One of the most important figures
in the Bible is Moses. He is one of only two men who
appeared to the disciples with the Lord Jesus Christ on the
Mount of Transfiguration. He is the only one who ever received
the tables of the law written in stone from the hand of the
Lord. So it would be an error to disregard
the ministry which was given to him by the Lord or to relegate
it to a useless endeavor. Moses was faithful in the ministry
which he was given, but he was not allowed to lead the children
of Israel into the promised land due to the fact that his ministry
of law was flawed by the weakness of the flesh. In the death of
Moses, prior to the children of Israel entering into the land
of promise, we see prefigured the inability of the law to minister
life unto the sons of God. Though the law was good, holy,
and just, there has never been a law given which could cause
men to inherit eternal life. Yet it is clear that the only
thing the law could do was minister condemnation to those who were
under it. because of the innate nature of each one to embrace
sin, which is contrary to the law. Therefore, Moses could only
bring the sons of God to the entrance of the land of promise,
even as now the Spirit of God convinces them of the weakness
of their own flesh and their total inability to perform the
righteousness which is demanded by the law of Moses. This is
what Paul spoke of when he said, Wherefore, the law was our schoolmaster
to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. For if righteousness come by
the law, then Christ is dead in vain. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid! Nay, I had not known sin, but
by the law. For I had not known lust, except
the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. The only one who can
enter into the land of promise is that one who was ordained
as the Savior of the people of God. We know that he is none
other than Jesus the Christ, the only begotten Son of God.
The ministry of promise was given to Christ long before Moses was
ever born, or the first words of the law were carved in those
tables of stone. So the ministry of Moses ended
in his death and burial in the valley of Moab. which demonstrates
the total powerlessness of the law to enable men to keep its
demands or deliver them from its penalty of death. Yet the
death of Moses was the occasion of the rise of Joshua, whose
name means Jehovah is salvation, as that one who would take the
children of Israel into the promised land. He was the captain of their
salvation, even as Christ is the captain of ours. Just as
a war was waged against the enemies of the house of Israel by Joshua,
so too has our captain stained his garments red with the blood
of his own enemies, which would dare to threaten the sons of
God, for which he arose as a deliverer and Savior. Moses' death testified
to the temporary nature of his ministry, even as his death testified
of the carnal nature of that law which was chiseled in tablets
of stone. That which is of the flesh must
die. So too is demonstrated that the law of Sinai was temporary
in nature and only designed to manifest the carnal nature and
corruption of men. Having served its purpose, that
which is perfect is now come. The lawgiver who has now risen
has done so with the power of an endless life and the ability
to bestow life to as many as the Lord has given him. One greater
than Moses is here. The ministry of Christ and the
power of his priesthood does not arise out of the law, but
from the power of an endless life. He has taken captivity
captive and destroyed the power of death itself by his own death
on Calvary's cross. The fear of death has its roots
in the terrors of the law, but Christ, having the power of an
endless life, has demonstrated his triumph over death for sinners
who have trembled at the open grave. This man, Jesus, is indeed
the one who has brought life and immortality to light in the
gospel. Moses is dead. Long live the
King of life and light. For the law was given by Moses,
but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at ForThePoor at WinStream.net.