Jesus, Moses and You

Daily Devotion|Day 261

“And Moses indeed was faithful in all His [God’s] house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end” (Hebrews 3:5-6, NKJV).

The Letter to the Hebrews is noted for comparing and contrasting the Covenant of the Law (given through Moses) and the New Covenant (given through Christ). Today’s passage is no different. The theme is faithfulness. The author compares Moses and Christ. The Bible says Moses was a faithful servant over the house of God.

Here, God’s house refers to the body of God’s people set apart unto Him. When the time came for God to create the nation of Israel, He appointed Moses to lead the exodus from Egypt (see Exodus 3:1-22). Additionally, it was through Moses that the Lord ratified the Old Covenant (see Exodus 24:1-12). During these years, Moses was a servant over the house of God – i.e. the Church of God.

When we think of church we mostly think in terms of the New Testament, but the reality is, God had a Church long before the New Testament. In fact, Stephen describes the nation of Israel under Moses as “the church in the wilderness” (Acts 7:38). Wherever God’s people are, there is the Church. This is the Church which the Bible calls the house of God. Moses was a faithful servant watching over God’s house. He was faithful to the end.

In the New Covenant, Christ appeared as the one in charge of God’s house. But He differs essentially from Moses. Unlike Moses, Christ is a Son over the house of God. Another difference is that in Moses’ case, the house of God did not belong to him. However, in Jesus’ case, He is the owner of the house over which He watches. The Bible says Jesus is a Son over His own house. That house refers, again, to the body of believers. Note that the Bible isn’t talking about two separate houses. God has only one people or house. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Ruth, Rahab, David, Peter, Mary, Paul and Stephen, all belong to the one house of God. And the Bible says Jesus, like Moses, was (and is) faithful over the house of God.

Next, the Letter to the Hebrews turns the attention to us, members of Christ’s house. Just as Moses and Christ were faithful in the house of God, the same is expected from us. According to the Bible, we are Jesus’ house on one condition: if we hold the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end. Initial confidence in Christ is important, but it isn’t enough. We must hold fast and be faithful to the end. We and Moses and Christ are held to the same standard: faithfulness.

Blessing: May the Lord preserve you in His grace to the end. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

For further study: 1 Corinthians 3:1-23 and Revelation 2:8-11