The Period of Moses

Deuteronomy 5:1-6

THE patriarchal age ended with the death of Jacob. The twelve sons of Jacob then became the nucleus of the Jewish nation. At that time the children of Israel were being held as slaves in Egypt, and in God’s providence Moses was raised up to be their deliverer from Egyptian bondage, and to serve as a mediator between God and the nation. As mediator, Moses also was Israel’s lawgiver. Moses’ leadership lasted for forty years—from the Exodus until just before the nation entered the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua.

God made a covenant with the Israelites at Horeb. The basis of that covenant was the Law, as epitomized in the Ten Commandments. Moses explained that this covenant was not made with their fathers. As already noted, God did make a covenant with their fathers—a covenant to bless all the families of the earth through a “seed”—the seed of Abraham. The later covenant made at Horeb did not change, or annul, that original covenant. Paul explains that it was added to the original covenant “because of transgressions, till the seed should come.”—Gal. 3:19

Without the restraints of the Law, it is doubtful if the natural seed of Abraham would have remained in tact as a people separate from other nations until the due time came for Christ, the promised Messiah, to present himself to them. True, they were not very successful in keeping the Law, but it did serve to remind them of their responsibility toward God and toward one another, and thus helped to keep them together as a nation under God.

The Law Covenant offered life to the Israelites if they were able to live up to the high standard of righteousness which it set, but this was beyond their ability. Paul speaks of the Lord as “finding fault” with their attainments under the Law and of his promise to “make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.”—Heb. 8:8; Jer. 31:31-34

God’s covenant arrangements with Israel, made through Moses, their mediator, included the sacrificial work of the priesthood, the tabernacle services, and so forth. All of this was typical of the better, or New Covenant, which will actually give life, not only to Israel, but to all nations. The New Covenant arrangements also include the sacrificial work of a priesthood—Christ and his church—and a better tabernacle, “not made with hands, but eternal in the heavens.” (II Cor. 5:1) Moses, as the mediator of the Law Covenant, was typical of Christ, the Mediator of the New Covenant.

Deuteronomy 6:20-25

BECAUSE of the miraculous manner in which God cared for the Israelites, he declared to them through the Prophet Isaiah, “Ye are my witnesses … that I am God.” (Isa. 43:12) God’s supervision over the development of the “seed” of promise began in a very marked way with Abraham, continued with Isaac and Jacob, and in this lesson we are reminded of it in connection with the children of Israel.

Even if the Israelites themselves said or did nothing about it, the historical record of the mighty deeds performed on their behalf by the Lord would serve as convincing testimony of the wonderful keeping power of God over his people. But it was the privilege of the Israelites to publicize the glorious attributes of their God, although very few of them were faithful in doing this. It was to be their particular duty to teach their children the meaning of the Law, and the background of experience which led to the covenant at Horeb.

What a wonderful testimony all Israelitish parents, beginning with those who came out of Egypt, could pass on to their children! “The Lord had brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand: and the Lord showed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes,” Moses reminded them. And the Lord did all this, explains their lawgiver, in order that he might bring them into the land which he had promised to their fathers.

God’s unselfish attitude toward his people is well shown in Moses’ explanation of why the Law was given to Israel, that it was “for our good always.” God did not ask them to obey the Law because it would be an advantage to him, but because it would be the best thing for them. And how “good” it would have been for them had they been able to obey the Law perfectly! Moses declares that in this case God would have preserved them alive.

That they might be preserved alive was, indeed, the hope of the Israelites when they entered into the Law Covenant with God. Because of human frailty, their hope failed. But Moses told the Israelites that the Lord would raise up another Prophet unto them who would give what they desired at Horeb. (Deut. 18:15-18) The Apostle Peter quotes from Moses’ prophecy concerning “that Prophet,” and explains that it will be fulfilled by Christ after his second advent, during “the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”—Acts 3:19-23

“And it shall be our righteousness,” Moses said, “if we observe to do all these commandments.” The Law was a very high standard of righteousness, and even though no member of the fallen race could reach up to it fully and thereby gain life, the Israelites who made an honest effort to do so were richly blessed. The nation as a whole was protected by God during those periods when the people were earnestly striving to observe his statutes and keep his commandments.

QUESTIONS

When did the patriarchal age end, and what was the first major work of God during the Jewish age?

For what purpose was the Law Covenant made with Israel, and what role did Moses fill in that covenant?

Why did God promise to make a New Covenant with the “house of Israel and with the house of Judah”?

In what manner are Israelites particularly qualified to be witnesses of Jehovah?

Why did God desire the Israelites to obey the Law, and what reward would they have received had they been able to keep the Law perfectly?

| Home Page | Table of Contents |