Abstract
Moses was God’s chosen prophet, uniquely speaking with Him “mouth to mouth” and serving faithfully in God’s house. This singular relationship established him as a type—a prophetic shadow—of a greater Prophet to come. Jesus Christ fulfills and surpasses this type, not as a servant in the house, but as the Son over the house. He speaks not from a mountain on earth, but from heaven itself, delivering the Father’s own words as the perfect and final revelation of God to man.
Introduction:
God promised to send a prophet “like unto Moses.” What made Moses so unique that he became the standard? How could anyone, even the Messiah, be “like” the one who spoke with God face to face? And in what ways is Jesus Christ not just like Moses, but infinitely greater?
Like unto thee
The foundation for understanding Moses as a type of Christ is laid in Moses’ own prophecy, where God promises to raise up another Prophet whom the people must hear.
15 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;
18 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.
19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
The Apostles leave no doubt as to the identity of this Prophet. Peter, speaking after Christ’s resurrection and ascension, directly applies this prophecy to Jesus.
22 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.
23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
What made Moses the benchmark for this future Prophet? His relationship with God was unique. God spoke to him “mouth to mouth,” a direct communion not granted to other prophets.
6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.
7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.
8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold:
Until the coming of Christ, no one else held this distinction.
10 And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,
This history of God speaking through prophets was the pattern “in time past.” Now, in these last days, God’s communication has culminated and been perfected in His own Son.
1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
The distinction is therefore not just in method, but in identity: Moses was a faithful servant in the house, but Christ is the Son over the house.
5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;
6 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.
Christ’s superiority is rooted in His origin. While Moses spoke with God on earth, Christ, as the Son of Man, speaks from heaven of what He has seen and heard directly from the Father.
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
31 He that cometh from above is above all…he that cometh from heaven is above all.
32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.
Jesus Himself confirms this, stating that His words are not His own, but the express commandment of the Father who sent Him. This is the ultimate fulfillment of God putting His words in His Prophet’s mouth.
49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
His words and works are one, flowing directly from the indwelling Father.
10 …the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do.
Finally, this typology extends to their roles as intercessors. Moses offered himself to be blotted out for his people’s sin.
32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.
This serves as a shadow of Christ, the greater intercessor, whose sacrifice truly secures salvation for His people.
7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
Conclusion:
Moses was a faithful servant who foreshadowed the coming Prophet. Christ is the beloved Son who fulfills that shadow. While Moses spoke God’s words, Christ is the Word of God made flesh. To hear Him is to hear the Father, and to reject Him is to reject the final and greatest revelation God has given.