THE NATURE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE -- Tomorrow:
"But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Cor 3:15-18, KJV)
Devotion 5 of 33
" But even unto this day, when Moses is read . . . " (2 Cor 3:15a)
Other versions read, "But to this day, at the reading of Moses' law," BBE and "Yes, even today when they read Moses' writings." NLT
Here is Israel, a nation cultured to walk with God. They were chosen exclusively by Him, and held in the highest regard among the nations of men – "a special people unto Himself" (Deut 7:6). They experienced an unparalleled deliverance from Egypt that, according to appearance, has no equal among men – "the children of Israel went out with a high hand in the sight of all the Egyptians" (Num 33:3). The miraculous sustenance that they received extended over a period of forty years – all of which were spent in a desolate wilderness, where there was "no water" (Deut 8:15-16). All of the prophets came from their number (Hos 6:5). The rights of relationship to God belonged to them – "to whom pertaineth the adoption" (Rom 9:4a). Divine glory was shown only them – "to whom pertaineth . . . the glory" (Rom 9:4b). All covenants belonged to them: agreements in which they were linked together with the Lord – "to whom pertaineth . . . the covenants" (Rom 9:4c). Only to them was the Law given as a covenant, being revealed only to them – "to whom pertaineth . . . the giving of the Law" (Rom 9:4d). The privilege of regularly serving God was given exclusively to them – "to whom pertaineth . . . the service of God" (Rom 9:4e). All the Divine promises pertained to them – "to whom pertaineth . . . the promises" (Rom 9:4f). Throughout the history of the world, they are the only nation on the face of the earth that had a covenant with the God of heaven – and that covenant stood for 1,500 years.
If it is possible to obtain true spiritual advantage by external means, surely such advantage will be realized by Israel! If education or tutelage is the full and complete answer to ignorance, then Israel will excel in understanding! If exposure to Divine workings is enough to sensitize the soul and provoke a love for God, such evidences will be found in Israel.
We will now behold the reaction of these people to Bible reading – a Bible which, at that time, was written exclusively to and for them. What will be their response when the Word of God is read?
MOSES IS READ
Moses was not a mere historian. Nor, indeed, was he a philosopher. What Moses wrote was what the Lord had spoken to him. Thus we read, "And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua" (Ex 17:14). And again, "And the LORD said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel" (Ex 34:27).
What is more, when Moses had finished writing the words given to him by God, he sanctified the book, and the people who heard it. As it is written, "For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people" (Heb 9:19).
The reading "of Moses" particularly refers to the first five books of the Scripture: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. We know this by what is said about Moses' writings. Jesus said, "For Moses said, Honor thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death" (Mark 7:10). That is found in Exodus 21:17, Leviticus 20:9, and Deuteronomy 27:16. Again Jesus said to a leper He had cleansed, "And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, show thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them" (Mat 8:4). That instruction is found in Leviticus 14:2-32. When being questioned by His enemies concerning how the Law addressed divorce, Jesus responded, "He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so" (Matt 19:8). The text to which he referred is found in Deuteronomy 24:1-4. Jesus also referred to "the book of Moses, "in which God spoke to him out of a burning bush (Mk 12:26). That record is found in Exodus 3:2-6. Jesus also said of Moses, "For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of Me" (John 5:46).
Peter said, "For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever He shall say unto you" (Acts 3:22). That is found in Deuteronomy 18:18. Paul referred to the Gospel as things "which the prophets and Moses did say should come" (Acts 26:22).
Although the book of Genesis does not say Moses wrote it, it has been generally understood through the ages that this was the case. The fact that the first section of our Bibles is referred to as "Moses and the prophets" supports that view very well (Luke 16:29,31; 24:27; Acts 26:22; 28:23).
It might be well to cite some of the references to the coming Savior and the New Covenant that are found in the writings of Moses.
01. "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her Seed; It
shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel" (Gen 3:15).
02. "And in thy Seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed My voice" (Gen 22:18).
03. "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh
come; and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be" (Gen 49:10).
04. "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" (Deut 18:15).
05. "I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put My words in His mouth; and He shall speak unto them all that I shall command Him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto M words which He shall speak in My name, I will require it of him" (Deut 18:18-19).
06. "And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live" (Deut 30:6).
There were also the types and shadows seen in laws and ordinances regarding the tabernacle service, the high priesthood, and the sacrificial system (Col 2:16-17; Heb 8:5; 9:24; 10:1).
Now, how will Israel respond to the reading of words that came from God Himself words that related to the coming Savior? How will they react to a book that has been dedicated with "the blood of calves and goats?" This is Moses with whom God spake "face to face as a man speaketh unto his friend" (Ex 33:11). This, is Moses who "was very meek above all men which were upon the face of the earth" (Num 12:3). This is Moses with whom God spoke "mouth to mouth, apparently, and not in dark speeches" (Num 12:8). Moses! This is the man who "endured as seeing Him who is invisible" (Heb 11:26). It is the man who was "faithful in all God's house" NIV (Heb 3:2).
If glory, understanding, or faith can be passed from one man to another, Israel will surely profit from the reading of Moses. If it is possible to inherit a blessing from a holy man who had trafficked with God, Israel surely will! If glory can be passed from one person to another, surely the experience can be realized by the people who beheld the splendor of Moses' face a splendor that was too bright for mortals to behold!
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for the New Covenant in which true understanding is realized.