Moses - Much More than a Prophet of God

Moses and Jesus Christ: Connecting the Old Testament to Come Follow Me

Moses isn’t just a towering figure in the Old Testament; his role continues to shape how we understand God’s eternal plan. For Latter-day Saints studying Come Follow Me, Moses represents more than a deliverer of his people—he points us toward Jesus Christ. From leading Israel out of bondage to receiving God’s law on Mount Sinai, his life parallels and foreshadows Christ’s mission. These connections enrich our understanding of both the scriptures and the Savior’s role as the ultimate mediator and redeemer. Let’s explore why Moses’ influence still resonates through scripture and revelation today.

The Life of Moses: From Egypt to Mount Sinai

Moses' life stands as one of the most transformative narratives in the Old Testament, resonating with themes of divine intervention, leadership, and covenant. As we explore his journey—from being "drawn out of the water" to ascending Mount Sinai with the word of God—it's impossible to ignore the parallels between Moses’ role as a deliverer and Christ’s mission as redeemer. Let’s walk through the defining moments of Moses’ life and the eternal lessons they hold.

Moses' Early Years in Pharaoh's Palace

Moses’ story begins at a time when the Israelites were enslaved by the Egyptians, and Pharaoh had decreed death for all Hebrew male infants. In an extraordinary act of faith and courage, Moses’ mother placed him in a basket on the Nile River to save him from Pharaoh's brutality. This act set the stage for divine providence, leading Pharaoh’s daughter to discover the baby and adopt him as her own.

Growing up as both a Hebrew and a member of Pharaoh’s household, Moses straddled two identities. On the one hand, he was immersed in Egyptian culture, privilege, and education, possibly studying subjects like leadership, governance, and military tactics. On the other hand, he remained connected to his Hebrew roots, understanding the struggles and suffering of his people. This dual identity would later define his calling and shape how he approached his divine mission.

When Moses was about 40 years old, his sense of justice came to the surface in a dramatic way. Witnessing an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave, Moses intervened, killing the Egyptian. Fearing retribution, he fled into the wilderness, leaving behind the comforts of the palace. This pivotal moment reflects how God often prepares us for greater responsibilities by taking us out of comfortable circumstances.

God's Call to Moses at the Burning Bush

Years later, while tending the flocks of his father-in-law Jethro near Mount Horeb, Moses encountered a phenomenon that defied nature: a bush engulfed in flames but not consumed. It was here that God called Moses by name, commissioning him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

Initially, Moses hesitated. He doubted his abilities, pointing out his lack of eloquence and questioning why God would choose someone like him for such a monumental task. Many of us can relate to Moses’ feelings of inadequacy. Have you ever felt too flawed to fulfill a divine calling? Yet God reassured him with the promise, "I will be with you," and provided signs, such as turning a staff into a serpent and making Moses' hand leprous and then whole again.

What’s remarkable is how God met Moses’ weaknesses with divine solutions. For Moses’ speech impediment, God assigned his brother Aaron to act as his spokesman. This reminds us of the simple truth: God isn’t looking for perfection; He’s looking for willing hearts.

Leading the Israelites Out of Egypt

Moses returned to Egypt with a clear mission, but freeing the Israelites wasn’t immediate or easy. Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and the confrontation escalated through ten plagues, each demonstrating God’s power over Egypt’s false gods. From rivers turned to blood to the death of Egypt’s firstborn sons, the plagues culminated in the institution of the Passover, a powerful symbol of deliverance that foreshadowed Christ’s atonement.

The Exodus itself was nothing short of miraculous. When Pharaoh finally relented, Moses led an estimated 600,000 Israelites—plus women and children—out of Egypt. But their challenges didn’t end there. Standing at the shores of the Red Sea with Pharaoh’s army in pursuit, the Israelites faced what seemed to be an impossible obstacle. Yet, God parted the waters, allowing them to cross on dry ground while the Egyptians were swallowed by the returning waves.

This event became a defining moment in Israelite history, illustrating God’s power to save and Moses’ role as an intermediary between God and His people. It also serves as a reminder that even when the way forward seems blocked, God can make a path where none exists.

Receiving the Law at Mount Sinai

After their miraculous escape, the Israelites arrived at Mount Sinai, where God made His covenant with them as His chosen people. Here, Moses ascended the mountain to meet with God, experiencing divine intimacy unmatched in the Old Testament.

During forty days and nights on Mount Sinai, Moses received the Law, carved onto stone tablets by the very finger of God. These Ten Commandments weren’t just rules; they were principles designed to establish Israel as a holy nation, set apart for God’s purposes. They provided the moral and spiritual foundation for the covenant between God and His people.

But while Moses communed with God, the Israelites faltered. Impatient and faithless, they constructed the golden calf, an act of rebellion that brought God’s wrath. Returning to find this betrayal, Moses angrily broke the stone tablets, symbolizing the broken covenant. Yet, God’s mercy prevailed. Moses interceded for the people, and God renewed the covenant, giving Moses a new set of tablets.

The giving of the Law at Mount Sinai underscores Moses’ role as a mediator, foreshadowing Christ’s own mediation for humanity. It also reveals God’s desire for a relationship with His people—a relationship built on trust, obedience, and grace.

By examining Moses' life, it's clear that his journey from Egypt to Mount Sinai wasn’t just about delivering the Israelites. It was about shaping a nation, teaching reliance on God, and laying the groundwork for a Savior. Moses' mission resonates with universal truths as timely now as they were in the Old Testament.

Moses as a Prophet and Mediator with God

Moses' life shines brightly as a profound example of God's interaction with humanity. His role as a prophet and mediator reflects unique moments of divine communication, leadership, and intercession. Moses wasn't just a prophet; he was a bridge between heaven and earth, bringing God's words to His people and pleading on their behalf. Let's examine two key aspects of his extraordinary calling.

Communicating Face-to-Face with the Lord

What set Moses apart from other prophets was the unmatched intimacy of his relationship with God. The Bible tells us that Moses spoke to God "face-to-face, as one speaks to a friend" (Exodus 33:11). This descriptor isn’t literal—God’s glory is beyond human comprehension—but it illustrates the closeness of their connection. No prophet before or after Moses in the Old Testament held such a unique relationship with the Lord.

While many prophets heard God in visions or dreams, Moses received direct and personal answers to his questions. Imagine having that kind of access to divine guidance! At Mount Sinai, God entrusted Moses with the Ten Commandments, not through an intermediary, but by His own hand. This personal interaction symbolizes the deep trust God placed in Moses to lead His people.

Moses' communication with God during critical moments—whether guiding the Israelites through the wilderness or addressing immediate crises—reminds us that God values consistent dialogue with those who serve Him. Doesn’t this make you wonder about your own relationship with God? While we may not speak with Him face-to-face, Moses serves as an invitation to seek that closeness through prayer and obedience.

Interceding for the Israelites' Salvation

Moses' role as a mediator wasn’t just about delivering God’s commands; it was also about standing in the gap for a rebellious people. Time and time again, the Israelites grumbled, disobeyed, and turned to idols, testing God’s patience. In Exodus 32, when the Israelites built the golden calf, God was ready to pour out His wrath. Yet Moses courageously pleaded for mercy, saying, “Forgive their sin—but if not, blot me out of the book You have written” (Exodus 32:32).

Think about that level of devotion. Moses was willing to have his own name erased from God’s “book of life” to save the Israelites. His intercessory prayers weren’t short or superficial; they were bold and heartfelt, demonstrating his love for the people despite their constant failures.

This act of mediation points us forward to Jesus Christ, the ultimate mediator who gave His life so humanity could be reconciled with God. But Moses' intercession also teaches us a powerful lesson: we, too, can stand in prayer for others. When was the last time you prayed with that kind of passion for someone else?

Through Moses, we see a picture of what it means to stand between God and people, offering prayers fueled by compassion and conviction. His role as mediator inspires us to advocate for grace, be patient with others' shortcomings, and trust that God’s mercy outweighs judgment.

Moses wasn’t perfect, but his dedication to God and his people made him much more than a prophet. His story reminds us that leadership isn’t about power; it’s about serving with humility, even when the people you’re advocating for don’t always deserve it. What could be more relevant to our lives today?

Moses’ Symbolism and His Connection to Jesus Christ

Moses stands as one of the most significant figures in the Old Testament, but his role goes beyond the physical deliverance of the Israelites. For those seeking to connect Moses to God's greater plan, he becomes a vivid symbol of Jesus Christ. Through his actions, teachings, and experiences, Moses prefigures the ultimate Savior, pointing to a covenant greater than the one written on stone tablets.

Moses as a Prototype of the Messiah

Moses’ life mirrors Jesus Christ’s mission in remarkable ways, making him a prototype of the Messiah promised to Israel. Both figures were divinely appointed to lead their people out of captivity—Moses from Egypt and Jesus from the bondage of sin. But it’s not just their respective missions that align; their journeys, roles, and experiences establish firm parallels.

• Miraculous Beginnings: Both Moses and Jesus faced deadly circumstances as infants. Pharaoh ordered the death of Hebrew male babies, while King Herod sought to kill Jesus after hearing of His birth. In both cases, their survival was divinely orchestrated, showing God’s hand in protecting His chosen leaders.

• Liberators: Moses’ task was to physically free the Israelites and guide them toward the Promised Land, while Jesus came to spiritually free all humanity and lead them to eternal life. Each acted as an intermediary for deliverance, emphasizing reliance on God.

• Mediators of Covenants: On Mount Sinai, Moses received the Law, sealing God’s covenant with His people. In the New Testament, Jesus established a new covenant through His atoning sacrifice. Where Moses mediated between God and Israel through earthly laws, Jesus fulfilled and elevated those laws, offering salvation.

Even their wilderness experiences demonstrate symbolic alignment. Moses spent forty years guiding Israel through the desert, relying on God’s provision of manna. Jesus, in a parallel, spent forty days fasting in the wilderness, resisting temptation to fulfill His divine mission. These parallels aren’t coincidental—they’re threads in God’s narrative, tying the Old and New Testaments into a seamless story of redemption.

Moses’ Teachings Foreshadowing Christ's Gospel

The Law of Moses isn’t just a record of ancient rules; it’s a shadow of the gospel teachings Jesus would later expand upon. For example, the sacrificial system detailed in the Law points directly to Christ's atonement. Animal sacrifices symbolized the need to atone for sin, but they lacked the power to reconcile humanity fully with God. Jesus, as the "Lamb of God," became the fulfillment of those rituals by offering Himself for all.

Specific laws and stories from Moses’ teachings also anticipate central messages of Christ:

• The Passover: One of the most direct foreshadows, the Passover lamb’s blood saved the Israelites from death during their exodus from Egypt. This event prefigures Christ as the Lamb whose sacrifice saves us from eternal death.

• The Bronze Serpent: In the wilderness, Moses raised a bronze serpent on a pole, allowing those bitten by snakes to look at it and be healed. Jesus referenced this moment, explaining that He, too, would be "lifted up" to bring eternal healing to those who believe in Him (John 3:14–15).

Moses' role wasn’t just legislative—it was deeply spiritual. His stories, teachings, and symbols prepared God's people to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. The Ten Commandments, for example, emphasize love for God and love for one another—principles Jesus declared to be the greatest commandments. Similarly, Moses’ emphasis on justice, mercy, and humility resonates with Christ’s Sermon on the Mount.

The Law of Moses served as a tutor to bring us to Christ (Galatians 3:24), making it clear that its purpose was not complete in itself—but a preparation for Jesus' fulfillment of God’s plan. Every rule, ritual, and teaching in Moses’ era built anticipation for a Redeemer who would save not just a nation, but all people.