MOSES: A MEDIATOR

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Understanding important truths from the Bible…. 

MOSES:  A MEDIATOR 

Leviticus 8:1-4

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

² “Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, the anointing oil, a bull as the sin offering, two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread

³ and gather all the congregation together at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.”

⁴ So Moses did as the Lord commanded him. And the congregation was gathered together at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.  

Hebrews 3:1-2

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,

² who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house.

and what we would refer to as political leaders.  This is of no great moment to our concern this day.  National Israel was God’s church and these leaders furnish an illustration of Christian leaders both in and out of the church.

I Timothy 2:5

⁵ For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 

A mediator is one who, “stands between partners who are estranged and makes them one.”  Baker’s Dictionary of Theology, Pg 346 

There are many Old Testament mediators though this word is not used in the Old Testament.  Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were mediators.  But it is Moses who is recognized in the New Testament as the great Old Testament mediator, Galatians 3:19

Moses is the single man who stands between Israel and God.  The whole system of law, service, sacrifices, and priests were given to Israel through Moses.  He was also the High Priest who initiated them. 

Moses is mediator through whom the whole of the Levitical priestly system was introduced.  Leviticus 8:5-9.  Moses introduced and initiated all the Divine ordinances of the Priesthood.  But he also was the one who first performed them. 

Moses introduced and initiated the whole of the sacrificial system.  Leviticus 8:10-30.  He also was the first to perform these sacrifices.  There is a way that Moses, as the mediator of all the Levitical system of worship, must be greater than any who followed him in this system.  The revelation of all was to Moses.  He gave the system in its laws, privileges, and the blessing which issued from it.  Moses was a part of this great plan of worship.  He gave it but was also a participant, Leviticus 8:29.  As the High Priest he ate his portion. 

The importance of Moses in his office of mediator becomes evident when we look at Hebrews 3:1-5.  There is here a comparison.  Jesus in His office in relation to His Church is compared to Moses in his office.  This is no insignificant comparison.

We are called to consider:

1.  He, Jesus, is the highest official over our faith.  Hebrews 3:1
2. Jesus is as faithful in all things required of him as Moses was faithful in everything he did as a mediator, Hebrews 3:2.
3. Jesus has a much higher position in His church as the owner of house is above the contractor who builds the house, Hebrews 3:3-4.  Note that the builder is first named as Jesus, then as God.
4. The positions are named.  Moses, as faithful and exalted as he was, was only a servant.  He was only a servant but he remains a proverb for us in meekness, Numbers 12:3.  And he is accounted as a man perfect in faithfulness in his task.

         Jesus is over God’s house.  He is the Son who is our Sovereign and owner, Hebrews 3:5-6 

We have a mediator, I Timothy 2:5.  We are left with everything we need.  Moses brought from God to Israel everything they needed to serve God.  The failures of Israel were never because Moses was inadequate for his task.  “Moses was also faithful in all God’s house.”  We have no inadequacy. Jesus has provided for our every need.

Application:

1.  There is a Divine “if”.  It is a call to faithfulness to God’s revelation in Christ to us.
2.  The beauty, joy, and love that is revealed in our mediator is a guarantee of the infinite grace of God given to the believer.