FOURTH QUARTER 2021
SABBATH SCHOOL INSIGHT #13
DECEMBER 25, 2021
“THE RESURRECTION OF MOSES”

 

“Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, ‘The Lord rebuke you!’” (Jude 9, NKJV).

 

As humans, given enough provocation, how prone we are to react.  More often than not, the tendency then is to respond not so nicely.  Remorse follows… or self-justification… or perhaps a mixture of the two.  Oh, how many times I’ve thought, “If only I had responded differently, not done or said what I did!”  But the damage is done.

 

Moses, through God’s grace, had become very meek and patient.  But there was this one sin where Moses had unwittingly robbed God of His glory.  This weighed heavy on his heart.

 

“As he looked back upon his experience as a leader of God’s people, one wrong act marred the record.  If that transgression could be blotted out, he felt that he would not shrink from death.  He was assured that repentance, and faith in the promised Sacrifice, were all that God required, and again Moses confessed his sin and implored pardon in the name of Jesus.”  - Patriarchs and Prophets p. 474

 

Moses’s deep and sincere repentance did not alter God’s judgment.  It was not Moses but Joshua who would lead Israel into the promised land.  The punishment of Moses was also to be a punishment to the camp.  “The removal of their beloved leader would be a far stronger rebuke to Israel than any which they could have received had his life and mission been continued.  God would lead them to feel that they were not to make the life of their future leader as trying as they had made that of Moses.  God speaks to His people in blessings bestowed; and when these are not appreciated, He speaks to them in blessings removed, that they may be led to see their sins, and return to Him with all the heart.” - Patriarchs and Prophets p. 470

 

There is a great deal we can learn from the story of Moses’s sin, its consequence, his repentance, and our righteous, merciful Lord.  He abundantly pardons, saves, and restores.  “He is able to do immeasurably more than we can imagine or ask.  To Him be the glory” (Ephesians 3:20, 21).

 

“So, Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab” (Deuteronomy. 34:5).

 

Moses, however, was not to remain in the tomb long.  He was about to be restored to life and ushered in through the gates of the fair Heavenly Canaan.  Here, as a type of all the saints who would be raised to life, he would join Enoch in fellowship, service, and worship.  Alongside the angelic host in the courts of Heaven he would indeed hold face to face communion with his God.

 

“Christ Himself, with the angels who had buried Moses, came down from heaven to call forth the sleeping saint….  The power of the grave had never been broken, and all who were in the tomb Satan claimed as his captives, never to be released from his dark prison house.  For the first time Christ was about to give life to the dead.  As the Prince of life and the shining ones approached the grave, Satan was alarmed for his supremacy.  With his evil angels he stood to dispute an invasion of the territory that he claimed as his own.” - Patriarchs and Prophets, p 478

 

“Christ did not stoop to enter into controversy with Satan.  He might have brought against him the cruel work which his deceptions had wrought in heaven, causing the ruin of a vast number of its inhabitants.  He might have pointed to the falsehoods told in Eden, that had led to Adam’s sin and brought death upon the human race.  He might have reminded Satan that it was his own work in tempting Israel to murmuring and rebellion, which had wearied the long-suffering patience of their leader, and in an unguarded moment had surprised him into the sin for which he had fallen under the power of death.  But Christ referred all to His Father, saying, “The Lord rebuke thee.” Jude 9.  The Savior entered into no dispute with His adversary, but He then and there began His work of breaking the power of the fallen foe, and bringing the dead to life.  Here was evidence that Satan could not controvert, of the supremacy of the Son of God.  The resurrection was forever made certain.  Satan was despoiled of his prey; the righteous dead would live again.” - Patriarchs and Prophets pp. 478, 479

 

“The Lord rebuke you!”  Do we grasp what these words of our Redeemer mean to us?  Truly they encapsulate wonderful good news for humanity “subject to bondage all their lives through fear of death” (Hebrews 2:15).  The enemy of souls is not the victor!  The grave cannot and will not hold captive its prisoners forever.  The faith of Jesus triumphed, triumphs, and will triumph in the final contest.  “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12).

 

“The Lord rebuke you!”  There is another passage of Scripture where Christ speaks these words to the adversary.  “Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at His right hand to oppose him.  And the LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, O Satan!  The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you!  Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” (Zechariah 3:1, 2).  We are told, “Zechariah’s vision of Joshua and the Angel applies with peculiar force to the experience of God’s people in the closing scenes of the great day of atonement.” - Prophets and Kings p. 587

 

“In vision the prophet beholds Joshua the high priest, “clothed with filthy garments” (Zechariah 3:1,3), standing before the Angel of the Lord, entreating God’s mercy in behalf of his afflicted people.  As he pleads for the fulfillment of God’s promises, Satan stands up boldly to resist him.  He points to the transgressions of Israel as a reason why they should not be restored to the favor of God.  He claims them as his prey, and demands that they be given into his hands.

 

The high priest cannot defend himself or his people from Satan’s accusations.  He does not claim that Israel is free from fault.  In filthy garments, symbolizing the sins of the people, which he bears as their representative, he stands before the Angel, confessing their guilt, yet pointing to their repentance and humiliation, and relying upon the mercy of a sin-pardoning Redeemer.  In faith he claims the promises of God.

 

Then the Angel, Who is Christ Himself, the Savior of sinners, puts to silence the accuser of His people, declaring, “The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?” …

 

As the intercession of Joshua is accepted the command is given, “Take away the filthy garments from him;” and to Joshua the Angel says, “Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.”  “So, they set a fair miter upon his head, and clothed him with garments.” Verses 4, 5.  His own sins and those of his people were pardoned.  Israel was clothed with “change of raiment” - the righteousness of Christ imputed to them.” - Prophets and Kings, p. 583, 584

 

“As Satan accused Joshua and his people, so in all ages he accuses those who seek the mercy and favor of God.  He is “the accuser of our brethren, which accused them before our God day and night.” Revelation 12:10.  Over every soul that is rescued from the power of evil, and whose name is registered in the Lamb’s book of life, the controversy is repeated.  Never is one received into the family of God without exciting the determined resistance of the enemy.  But He who was the hope of Israel then, their defense, their justification and redemption, is the hope of the church today.

 

Through the plan of salvation, Jesus is breaking Satan’s hold upon the human family and rescuing souls from his power…

 

Satan knows that those who ask God for pardon and grace will obtain it; therefore, he presents their sins before them to discourage them.  Against those who are trying to obey God, he is constantly seeking occasion for complaint…In his own strength man cannot meet the charges of the enemy.  In sin-stained garments, confessing his guilt, he stands before God.  But Jesus, our Advocate presents an effectual plea in behalf of all who by repentance and faith have committed the keeping of their souls to Him.  He pleads their cause, and by the mighty arguments of Calvary, vanquishes their accuser.  His perfect obedience to God’s law has given Him all power in heaven and in earth, and He claims from His Father mercy and reconciliation for guilty man.  To the accuser of His people He declares: “the Lord rebuke thee, O Satan.  These are the purchase of My blood, brands plucked from the burning.”  And to those who rely on Him in faith He gives the assurance, “Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.” Zechariah 3:4. - Prophets and Kings, pp. 585-587

 

 “It is because they are drawing nearer to Christ, because their eyes are fixed on His perfect purity, that they discern so clearly the exceeding sinfulness of sin.  Meekness and lowliness are the conditions of success and victory.  A crown of glory awaits those who bow at the foot of the cross.” - Prophets and Kings, p. 590

 

Moses, a type of Christ, is referred to as the meekest of men (Numbers 12:3).  He, who was willing to have his name blotted out of the Book of Life in order that those he shepherded might be spared, did indeed die.  He was denied the honor and joy of leading Israel into Canaan, but our righteous, merciful God remembered His servant whom he had known “face to face” (Deuteronomy 34:10).  He resurrected Moses and took him to the ultimate Promised Land!  And centuries later Moses does step foot on the soil of Canaan.  He and Elijah were sent to encourage their Savior preceding His hour of trial and sacrifice that made it possible for them, and the redeemed of all ages to live eternally secure.

 

ALL are raised because Jesus is indeed the “Savior of all men”.  The utter despair of the lost, as they gaze upon the One Who became them and died for them, is the realization that the gift of eternal life, purchased at such infinite cost, has been spurned and thrown away.  May this not be our case.  May we allow God to rebuke the enemy, remove our filthy garments, and clothe us with His pure white robe of righteousness.  May we live and share the wonderful, extraordinary good news of the gospel.  We are on the borders of the Promised Land.  We want to one day very soon stand on the sea of glass and sing the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb.  “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints” (Revelation 15:2-4).

 

“Oh, that today the human family could recognize that song! The declaration then made, (at the birth of the Savior) the note then struck, will swell to the close of time, and resound to the ends of the earth. When the Sun of Righteousness shall arise, with healing in His wings, that song will be re-echoed by the voice of a great multitude, as the voice of many waters, saying, "Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigns." Revelation 19:6. - Desire of Ages p. 48

 

~ Martha Ruggles