Throughout the Old Testament, we have and will continue to read about prophets, priests, and kings. In our current reading, Moses was a prophet, Aaron was a priest, and before long we will read about the kings of Israel.
In Chapter 20, we once again read about Israel’s grumbling and complaining against the Lord, Moses’ interceding for them, and the Lord’s response. The Lord commands Moses and Aaron to take the staff, assemble the congregation…and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. (20:8) But instead, Moses strikes the rock, and while water still comes out in abundance, there is a price to pay for the disobedience. Moses is told that he will not enter the promised land with the people, and Aaron is soon taken to Mount Hor, stripped of his priestly garments, and dies. The priesthood is passed on to his son Eleazar. Moses will continue to lead the people for a time, but his punishment for his disobedience will come soon enough.
While on the surface it seems harsh that God would do this just because he struck the rock instead of speaking to it, it is a picture of God’s intolerance for sin/disobedience. If we believe that God is who he says he is, then we can understand why the punishment came even as we wince at the thought. Moses and Aaron, while obedient up to this point were still sinners, imperfect, and incapable of perfect obedience.
Though all filled by sinful and imperfect men, the office of prophet and priest (and soon king) was a picture of the perfect Prophet, Priest, and King who would soon come.
The role of the prophet was to be a mouthpiece for God – as we saw repeatedly with Moses. Prophets spoke against the sin of the people and called them to repentance and pronounced forgiveness of God. (Isaiah 1:4, 18). Jesus was the perfect and last Prophet. Not only did he proclaim the word of God, but he was the Word (John 1:1). He proclaimed our need for repentance of sin and to believe in him for salvation (Mark 1:15). He also announced our pardon and forgiveness (Colossians 1:14).
The role of the high priest was as a mediator between the people and God. He would enter the Most Holy Place and offer sacrifices on behalf of the people on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:34). This had to be done year after year. He offered sacrifices not only for the people but also for himself because he was a sinner too. Yet Jesus is the perfect High Priest. He not only offered the sacrifice, he was the sacrifice! (Hebrews 9:11-14)
Again, the whole Old Testament points to God’s overarching plan of redemption of his people. These are not just stories of old, written for an ancient audience. They are the foretelling of what was to come. God sent his Son who would fulfill all of these things in perfection in order to redeem us through his blood and forgive our sins according to the grace of God (Ephesians 1:7)
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:14-16
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