Moses was the revelation of God to the Hebrews. The Law was given through Moses, as were the Tabernacle of the congregation, the animal sacrifices, and the Aaronic priesthood. The Shechinah dwelled with Moses until he was compelled to wear a veil over his face. With the sole exception of the Lord Jesus, never before or since has a nation of people been led by a man who revealed in his person the Glory of God to this extent.

Under God, Moses was the shepherd of Israel. His words and judgments were Divine law. Those who opposed him became leprous or were swallowed up by the earth. There never has been another man like Moses to whom the Lord spoke face to face.

For forty years Moses bore the load of the grumbling Jews as they made their way through the desert country between Egypt and Canaan. God taught the Israelites many lessons, using their thirst and hunger and the other desolations and deprivations of their surroundings as instructors. The Wilderness of Sinai was a terrible environment in which to spend forty years. But at least the Jews had the Presence of God with Moses to comfort them.

Then Moses died and Joshua took his place.

There was no need for Joshua to wear a veil—he did not dwell in the Holy Place speaking face to face with God. No law or tabernacle or animal sacrifice or priesthood was ordained by the hand of Joshua. Although it was true that God gave directions through Joshua, Joshua simply was not the Presence of God among the Hebrews in the same way that was true of Moses.

The Jews of Jesus' day boasted, "We are Moses' disciples." But none of them claimed to be Joshua's disciple. This sums up the difference in prestige, in faith, in love, that the Jews feel toward Moses as compared to their attitude toward any other patriarch, prophet or king of Israel with the possible exception of King David.

"Moses my servant is dead." Great change indeed. But the spiritual change in the Kingdom of God typified by the death of Moses is much greater.

For two thousand years the Christian Church has known the "Moses" aspect of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is our great Shepherd who has called us out of "Egypt" (the spirit of the world) and has led us through the wilderness (a desolation of soul while we are making the transition from our sin and rebellion into the rest of God).

The commandments that Jesus has given us are binding on us. Although our pilgrimage from Satan to God is bleak at times as the Spirit of God teaches and transforms us, we have the Presence of God in Christ to comfort us.

Now we have come to a further step in the plan of redemption—a step that we never thought we would witness or experience this side of physical death.

"Moses" is dead and "Joshua" has been anointed to lead Israel.

This indicates that a dimension of Christ we have not known previously, Christ as the Lord—strong and mighty in battle, is beginning to be emphasized by the Spirit of God.

To be continued.