Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. The account of Moses' death
is very intriguing. To my knowledge, he is the only
person in the scripture that the Lord buried. He is not heard
from again until he is seen on the Mount of Transfiguration,
where he appears with Elijah and the Lord Jesus. Now, some
think that this event did not actually occur and was but a
dream-like vision which Peter, James, and John saw. This is
possible, but it seems to me that there was a literal appearing
of these men, especially when we read Luke's account of this
event. Also, it seems obvious that the Lord Jesus was actually
there in all three accounts, so he would have literally been
visible while the other two were but apparitions. Elijah did not
see death, but was taken to heaven in a fiery chariot, so he has
to exist somewhere and could be literally seen if we could
be taken there. Moses, on the other hand, did
die, but is now seen here on the mount in bodily form. Those
who deny that the body is raised in the resurrection must chew
on this appearing by both Moses and Elijah. Those who deny the
resurrection have always been around. Paul warns of them, and
they delight to spread their poisonous doctrine among the
saints from time to time, seeking to rob them of the hope that
Paul clearly spoke of. Here are several thoughts on
the death, burial, and appearing of Moses. The law was a schoolmaster
to bring us to Christ. The Lord specifically told Moses
that he would not be allowed to enter the land of promise
because of his transgressions. This seems quite unfair to some,
since Moses suffered long with the children of Israel as they
wandered in the wilderness for forty years. But the Lord would
plainly demonstrate that men cannot inherit the promise through
the works of the law. Moses is typical of the written
law and was himself condemned by that very law. But the purpose
of the law was never to minister life to men. Its purpose was
to reveal sin and set the stage for the Redeemer. For the law,
having a shadow of good things to come and not the very image
of the things, can never, with those sacrifices which they offered
year by year, continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
Then the work of Christ to fulfill the law and take it out of the
way as manifested, blotting out the handwriting of ordinances
that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out
of the way, nailing it to his cross. Moses died, but Jesus
Christ, our sovereign Redeemer, ever lives to make intercession
for us. The law was forever satisfied,
and its power to condemn the elect was buried with Christ.
Moses was buried by the hand of the Lord to foreshadow the
fact that Jesus Christ would forever disarm the ability of
the law to condemn his elect. When he walked upon the earth,
and as he hung upon Calvary's cross, he fulfilled every jot
and tittle of the law. The law has no power to condemn
those whose sins are taken away in Christ. Christ hath redeemed
us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us, for
it is written, cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree. The law
holds no terror for those who stand justified by the blood
of Christ. There is therefore now no condemnation
to them which are in Christ Jesus. Blessed are they whose iniquities
are forgiven and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to
whom the Lord will not impute sin. One of the old Puritans
said, the era of the law's condemnation was shot into the very heart
of Jesus Christ. He grabbed its shaft and broke
it off forever in his bosom. For what the law could not do,
in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son
in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin, in
the flesh. Christ has more glory than the
law, even when it thundered from Sinai. Moses could not enter
the land of promise by himself, but what the law could not do,
Christ has done. Moses' appearance at the Mount
of Transfiguration was real but brief. The law and the prophets
were but temporary in power and glory, and both Moses and Elijah
must bow down to the greater glory of the true lawgiver and
prophet. God, who at sundry times and
in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the
prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son,
whom he hath appointed heir of all things. The prophets desired
to understand the things they prophesied, and the law thundered
loud from the darkness of Sinai's mountain, yet they were not an
end unto themselves. They both served God's purpose
for the time being, but when that which is perfect is come,
that which is in part is done away. And this is the record
that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in His
Son. Do you have life in Christ? For
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