I am trying to share certain points in which Moses well may be a “type” or a “picture” or an “emblem” of our Lord Jesus Christ. And I have discovered there are more of these than I had ever imagined!

Watch Moses identify with his people, the Jews. “And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens.” (Exodus 2:11) Now here’s essentially the same heart-felt loyalty expressed about Jesus. “For which cause he (Jesus) was not ashamed to call them brethren.” (Hebrews 2:11)

Both Moses and Jesus relinquished great riches to identify with the poor people they came to serve. “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.” (Hebrews 11:24-26) And Jesus: “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, and was made in the likeness of men.” (Philippians 2:6) Or maybe better yet: “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9)

Both Moses and Jesus were (initially) rejected by their Brethren! Israel to Moses: “Who made thee a ruler over us?” (Acts 7:27) Israel to Jesus: “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” (John 1:11)

Watch both men sitting on wells! And each well was outside the area where the Jews were living, on foreign soil! “But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.” (Exodus 2:15) Our Lord: “Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well.” (John 4:5-6)

Both men were shepherds! See Exodus 3:1 and John 10:16.

Both men also spend many years in obscurity. Moses 40 years in the desert, and Jesus 30 years at home in (despised) Nazareth!

Both men worked miracles!

Both men either already have or will wield mighty rods of power! Moses’ rod is well known. And when Jesus comes again … “I (God the Father) shall give thee (God the Son) the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a ROD of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” (Psalm 2:8-9)

Others similarities exist which I have not discerned, I am sure.

But surely these are enough to prove, that even in Moses’ middle years, he was a type of our Saviour.

The Lord willing, tomorrow, the last third of Moses’ life.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

You know what?

We Christians today are supposed to be “like Jesus” in many ways!

 

 

For three more Lessons, counting this one, we shall notice the life of Moses, its numerous similarities with our Lord Jesus’ Days on earth.

Moses being the human writer of the Book of Deuteronomy, our Bible Text for over a month now.

Both Moses and Jesus were Jewish by heritage, Moses totally so by human birth (Amram and Jochebed being his parents). Jesus became human (He was ALWAYS Divine) via the Virgin Birth (Mary of the Tribe of Judah being His earthly mother).

Both were born while their people were under bondage! Moses … the cruel thumb of Pharaoh of Egypt. Jesus … the iron fist of the Caesar of Rome!

Both were “special” babies! “Exceeding fair,” Moses in Acts 7:20. And “a goodly child” in Exodus 2:2. Jesus … Luke 2:52. “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.”

Both were threatened with death in infancy! Moses by Pharaoh’s “kill all the Jews” decree. Jesus by the edict of King Herod, “Kill all the baby boys of Bethlehem!”

Both had dominant feminine influence in their lives! Exodus 2:10 says Moses “became the son” of Pharaoh’s daughter. And Jesus (the Virgin Birth again) was “made of a woman!” Galatians 4:4, Wow! Joseph was NOT Jesus’ Father!

Both spent time in Egypt, as children I mean! Moses essentially being reared there and Jesus having been kept there (temporarily) for safety’s sake, fleeing Herod’s death squads. “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: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.” Matthew 2:13

Both knew as younger boys that God had special purpose in their lives! Moses … “For he supposed his brethren WOULD HAVE UNDERSTOOD HOW THAT GOD BY HIS HAND WOULD DELIVER THEM: but they understood not.” And Jesus, at just age 12 mind you, “Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?”

Then lastly for today … both had a deep love (passion) for the Jewish people! Of Moses Stephen told us in Acts 7:23-24 … “And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel. And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian.” And Jesus’ love for His people is apparent as well. Once He even said to a Gentile woman: “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Matthew 15:24 (Add this occasion too: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” Matthew 23:37)

It’s clear, isn’t it?

These parallels.

But wait for the next two Lessons!

Amazing!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Moses, what a man!

Unique in many ways, yet like Another in many ways!

I am today going to suggest that Moses is indeed a “picture” of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour. The Bible teachers would say he is a “Type” of Christ.

Tomorrow morning, the Lord willing (and maybe even again Monday morning) I plan to share with you some of the many ways Moses “prefigures” the Lord.

The list is impressive!

But it all begins, I think, with a single verse of Scripture, in (where else?) Deuteronomy.

In Deuteronomy 18:15 Moses is speaking to his people, the Nation of Israel.

There he, under the Guidance of God Almighty (inspiration, we often call it) he informs the Jews …

“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.” Again, Deuteronomy 18:15

A major Prophet is coming!

Who Else could this “Prophet” be, but Jesus?

Out of the Jewish Heritage!

And He will be (likely in many ways) “like” unto Moses!

And the people are advised to “hear” him, once He arrives …  to “obey” Him completely!

This verse clearly “links” Moses and Jesus, suggesting a number of “likenesses.”

With Jesus of course always being greater than Moses.

Hebrews 3:1-3 at least illustrates the point. “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, CHRIST JESUS; Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also MOSES WAS FAITHFUL in all his house. For THIS MAN (JESUS) was counted worthy of MORE GLORY than MOSES, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.”

Amen.

No wonder Jesus was such a Student of Moses!

Like I promised, Lord willing, more tomorrow.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

If I have counted correctly, “Moses” is mentioned in the Bible a total of 829 times! And Jesus 973 times! Even numerically, Jesus is greater!

 

The Lord is so “kind” to His servants.

In fact, to all His children.

Even after Moses’ death, God is still “complimenting” that great lawgiver.

“And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew FACE TO FACE.” Deuteronomy 34:10

Wow!

This fact is also emphasized in Numbers 12:7-8, where an insurrection against Moses was underway. One that God hushed quite soon!

To those “rebels” God said: “My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak MOUTH TO MOUTH, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”

“Face to face!”

“Mouth to mouth!”

Whereas normally God spoke to His prophets like this: “If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a VISION, and will speak unto him in a DREAM.” Numbers 12:6

The point I am making today is simply this … even with a “blot” on his record (Moses’ sin of hitting the Rock at Meribah, twice in fact, when God had commanded him to merely speak to the Rock) … God expressed great “delight” and “singularity” in Moses His servant.

I repeat myself, yet again.

GRACE … Deuteronomy is absolutely saturated with the Goodness, Mercy, and Kindness of Almighty God.

Not … “My servant Moses failed Me!”

Rather … “My servant Moses … loved to talk to Me!”

I think this is also how David the adulterer … became David the “man after God’s Own Heart!” See Acts 13:22 for the exact quote.

GRACE!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Yes, it certainly sounds like Moses was “approved of God!”

Was that not also Paul’s goal in life? “Study to shew thyself APPROVED UNTO GOD, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

And should that not also be your goal?

And mine?

 

 

The last chapter of Deuteronomy is also the Book’s shortest chapter.

Twelve verses, chapter 34, basically recording the death of Moses.

Here’s his obituary:

“Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. And he (the Lord) buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.” Deuteronomy 34:5-7

Several observations here can be made:

Moses died abiding by God’s schedule, not his own! Remember Psalm 31:15, “My times are in thy hand, Lord.”

Moses was buried by the Lord, too! This is the only time in Scripture I can remember it specifically being said of God … that He Personally buried anyone! This fact sort of gives Divine sanction to the idea of a Christian interment, a funeral! Something in which God apparently believed, anyway.

And Moses died at age 120, still strong in body! What comfort! Ecclesiastes chapter 12 gives a typical view of old age and the weaknesses it most often brings. Not a pretty picture! But Moses did NOT endure such maladies! We’d say he still had 20/20 vision! And was yet muscular in build! “His eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.”

I’m calling Moses a blessed man, both in life and death!

No wonder the Bible declares: “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.” Revelation 14:13

And where did Moses go?

Well, this much I know for sure. He is in Heaven now!

Because he accompanied Jesus back to earth one day, over two thousand years ago, to the Mount of Transfiguration! See Matthew 17:3 for proof.

Moses, we shall see him some day, folks.

Because of the “Amazing Grace” of God!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell