JESUS AND MOSES COMPARED "And Moses verily was faithful in all His house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after." -- Tomorrow:
"Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honor than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. 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." (Heb 3:1-6)
Devotion 4 of 12
Aside from Jesus, Moses suffered more at the hands of God's people than any other man. If ever there was a man with a reason to be unfaithful (from the carnal point of view) it was Moses. However, he seemed to instinctively know the truth declared by Paul centuries later: "Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful" (1 Cor 4:2). Even in Scripture, such men are rare. Hear once again what God has said about Moses. "Moses was faithful in all God's house" (NIV). What a remarkable testimony! Who is the man that will stand in criticism of Moses after hearing the Divine assessment of his person? Like all of Adam's progeny, he was "not yet perfect," yet he towers above many of our contemporaries who have dared to stand in criticism of him.
The remarkable faithfulness of Moses must be seen in view of his call and ministry. God commissioned him to appear before Pharaoh and order him to let God's people go (Ex 4:21-23; 5:1; 7:16; 8:1,20,21; 9:1,13; 10:3,4). By Divine guidance Moses led all of the people out of Egypt, at one time, at midnight, with all of their children and possessions (Ex 11:4ff). He led them across the Red Sea, being commissioned to part it with a raised rod and faith in God – with the voice of murmuring Israelites in the background (Ex 4:10-14). He brought water out of a rock midst the voice of complaint (Ex 17:3-6). With faithfulness and wisdom, he judged the disputes among Israel (Ex 18:13-14). The Law, with all of its complexities, was "given by Moses (John 1:17) – without addition, subtraction, or modification. Jesus equated the Law of God with what "Moses commanded" (Matt 8:4; 19:7). The record of Moses confirms that he lived in the strictest harmony with God's agenda!
When a clash arose between the world's agenda and that of the Lord, Moses chose the latter. Thus it is written, "By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called a son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered abuse suffered for the Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to the reward" (Heb 11:24-26, NRSV). Prior to Christ, he lived in a more acute awareness of the Messiah than many professed believers of our time!
Think of what is said of Moses – "Moses was faithful in all His house." The house over which he presided was not his own. It was God's house, for "His" refers to God Himself, not to Moses. Thus the NIV reads, Moses was "faithful in all God's house." God did not give Moses a house of his own. In this regard, he was not favored as David was, for whom God built a house. It is written that Nathan the prophet said to David, "Also the LORD telleth thee that He will make thee an house" (2 Sam 7:11). That "house" was in the Messianic lineage, and is frequently mentioned in Scripture: i.e., "house and lineage of David" (Lk 2:4), and "house of David" Isa 7:13; Jer 21:12; Zech 13:1; Luke 1:27).
But Moses had no house of his own. He was faithful in the house of another – God's house. He discharged his ministry faithfully, even though those who were the beneficiaries of his ministry were calloused and ungrateful. With painful frequency we read of Israel aligning themselves against Moses: "the people murmured against Moses" (Ex 15:24; 17:3; Num 14:2), "the whole congregation of Israel murmured against Moses" (Ex 16:2; Num 16:41)), "they gathered themselves together against Moses" (Num 16:3,42; 20:2), "the people spake against God, and against Moses" (Num 21:5). Even "the famous in the congregation" are said to have "strove against Moses" (Num 26:9). In his valedictory address Moses said to Israel, "Ye have been rebellious against the LORD from the day that I knew you" (Deut 9:24). Yet – even in this miserable context – Moses was "faithful in all God's house."
The heart of Moses was toward the Lord, and this was so in a period of time in which this was exceedingly rare. It is written of him, "By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible. Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them" (Heb 11:27-28). When he left Egypt, he was not running from Pharaoh as much as resorting to his Refuge!
God says he was "unafraid of the king's anger" because he saw Him who cannot be seen! He saw far beyond Egypt and the desert into which he journeyed. That is why he was "faithful in all God's house." We live in a time of fallen leaders – professed spiritual leaders who have fallen into sin and disgrace. There are also a multitude of spiritual leaders who have quit, unable to endure the insolence, lukewarmness, and indifference of the professed people of God. But it was not so with Moses. He was faithful in all of God's house.
There is a tolerance of, and sympathy for, this falling and quitting phenomenon that is uncomely. Those who find it difficult to be faithful stewards, who have access to far more than Moses, must go and sit at his feet, learning of faithfulness. Moses did not have what is now experienced in Christ Jesus. Yet, he saw the promises afar off, and was "persuaded of them." Like the men and women of faith who lived before Christ, he died "not having obtained the promise" (Heb 11:13). Yet Moses was "faithful in all of God's house," while many in this present "day of salvation" are not! He will doubtless rise in the day of judgment against vacillating self-acclaimed leaders who fell into sin because they chose to live in darkness. Without fellowship with Christ, without the indwelling Spirit as it is in Christ Jesus, and without justification as it is in Christ Jesus, Moses "was faithful in all of God's house." A great man, indeed!
PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank You in Jesus' name for the privilege of being in Christ's house – and I praise You that He had proven faithful as the Head of that marvelous house.