02. MOSES
MOSES
"Moses commanded us a law, the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob. And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together."
Calling Moses a king may seem unusual, yet God’s inspired Word here calls him king in Jeshurun, and earlier, the man of God. Jeshurun, meaning "the upright [people]," is a term God uses to designate His people Israel. We read repeatedly how the people and their heads came to Moses to ascertain God’s will. God’s ideal king would rule God’s people according to the mind of God. In Deu 17:14-20 God gives instructions regarding the king whom He would eventually give Israel. God’s thoughts about a king were far different from man’s. As far as a mere man can do so, Moses measured up to God’s standards. But when God looks forward to a king for His people, He really looks on to the Lord Jesus, His absolute ideal. Here the king was to be one whom God would choose from among his brethren, not a foreigner. Moses and Christ both met this standard. The king was not to multiply horses to himself nor lead the people back to Egypt for this purpose. He was not to multiply wives to himself, lest his heart turn away, nor was he to greatly multiply silver and gold to himself. Both Moses and Christ measure up to these criteria. The king was to write out a copy of God’s law for himself, have it with him, and read it all his life. While Moses was used to write the law, our Lord Jesus could say in prophetic language, "Thy law is within My heart" (Psa 40:8). Moses turned aside from God’s word on one occasion, and his heart was lifted up above his brethren (Num 20:7-12). Consequently he could not prolong his days nor enter the Promised Land. Christ, the meek and lowly One, in perfect contrast to Moses even washed His disciples’ feet. "Of His kingdom there shall not be an end" (Luk 1:33).