11. Moses: A Type of Christ.

1. Dangers at Birth

When Moses was born, Pharoah wanted him dead. “Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah; and he said, “When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women and see them on the birth stools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.” (Ex 1:15-16). Herod the Great wanted to kill all boys. “Then Herod, when he saw that the wise men deceived him, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.” (Mt 2:16-19; emp added).

2. Both Were Adopted.

“And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Go.” So the maiden went and called the child’s mother. Then Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child away and nurse him for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed him. And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son.” (Ex 2:8-10a). “Then Joseph, her husband, being a just man and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” (Matt 1:19-21).

3. Both Were Israelites.

“And a man of the house of Levi went and took as a wife, a daughter of Levi. “So the woman conceived and bore a son. And when she saw that he was a beautiful child, she hid him for three months.” (Ex 2:1-2). “You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.” (Jn 4:22).  “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” (Jn 1:11).

4. Both Spent Childhood in Egypt.

“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt, I called My son. (Hos 11:1). “Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” (Matt 2:13).

5. Both Knew Their Mission Long Ago.

“For he supposed that his brethren would have understood that God would deliver them by his hand, but they did not understand.” (Acts 7:25). “And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”” (Luke 2:49).

6. God sent both.

God sent Moses. “Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” (Ex 3:10). The Father also sent Jesus. “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” (John 6:38). God sent Moses, and God sent Jesus. That also means that Moses was an apostle, and Jesus was an apostle. Apostle means sent one. Hebrews 3:1 says, “Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession.”

7. Both had Shekinah Glory. (Visible manifestation of God).

Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses’ hand when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him. So when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him. Then Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them. Afterwards, all the children of Israel came near, and he gave them as commandments all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. But whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with Him, he would take the veil off until he came out; and he would come out and speak to the children of Israel whatever he had been commanded. And whenever the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses’ face shone, then Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with Him.” (Ex 34:29-35). Moses’ face shone so brightly that he needed to cover his face when speaking to the people.

The Transfiguration.

“Now, after six days, Jesus took Peter, James, and John, his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves, and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.” (Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, and Luke 9:28-36). Moses represented the Law and Elijah the Prophets. Symbolically, God said the Law and the Prophet must give way to Jesus the New Covenant. Heb 8:13 says, “In that, He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.” Moses and Elijah vanished away in the presence of Jesus. Both had this experience on a mountain.

8. Both were Meek.

“Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.” (Num. 12:39). Jesus was very meek. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Mt 11:28-30).

9. Both Chose to Suffer.

“By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.” (Heb. 11:24-26). “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,  but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.” (Phil 2:5-7).

10. Both were faithful servants.

“And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterwards.” (Heb 8:3). “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness, He judges and makes war.” (Rev 19:11).

11. Both were priests.

“Moses and Aaron were among His priests, and Samuel was among those who called upon His name; they called upon the Lord, and He answered them.” (Psalm 99:6). “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” (Heb 4:14-15; 5:10, 2:17; 7:24).

12. Both Praised God.

“Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord and spoke, saying: “I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea” (Ex 15:1). Jesus praised God. “I will declare Your name to My brethren; I will praise You in the midst of the assembly.” (Psalm 22:22). Psalm 22 is a messianic prophecy.

13. Both Fasted 40 days and Nights.

“So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.” (Ex 34:28). “And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterwards He was hungry.” (Matt 4:2).

14. Life In danger.

“So Moses cried out to the Lord, saying, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me!” (Ex 17:4).  “Then they took up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.” (John 8:59). “Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him.” (John 10:31).

15. Both Are Judges.

“And so it was, on the next day, that Moses sat to judge the people; and the people stood before Moses from morning until evening.”  (Ex. 18:13). “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (2 Cor 5:10).

16. Both Were Mediators.

“I stood between the Lord and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the Lord; for you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up the mountain.” (Deut. 5:5). “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” (1 Tim 2:5).

17. God chose Both.

 “Therefore, He said that He would destroy them, had not Moses, His chosen one, stood before Him in the breach, to turn away His wrath, lest He destroys them.” (Psalm 106:23). “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.” (Is 42:1). Isaiah 42 is a messianic prophecy.

18. Both Sent the Twelve.

“These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land.” (Num 13:1-15). Moses sent 12 people to spy out the land. To spy means to search. “These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans.” (Matt 10:5).  Jesus sent the 12 to search for lost souls.

19. Both Appointed 70 Leaders.

“So Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord, and he gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people and placed them around the tabernacle. (Num. 11:24). “After these things, the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.” (Luke 10:1).  

20. Both were sorrowful.

 “So Moses said to the Lord, “Why have You afflicted Your servant? And why have I not found favour in Your sight, that You have laid the burden of all these people on me?” In verse 14, he says, “I cannot bear all these people alone because the burden is too heavy for me.” (Num 11:11,14). “He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.” (Is 53:3-4; emp added). Moses was a man of sorrow, Jesus was a Man of sorrow

21. Both Were Leaders of God’s People.

“Now, therefore, go, lead the people to the place of which I have spoken to you. Behold, My Angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit for punishment, I will visit punishment upon them for their sin.” (Ex 32:34). Jesus is the Leader. “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that He may have the preeminence in all things.” (Col 1:18). “For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” (Heb 2:10; emp added).

22. Both Had Holy Anger.

“So it was, as soon as he came near the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing. So Moses’ anger became hot, and he cast the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain.” (Ex 32:19). “And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.” (Mk 3:5).“And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” (Jn 2:14-16).

23. Both Had Covenant With God.

“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write these words, for I have made a covenant with you and Israel according to the tenor of these words.” (Ex. 34:27). “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is  also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.” (Heb 8:6).  In Mark 14:24 and 1 Cor 11:25, Jesus would say, “Take, drink, this is the blood of the New Covenant.” Hebrews 13:20 says, “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant.”

24. Both were Mighty.

“And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and deeds.” (Acts 7:22). “For He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” (Matt 7:29).  “When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works?”” (Matt 13:54).

25. Both Had Wisdom.

“And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians” (Acts 7:22). “In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Col 2:3). “But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Cor 1:24)

26. Both Were Intercessors.

“So Moses brought their case before the Lord.” (Num. 27:5). “Therefore, He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him since He always lives to make intercession for them.” (Heb 7:25).

27. Both Knew The Ways of God.

“He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.” (Psalm 103:7).  “For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.” (John 5:20).

28. Both Washed People With Water.

“Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water.” (Lev. 8:6). “After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.” (Jn 13:5).

29. Both Ask God for Pardon For Israel.

“Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, according to the greatness of Your mercy, just as You have forgiven these people, from Egypt until now.” (Num 14:19). “Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34).

30. Both Rewarded People.

“So Moses took the carts and the oxen, and gave them to the Levites.” (Num 7:6). “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work.” (Rev 22:12).

31. Both Obeyed God Perfectly.

“Thus Moses did; according to all that the Lord had commanded him, so he did.” (Ex 40:16). “ If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” (Jn 15:10; emp added).

32. Both Erected a Tabernacle.

“On the first day of the first month, you shall set up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. (Ex 40:2). “Then speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, saying: “Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH!
From His place, He shall branch out, and He shall build the temple of the Lord.” (Zech 9:9).

33. Both Gave an Inheritance.

“Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan. But you shall pass before your brethren armed, all your mighty men of valour, and help them.” (Jos 1:14) “In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.” (Eph 1:11).

34. Death Profited People.

“Moses, My servant, is dead. Now, therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all these people, to the land I am giving to them—the children of Israel.” (Jos 1:2). “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” (Jn 12:24).

35. Both Blessed People.

“Then Moses looked over all the work, and indeed they had done it; as the Lord had commanded, just so they had done it. And Moses blessed them.” (Ex. 39:43). “And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.” (Luke 24:50).

36. Both Suffered The Wrath of God Because of People.

“They angered Him also at the waters of strife so that it went ill with Moses on account of them.” (Ps. 106:32). “But the Lord was angry with me on your account, and would not listen to me. So the Lord said to me: ‘Enough of that! Speak no more to Me of this matter.” (Deut. 3:26). “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed.” (Rom 3:24-25).

37. Both Question Leader’s Etiquette.

“And Moses said to Aaron, “What did these people do to you that you have brought so great a sin upon them?”” (Exodus 32:21). “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, ‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword: “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.” (Rev 2:12-13).

38. Both Lived Outside The Camp.

“Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting. And it came to pass that everyone who sought the Lord went out to the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp.”  (Ex 33:7). “Therefore, let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.” (Heb 13:13).

39. Both Finished Their Work.

“And he raised up the court all around the tabernacle and the altar, and hung up the screen of the court gate. So Moses finished the work.” (Ex. 40:33). “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.” (John 17:4).

40. Both Weary of Additions to Commandments.

“You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.” (Deut 4:2). “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book. If any man adds unto these things, God shall add to him the plagues written in this book. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, out of the holy city, and from the things written in this book.” (Rev 22:18-19).

41. Both Announced Judgment.

Moses warned Pharoah that he would face God’s judgments if he didn’t repent. Remember Moses told Pharoah if you don’t allow the people to go, this and that would happen? (Ex 8:21; 9:1).“I tell you, no; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3).

42. Both Were God’s Mouthpiece.

“So Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the judgments. And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words which the Lord has said we will do.” (Ex. 24:3). “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds.” (Heb 1:1-2).

43. Both Had Successors.

“Then He inaugurated Joshua, the son of Nun and said, “Be strong and of good courage; for you shall bring the children of Israel into the land of which I swore to them, and I will be with you.”” (Deut 31:23). “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” (Jn 14:16-17).

44. Both Rejected By Brethren.

“And the next day, he appeared to two of them as they were fighting and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren; why do you wrong one another?’ But he who did his neighbour wrong pushed him away, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?” (Acts 7:26-27). “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” (Jn 1:11).

45. Both Will Come Again.

“And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.” (Matt 17:3). Jesus died and was resurrected for all to see Him. (Jn 20:17) and He will come again. “So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” (Heb 9:28). (cf. 1 Thess 4:16-17; Rev 1:7; Mt 24:44).

46. Both Sat down at a Well.

“When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well.” (Ex 2:15). “So, He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well.” (Jn 4:5-6).

47. Both Were Shepherds.

“Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. (Ex 3:1). “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Ps 23:1). “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” (Jn 10:11).

48. Both Operated in Miracles.

One example: Both Healed “Lepers”. Furthermore, the Lord said to him, “Now put your hand in your bosom.” And he put his hand in his bosom, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous, like snow. And He said, “Put your hand in your bosom again.” So he put his hand in his bosom again, and drew it out of his bosom, and behold, it was restored like his other flesh. “Then it will be if they do not believe you, nor heed the message of the first sign, that they may believe the message of the latter sign.” (Ex. 4:6-8). “Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” (Mt 8:3; cf Luke 17:11-19).

49. Both Returned to Egypt.

“Now the Lord said to Moses in Midian, “Go, return to Egypt; for all the men who sought your life are dead.” (Ex 4:19). “Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.”” (Matt 2:19-22).

50. Both Were Deliverers.

“This Moses whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ is the one God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush. (Acts 7:35).“Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36).

There are a lot more.