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"The Maturing of Moses"

      The apocryphal story is told of U.S. President Ronald Reagan showing Israeli Prime Minister Begin his phone service in Washington: “This red one is the hotline to Moscow, this blackbox is for nuclear war;” then with a flourish Reagan said, “but this gold phone is a direct line right to the Pope himself!” 

           Later in Jerusalem, Begin showed Reagan his own communication devices: “This red phone is a hotline to Egypt, this blue phone is to call out the troops,” Begin paused, then pointing to an ordinary looking black phone he said, “that one’s for spiritual matters.”

      “Oh, really,” Reagan said,  “and to whom does that reach?”

      “Well,” Begin smiled, “that goes directly to God Almighty!”

      “How do you have a phone that can get to God?” Reagan insisted.

“No big deal, really”, Begin explained “for you it would be long distance; from here in Jerusalem, it’s a local call!” 

     This little story reflects what many people believe: Followers of Yeshua (the Jewish way of saying Jesus) need a mediator to get to God, but Jews have no need of a mediator and can go directly to God themselves. Though many of my Jewish people may think this assumption is true, the Jewish Scriptures teach otherwise.

Past Mediation for Israel
It may be a shock to someone’s spiritual sensibilities, but at least from the days of Moses onward there was always a mediator for an Israelite to properly approach God to both hear the truth of God, as well as find forgiveness from Him.

Moses say, “At that time I stood between the LORD and you to declare to you the word of the LORD” (Deuteronomy 5: 5).

In fact, Israel did not want to go directly to God, but implored Moses:

“Go near and listen to all the Lord our God says. Then tell us whatever the Lord our God tells you. We will listen and obey.” (Deuteronomy 5: 27)

      Though today God is considered by some to be so insignificant that anyone can “barge” into His presence, the Scriptures make it an awesome and dangerous consideration for a sinner to stand before the Living God!

Thus Moses was the recognized mediator of revelation from God to Israel. But that was not all. The Levitical priesthood was ordained by God to be the official mediators for Israel’s relationship with God through the Tabernacle, and eventually the Temple in Jerusalem.

“Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests [cohenim]; anyone else who approaches the sanctuary must be put to death” (Numbers 3:10).

Only the priests could sprinkle the offering before the altar, or enter the holy place, burn incense or any of the other religious ceremonies that were necessary to worship God and find acceptance in His presence (Leviticus 1:5; etc.).  It was not merely ineffective for someone other than the priest to enter the presence of God to offer incense, but it was condemned- even for a king! (2 Chronicles 26: 16-23)

      When an Israelite was back home on the farm and away from the Temple, it was only the continual daily morning and evening offerings that the priesthood presented  “as a regular burnt offering” that gave any basis for Israel to have a spiritual life with God (Numbers 28:1-8). The mediation of the priesthood was necessary for Israel’s spiritual existence.

Predicted mediation for Israel
      The Jewish Scriptures predicted God’s provision of future mediation for Israel for both prophetic revelation and priestly ministration.

1)  “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your countrymen” (Deuteronomy 18:15, c.1400 BCE).

This way they would not have to “hear the voice of the Lord” themselves (18:16). God would not provide revelation directly to each Israelite, but through the prophets, and ultimately through the Messiah, who would be “a light for the Gentiles” and “a covenant for the people [Israel]” (Isaiah 49:5-8).

2) “The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind: ‘You [Messiah] are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek’ ” (Psalm 110:4, c. 1000 BCE).

Though the Levitical priesthood existed since Moses, God promises a new priesthood, originating with Messiah. God would not leave his people without priestly mediation, for His desire is that we would have a proper way to draw near to Him.

3) “He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He [Messiah] poured out Himself unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors; for He bore the sin of many, and made intercession with the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:12, c. 700 BCE).

God would provide perfect intercession for all transgressors. Messiah would be the perfect sacrifice for sins, “He bore  the sin of many”, and therefore as our Mediator would be able to provide perfect intercession for all who trust in God through Him.

Provided Mediation for Israel
With both the past and predicted mediation taught in the Jewish Scriptures, it should come as no surprise that God has fulfilled His Word, Messiah has come! Therefore when He taught His followers:

“I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but by Me!” (John 14:6).  Yeshua was saying what was to be expected from the true Messiah, our Mediator.

Therefore the New Covenant, in accordance with principles of the rest of the Jewish Scriptures, states:

“ For it is declared: ‘You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek’…because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, because He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7: 17, 24-25).

This is the fulfillment of the mediation the God of Israel promised and was spoken of by Moses, David and Isaiah.

Right now you can find forgiveness right where you are through the Messiah of Israel, who is ready to intercede for you.  Please, “draw near to God through Him."  Shalom.