“When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, ‘Moses, Moses!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then he said, ‘Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.’ And he said, ‘I am the God of your 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 at God.
Then the Lord said, ‘I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey… …And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.’” Exodus 3:4-10 ESV
The Bible is the story of humanity’s struggle for redemption and God’s patience and love as he provides redemption to us.
After fleeing their land for a temporary home, they become captive for 400 years in Egypt while waiting for a Redeemer. The Israelites cried out to God for help. Just as Jesus came from humble beginnings, so did this new hero, Moses. Moses was drawn out of water and championed their release from captivity and an Exodus of God’s people to their land of promise.
Moses is a picture of Christ, our redeemer and guide. He struck a rock that gave water, pointing to Jesus, who mediates between God and us and gives us Living Water. Moses was the lawgiver, where God’s precepts are given that will also be fulfilled in the coming of the One.
So, the people of God waited for their redeemer, and when Moses came, he foreshadowed Jesus, who will redeem ultimately.
During Passover, a lamb was taken, killed, and its blood is poured out and used so the angel of death would not harm God’s People, just as Christ did for us on the cross. Moses is an example of deliverance, of what the Messiah would look like, releasing us from the bondage of sin. Moses is an example of hope to the Jewish people, and he still is for us today, as we follow after God and put our trust in our Savior, Jesus Christ.
How does seeing Moses as a Christ-like character encourage you?
Read the first post in this series here.
Read the next article by Richard in the Epic Story series.