426
Patriarchs and Prophets
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.
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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,