Nougat 10

So back in the day in literature, we learned about types and more so, archetypes. To be honest, I’ve forgotten most of what was taught except that I met the idea of ‘types’ again in some theological reflection. I discovered that the genre is ‘Typology’. And what that means in our context of biblical understanding is that when we read Scripture, we may look for patterns in the lives of the characters we meet that ‘point’ to aspects of Christ’s life and ministry. So their actions ‘foreshadow’ (and prove) Christ’s own.

And while that is not the SOLE purpose of reading the Hebrew testament, it sometimes offers interesting lessons. Like when Jesus cites the sign of Jonah – being in the fish’s belly as a sign of the duration of His resurrection. In that regard Jonah was a type of Christ – his rebirth/resurrection foreshadowed Jesus’ resurrection. In today’s Holy Nougat, we look at Moses as a type of Christ.

“Moses was taught all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was powerful in both speech and action.” Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭7:22‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Why use Moses’s story as your argument before the highest religious court in the land when accused of heresy? That was the gist of my thoughts when reading the larger story about Stephen. But then I determined to discern the patterns. What made ‘logical’ sense under his circumstances. And, thinking about the High Priest‘s general regard for Moses it makes sense, but I didn’t get it. Until I remembered a conversation about explaining God’s love through Jesus‘s salvific act to non-believers. My argument was that to save us, Jesus became Like Us.

Now Moses has to become Like the Egyptians, to learn their customs, religious practices, way of speaking and be accorded with the political power of a pharaoh in order to save – not Egyptians – the Hebrews under bondage.

But he also had to be Hebrew!

And he was. Fully Hebrew, full Egyptian.

Moses existed within the two cultures. He spoke both languages, and – for the most part – commanded respect in both communities. He knew that he was Hebrew, although adopted by an Egyptian Princess.

Moses foreshadowed Jesus in that manner. We recall that Jesus is fully God, fully Human. Two different points of being: Creator; Created. Yet, in Jesus the two points of of Being became one. His birth in the most nondescript location belied Jesus’ importance, but made Him accessible to the ‘least of His day’. And, though they resisted, Jesus’ earthly authority shone through to the religious and political elite Each Time Jesus spoke.

As God (see John 1:1-14), Jesus’ authority in Heaven and the heavenlies was undoubted (see Matthew 28:18-20). And, though the enemy of our souls resisted, it was evident EVEN in the season of Temptation.

Although Moses didn’t physically die, he eventually forfeited everything to effect the Hebrews’ rescue from Egypt. But He was and is not the Christ; so there are points of divergence between Moses and Jesus. There is NO doubt that Jesus was very conscious about going through with the Cup placed before Him (Luke 22:42; Matthew 26:42).

And in drinking of that Cup, Jesus effected the boldest, most audacious coup d’etat against the one who seeks to keep us bound! Jesus Rose from the Grave! Hallelujah! He conquered Death! And most of all; He’s offered us – you AND me AND any other who believes – the chance to live with Him in Heaven; our Eternal Promised Land.

And that’s what is important for me as I read of Moses as a type of Jesus in this nougat.

God bless you.

—

May all we seek be found in Christ