Moses 53 – The Resurrection Of Moses

53. RESURRECTION OF MOSES
Some day you and I will be no more. Someday you and I will face our last day on earth.
If we had willfully neglected to accept the righteousness of Jesus Christ which is our only hope of eternal life, we will be lost.
But if we have accepted His offer of salvation and proved it by a life of obedience we will be saved.
Last time we listened how Moses saw the light of the gospel shining out through the disciples of Jesus to them “which sat in darkness” (Matthew 4:16), and thousands from the lands of the Gentiles flocking to the brightness of its rising.
And beholding, he rejoiced in the increase and prosperity of Israel.
And now another scene passed before him. He had been shown the work of Satan in leading the Jews to reject Christ, while they professed to honor His Father’s law.
He now saw the Christian world under a similar deception in professing to accept Christ while they rejected God’s law.
He had heard from the priests and elders the frenzied cry, “Away with Him!” “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” and now he heard from professedly Christian teachers the cry, “Away with the law!”
He saw the Sabbath trodden under foot, and a spurious institution established in its place. Again Moses was filled with astonishment and horror.
How could those who believed in Christ reject the law spoken by His own voice upon the sacred mount? How could any that feared God set aside the law which is the foundation of His government in heaven and earth?
With joy Moses saw the law of God still honored and exalted by a faithful few. He saw the last great struggle of earthly powers to destroy those who keep God’s law.
He looked forward to the time when God shall arise to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and those who have feared His name shall be covered and hid in the day of His anger.
He heard God’s covenant of peace with those who have kept His law, as He utters His voice from His holy habitation and the heavens and the earth do shake.
He saw the second coming of Christ in glory, the righteous dead raised to immortal life, and the living saints translated without seeing death, and together ascending with songs of gladness to the City of God.
Still another scene opens to his view-the earth freed from the curse, lovelier than the fair Land of Promise so lately spread out before him. There is no sin, and death cannot enter.
There the nations of the saved find their eternal home. With joy unutterable Moses looks upon the scene-the fulfillment of a more glorious deliverance than his brightest hopes have ever pictured.
Their earthly wanderings forever past, the Israel of God have at last entered the goodly land.
Again the vision faded, and his eyes rested upon the land of Canaan as it spread out in the distance. Then, like a tired warrior, he lay down to rest. “So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord.
And He buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulcher.” Many who had been unwilling to heed the counsels of Moses while hewas with them would have been in danger of committing idolatry over his dead body had they known the place of his burial.
For this reason it was concealed from men. But angels of God buried the body of His faithful servant and watched over the lonely grave.
“There arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom Jehovah knew face to face, in all the signs and the wonders which Jehovah sent him to do . . . and in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses showed in the sight of all Israel.”
Had not the life of Moses been marred with that one sin, in failing to give God the glory of bringing water from the rock at Kadesh, he would have entered the Promised Land, and would have been translated to heaven without seeing death.
But he was not long to remain in the tomb. Christ Himself, with the angels who had buried Moses, came down from heaven to call forth the sleeping saint.
Satan had exulted at his success in causing Moses to sin against God, and thus come under the dominion of death. The great adversary declared that the divine sentence-“Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return” (Genesis 3:19)-gave him possession of the dead.
The power of the grave had never been broken, and all who were in the tomb he claimed as his captives, never to be released from his dark prison house.
For the first time Christ was about to give life to the dead. As the Prince of life and the shining ones approached the grave, Satan was alarmed for his supremacy.
With his evil angels he stood to dispute an invasion of the territory that he claimed as his own. He boasted that the servant of God had become his prisoner.
He declared that even Moses was not able to keep the law of God; that he had taken to himself the glory due to Jehovah-the very sin which had caused Satan’s banishment from heaven-and by transgression had come under the dominion of Satan.
The archtraitor reiterated the original charges that he had made against the divine government, and repeated his complaints of God’s injustice toward him.
Christ did not stoop to enter into controversy with Satan. He might have brought against him the cruel work which his deceptions had wrought in heaven, causing the ruin of a vast number of its inhabitants.
He might have pointed to the falsehoods told in Eden, that had led to Adam’s sin and brought death upon the human race. He might have reminded Satan that it was his own work in tempting Israel to murmuring and rebellion, which had wearied the long-suffering patience of their leader, and in an unguarded moment had surprised him into the sin for which he had fallen under the power of death.
Jude 9 Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
But Christ referred all to His Father, saying, “The Lord rebuke you.” Jude 9. The Saviour entered into no dispute with His adversary, but He then and there began His work of breaking the power of the fallen foe, and bringing the dead to life.
Here was an evidence that Satan could not controvert, of the supremacy of the Son of God. The resurrection was forever made certain. Satan was despoiled of his prey; the righteous dead would live again.
In consequence of sin Moses had come under the power of Satan. In his own merits he was death’s lawful captive; but he was raised to immortal life, holding his title in the name of the Redeemer.
Moses came forth from the tomb glorified, and ascended with his Deliverer to the City of God.
Never, till exemplified in the sacrifice of Christ, were the justice and the love of God more strikingly displayed than in His dealings with Moses.
God shut Moses out of Canaan, to teach a lesson which should never be forgotten-that He requires exact obedience, and that men are to beware of taking to themselves the glory which is due to their Maker.
He could not grant the prayer of Moses that he might share the inheritance of Israel, but He did not forget or forsake His servant.
The God of heaven understood the suffering that Moses had endured; He had noted every act of faithful service through those long years of conflict and trial. On the top of Pisgah, God called Moses to an inheritance infinitely more glorious than the earthly Canaan.
Upon the mount of transfiguration Moses was present with Elijah, who had been translated. They were sent as bearers of light and glory from the Father to His Son.
And thus the prayer of Moses, uttered so many centuries before, was at last fulfilled. He stood upon the “goodly mountain,” within the heritage of his people, bearing witness to Him in whom all the promises to Israel centered.
Such is the last scene revealed to mortal vision in the history of that man so highly honored of Heaven.
Moses was a type of Christ. He himself had declared to Israel, “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.” Deuteronomy 18:15.
God saw fit to discipline Moses in the school of affliction and poverty before he could be prepared to lead the hosts of Israel to the earthly Canaan.
The Israel of God, journeying to the heavenly Canaan, have a Captain who needed no human teaching to prepare Him for His mission as a divine leader; yet He was made perfect through sufferings; and “in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted.” Hebrews 2:10, 18.
Our Redeemer manifested no human weakness or imperfection; yet He died to obtain for us an entrance into the Promised Land.
“And Moses verily was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; but Christ as a son over His own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” Hebrews 3
ARCHAEOLOGY
First impressions are lasting impressions. I shall never forget my first visit to Mount Nebo in Jordan.
I was looking to the landscape before me. In the far distance I could the mount of Olives from where Jesus ascended to heaven.
Close by was Jericho with its beautiful green vegatation, contrasting the barren colour of the desert.
It was from the top of Mount Nebo that Balaam looked down on the tents of Israel. Here he endeavoured to curse them but beautiful words of prophetic blessings flowed from his mouth.
TEMPTED
The curses did no work, so he arranged heathen feasts to which the Israelites were invited. Can we today locate the ancient site of Baal Peor?
Archaeologist will be publishing their findings in the near future. When you look to your right at Nebo, you will see some grenery in the valley below. This is where ancient Baal Peor was situated.
Moses was buried opposite Baal Peor. But where is opposite? If you continue you come the site of Wadi al Kharar. This is the place where John the Baptist preached and where he baptized Jesus.
It was also from this site that Elijah descended to heaven. One can visit the hill of Elijah and medidate upon the miracle that took place many centuries ago.
Of what are these two men types? Elijah is a type of those who will be translated without seeing death at the second coming of Jesus.
Moses represents those who died and who will be resurected at the second coming of Jesus.
At mount Tabor in Israel one can visit the church which commemorates the visit of Moses and Elijah to Jesus. They discussed His coming death on the cross and encouraged Him to through with His great sacrifice.
I was wandering. Was Moses resurected when Elijah was taken up to heaven?
I am looking forward to meet these two exceptional Bible figures.
I am looking forward to meet their Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
Either you will see Jesus comings on the clouds of heaven and be translated in a moment, or you will be aroused from your dusty grave at the sound of the trumpet.
May wish for you is to see Jesus one of these days and spend eternity in the land without tears; in the land where we will never die; in the land where new fountains of joy would be discovered throught out eternity.