Musing – Was Moses an Archetype of Jesus, the Messiah?

Hebraic Musing – Was Moses an Archetype of Jesus, the Messiah?

The first biblical description of the coming Messiah was revealed to Moses by the Lord so that Moses could tell the people.  Remember, the people did not want to hear directly from God “or we will die” so Moses explains “The Lord said to me: ‘What they say is good.  I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him.  If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account.’”  Deut. 18:17-20   NIV    Thus the Lord spoke through Moses and established three messianic criteria:

1.      1. Lord will raise up “a prophet” like Moses, with special words.

2.      2. That prophet will have special, unique authority.

3.      3. God says to Moses that the prophet will be “like you”.

If we compare life events of Moses and of Jesus Christ (or Yeshua HaMashiach) there are at least 27 distinct parallels between their lives:

1.         Both Moses and Jesus were born while Israel was under foreign rule – Egyptian;  Roman

2.         Cruel Kings ordered the killing of the infants – Midwives to kill male newborns;  Herod’s edict to slay those under 2 years old

3.         Faith of their parents saved their lives – Placed in the Nile;  Fled to Egypt

4.         Both found protection for a while in Egypt – Raised in Pharaoh’s home;  Early years in Egypt

5.         Both displayed incredible wisdom and understanding – Moses learned Egypt’s wisdom;  Jesus impressed the scribes at His Bar Mitzvah at age 12

6.         Both displayed remarkable meekness and humility – “Most humble man”;  “Come to me”

7.         Both were completely faithful to God – Heb 3:2-3 “He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God's house.”

8.         Both were rejected by their own people for a time – Had to flee after interfering with Hebrews fighting;  His own people selected Barabbas

9.         Both criticized by their brothers and  sisters – Miriam & Aaron re Ethiopian wife;  “Even His brothers did not believe in Him.”  John 7:5

10.     Gentiles received them both after both were rejected by Israelites – Moses had to live in Midian;  Jesus rejected by Jews but accepted by Gentiles in the book of Acts

11.     Both asked for forgiveness for God’s people – “Yet now, if you will forgive their sin…”;  “Father, forgive them…”

12.     Both were willing to bear the punishment for the people – “Blot me out…”;  “Christ suffered once for sins…”

13.     Both fasted for 40 days – To receive the 10 commandments;  Led by the Spirit into the desert…

14.     Moses and Jesus both spoke to God face-to-face – “With him I speak face to face”;  God’s only begotten Son

15.     Both went to high mountains to speak to God – Mount Sinai for commandments;  A high mountain for the Transfiguration

16.     Both had shining faces after meeting God – Coming down from Sinai;  At the Transfiguration

17.     God spoke audibly to both – Lord called Moses to the top…;  “I have glorified it…” John 12:23

18.     Angels attended both their burials – Michael disputed the body;  Angels rolled back the stone

19.     Both appeared alive after their deaths – At the Transfiguration;  Visited with disciples after resurrection

20.     Both were teachers – “Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgements which I teach you to observe…”;  “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God…”

21.     Both shepherded God’s people – Trained as a shepherd in Midian for his future role;  “I am the Good Shepherd…”

22.     Both revealed God’s name to His people – “I am who I am”;  “…keep through Your name those whom You have given Me…”

23.     Supernatural food was provided by both – Manna/quail;  Feeding 5,000

24.     Both brought deliverance to God’s people – “…I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people out of Egypt”;  “He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor…”

25.     Both brought healing to the people – Bronze serpent on the pole;  “by His stripes…”

26.     Both worked miracles – “For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.” Deut. 34:12 ;  Jesus is well known as a miracle-worker

27.     Both Moses and Jesus sealed a blood covenant between God and His people – “Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, "This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you…” Ex 24:8;   “He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood,…” Heb 9:12

Much more than mere coincidence!

Points to ponder

What do we miss by not reading the whole Bible?

Was God’s plan of salvation for us modeled in Moses’ life?

The OT is the NT concealed; the NT is the OT revealed.

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                               June 20, 2017

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”      www.InsightsByYosef.com

Note – Inspired by and excerpted from “Beginning of the End” by John Hagee