Joh 9:4 etc) yea, in Heb 3:1 He is designated "the Apostle".
18. His Credentials. His commission from God was confirmed by power to work miracles. So also Christ’s mission was authenticated by wondrous signs. (Mt 11:4,5) It should be noted that Moses is the first one mentioned in the O. T. that performed miracles; so is Christ in the N. T.—John the Baptist performed none. (Joh 10:41)
19. His first Miracles. Moses wrought many wonders, but it is most striking to observe that his first two miraculous signs were power over the serpent, and power over leprosy. (Ex 4:6-9) So after Christ began His public ministry, we read first of His power over Satan, (Mt 4:10,11) and then His power over leprosy. (Mt 8:3)
20. His Return to his own land. In Ex 4:19 we read, "And the Lord said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt: for all the men are dead which sought thy life". The antitype of this is found in Mt 2:19, "An angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, Arise, and take the young Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young Child’s life"!
21. His Acceptance by his brethren. This is recorded in Ex 4:29-31. How different was this from his first appearing before and rejection by the Hebrews! (Ex 2) How beautifully it prefigured Israel’s acceptance of their Messiah at His second appearing!
22. His powerful Rod. Moses now wielded a rod of mighty power: see Ex 9:23 10:13 14:16. So also it is written of Christ, "Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron". (Ps 2:9)
23. His Announcing solemn Judgments. Again and again he warned Pharaoh and his people of the sore punishment of God if they continued to defy him. So also Christ declared, "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish". (Lu 13:3)
24. His deliverance of Israel. Moses perfectly fulfilled his God-given commission and led Israel out of the house of bondage: "The same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer". (Ac 7:35) So Christ affirmed, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed". (Joh 8:36)
25. His Headship. Remarkably is this brought out in 1Co 10:1,2, "All our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized unto Morea". So obedient Christians are "baptized unto Jesus Christ". (Ro 6:3)
26. His Leadership of Israel’s Praise. "Then sang Moses and the children of Israel" (Ex 15:1) Of Christ too it is written, "In the midst of the congregation will I praise Thee". (Ps 22:22)
27. His Authority challenged. This is recorded in Nu 16:3; the antitype in Mt 21:23.
28. His person Envied. See Ps 106:16, and compare Mr 15:10.
29. His person opposed. Though Israel were so deeply indebted to Moses, yet again and again we find them "murmuring" against him: Ex 15:24,16:2, etc. For the N. T. parallel see Lu 15:2 Joh 6:41.
30. His life Threatened. So fiercely did the ungrateful Hebrews oppose Moses that, on one occasion, they were ready to "stone" him. (Ex 17:4) How this brings to mind what we read of in Joh 8:59,10:31!
31. His Sorrows. Moses felt keenly the base ingratitude of the people. Mark his plaintive plea as recorded in Nu 11:11,14. So too the Lord Jesus suffered from the reproaches of the people: He was "the Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief".
32. His unwearied Love. Though misunderstood, envied, and opposed, nothing could alienate the affections of Moses from his people. "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it". (So 8:7) Beautifully is this seen in Ex 32. After Israel repudiated Jehovah and had worshipped the golden calf, after the Lord has disowned them as His people, (Ex 32:7) Moses supplicates God on their behalf, saying "Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if Thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray Thee, out of Thy book which Thou hast written" (vv. 31:32). How this reminds us of Him who "having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end"! (Joh 13:1)
33. His Forgiving spirit. "And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses... Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? Hath He not spoken also by us"?. (Nu 12:1,2) But he answered not a word. How this pointed to Him who, "when He was reviled, reviled not again". (1Pe 2:23) When Miriam was stricken with leprosy because of her revolt against her brother, we are told, "Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech Thee". (Nu 12:13)
34. His Prayerfulness. An example of this has just been before us, but many other instances are recorded. Moses was, pre-eminently, a man of prayer. At every crisis he sought unto the Lord: see Ex 5:22,8:12,9:33,14:15,15:25,17:4, etc. Note how often in Luke’s Gospel Christ is also presented as a Man of prayer.
35. His Meekness. "Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth" (Nu 12:3) cf. Mt 11:29.
36. His Faithfulness. "Moses verily was faithful in all his house". (Heb 3:5) So Christ is "The faithful and true Witness". (Re 3:14)
37. His providing Israel with water. See Nu 20:11 and compare Joh 4:14,7:37.
38. His Prophetic office. De 18:18 and compare Joh 7:16,8:28.
39. His Priestly activities. "Moses and Aaron among His priests". (Ps 99:6) Illustrations are found in Le 8: "And Moses took the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar... and he took all the fat... and burned it upon the altar" (vv. 15, 16 and see 19:23). So Christ, as Priest, "offered Himself without spot to God". (Heb 9:14)
40. His Kingly rule. "Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob. And he was king in Jeshurun". (De 33:4,5) So Christ is King in Zion, and will yet be over the Jews. (Lu 1:32,33)
41. His Judgeship. "Moses sat to judge the people: and they stood by Moses from the morning until the evening". (Ex 18:13) Compare 2Co 5:10.
42. His Leadership. Moses was the head and director of God’s people, as He said to him, "Lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken". (Ex 32:34) So Christ is called, "The Captain of their salvation". (Heb 2:10)
43. His Mediation. What a remarkable word was that of Moses to Israel, "I stood between the Lord and you": (De 5:5) "There is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus". (1Ti 2:5)
44. His Election. In Ps 106:23 he is called, "Moses His chosen". So God says of Christ, "Behold My Servant, whom I uphold, Mine elect". (Isa 42:1)
45. His Covenant-engagement. "And the Lord said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel": (Ex 34:27) so Christ is denominated, "The Mediator of a better covenant". (Heb 8:6)
46. His sending forth of the Twelve. "These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land". (Nu 13:16 see previous verses) So Christ sent forth twelve apostles. (Mt 10:5)
47. His Appointing of the Seventy. "And Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people". (Nu 11:24) So Christ selected seventy. (Lu 10:1)
48. His Wisdom. "Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians". (Ac 7:22) Compare Col 2:3.
49. His Might. "And was mighty in words and in deeds". (Ac 7:22) Behold the antitype of this in Mt 13:54: "They were astonished, and said, Whence hath this Man this wisdom, and these mighty works"?
50. His Intercession. "And Moses brought their cause before the Lord". (Nu 27:5) Compare Heb 7:25.
51. His Intimate Communion with God. "And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face". (Ex 34:10) So, on earth, Christ was "The only-begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father". (Joh 1:18) It is striking to behold in Ex 31 to 34 how Moses passed and re-passed between Jehovah in the mount and the camp of the congregation: expressive of his equal access to heaven and earth—compare Joh 3:13.
52. His Knowledge of God. See Ps 103:7 and cf. Joh 5:20.
53. His holy Anger. See Ex 32:19 and cf. Mr 3:5, etc.
54. His Message. He was the mouthpiece of God: "And Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord". (Ex 24:3) Compare Heb 1:2.
55. His Commandments. See De 4:2 and cf. Mt 28:20.
56. His Written Revelation. See Ex 31:13 and cf. Re 1:1.
57. His Fasting. See Ex 34:28 and cf. Mt 4:2.
58. His Transfiguration on the mount. See Ex 34:29,35 and cf. Mt 17:2.
59. His Place Outside the Camp. See Ex 33:7 and cf. Heb 13:13.
60. His Arraigning of the responsible head. See Ex 32:21 and cf. Re 2:12,13.
61. His Praying for Israel’s Forgiveness. See Nu 14:19 and cf. Lu 23:34.
62. His Washing his Brethren with Water. "And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water". (Le 8:6) Who can fail to see in that a foreshadowing of what is recorded in Joh 13:5: "After that He poureth water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet"!
63. His Prophecies. See De 28 and 33 and cf. Mt 24 and Lu 21.
64. His Rewarding God’s servants. See Nu 7:6,32:33,40 and cf. Re 22:12.
65. His perfect Obedience. "Thus did Moses according to all that the Lord commanded, so did he". (Ex 40:16) What a lovely foreshadowing was this of Him who could say, "I have kept My Father’s commandments"! (Joh 16:10)
66. His erecting the Tabernacle. See Ex 40:2, and cf. Zec 6:12.
67. His Completing of his Work. "So Moses finished the work". (Ex 40:33) What a blessed prefiguration was this of Him who declared, "I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do". (Joh 17:4)
68. His Blessing of the People. "And Moses blessed them". (Ex 39:43) So too we read in Lu 24:50, "And He led them out as far as to Bethany, and He lifted up His hands, and blessed them".
69. His Anointing of God’s House. "And Moses took the anointing oil (the O. T. emblem of the Holy Spirit), and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein". (Le 8:10) Carefully compare Ac 2:1-3,33.
70. His Unabated Strength. "His eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated": (De 34:7) compare Mt 27:50, and note the "loud voice".
71. His Death was for the benefit of God’s people. "It went ill with Moses for their sakes"; (Ps 106:32) "But the Lord was wroth with me for your sakes". (De 3:26) What marvelous foreshadowings of the Cross were these!
72. His Appointing of another Comforter. Moses did not leave his people comfortless, but gave them a successor: see De 31:23 and cf. Joh 14:16,18.
73. His giving an Inheritance. "The land which Moses gave you on this side of Jordan": (Jos 1:14) in Christ believers "have obtained an inheritance". (Eph 1:11)
74. His Death necessary before Israel could enter Canaan. "Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to thee". (Jos 1:2) "Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit". (Joh 12:24)
75. His Second Appearing. Moses was one of the two Old Testament characters which returned to this earth in New Testament times—type (Mt 17:3) of Christ’s second coming to the earth. Our space is already exhausted so we shall leave it with our readers to search the Scriptures for at least twenty-five other points in which Moses foreshadowed our Lord. The subject is well-nigh exhaustless. And a most blessed subject it is, demonstrating anew the Divine authorship of the Bible. May the Lord bless to many this very imperfect attempt to show that "in the volume of the Book" it is written of Christ.”