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| Moses views the land from Mount Nebo. |
In our parashah this week Adonai tells Moses to go up on a mountain and view the land. After he sees it, he would die. Before he ascends the mountain Moses is moved, once again, to intercede for the people. This time he prays that Adonai would not leave the people leaderless, or shepherd-less. Moses loved the flock in his care. Adonai then appoints Joshua, the son of Nun, as Moses' successor. It's not a surprise that Joshua replaced Moses; but, although he would now lead the people, Joshua's role would not be identical to Moses'.
The Torah tells us that Adonai only spoke with Moses face-to-face (Ex 33:11, Nu 12:6-8). Nobody else had this privilege. In fact, before the ordinances regarding the Kohen Gadol were in place, and possibly even afterward, Moses would enter into the Holy of Holies to speak with Adonai who would meet with him from above the mercy seat (Ex 25:22). Remember, only the Kohen Gadol, the High Priest, could enter the Holy of Holies once a year on Yom Kippur, to atone for the sins of the nation. But Moses had special access to Adonai that nobody else did, not even his successor, Joshua. Regarding Joshua, the parashah says, "...he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the LORD." (Nu 27:21) In other words, Joshua would hear from God through Eleazar, the High Priest. Joshua would be a mediator between the High Priest and the people. He would convey to the people the words from Adonai that were given through the High Priest. Although Joshua was called a prophet, he was not the Prophet (Du 18:15-18) that would come after Moses. While Joshua was a great leader, he was not equal to Moses. Joshua's main task was to see that the mission of Moses came to fruition. This is why he is exhorted to "be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded..." (Jos 1:6-9) Joshua did not add to the Torah, he followed it.
Last night as we read this passage as a family, my children already knew that Joshua was not like Moses. I was amazed at their understanding of this fact because this is not something that we've talked about before; not in our devotional time anyway. But they understood that only Moses spoke with Adonai face-to-face because only he had a special relationship with Him. Nobody had a relationship with Adonai like Moses did.
It is important to understand that Moses had a unique role in Israel's history. He was not given a specific title and/or responsibilities like Aaron, his brother the High Priest; nor was his job established as a perpetual postion. Aaron's job, on the other hand, was a position that was supposed to continue, from generation to generation, through his sons (Ex 40:12-15). Although Moses' role was not ongoing, his mission needed to be completed, hence the appointment of Joshua. Here's another important fact—since Moses and the High Priest were the only two men who could come into the presence of Almighty God in the Holy of Holies, both Moses and the position of the High Priest were types of the Messiah-to-come, Yeshua. Knowing this, it is safe for us to establish the following two points:
- Moses, the prophet, is a type of the Prophet, Yeshua HaMashiach (Jn 6:14; Ac 3:22-23).
- The role of the High Priest is a type of the High Priest, Yeshua HaMashiach (Heb 5:1-10).
It has been my experience that churches that lean toward a Levitical priesthood or shoftim model of church government (also known as the Jethro model or Moses' ecclesiastical government) are authoritarian in nature and therefore, heavy-handed in their leadership style. This results in the abuse of authority over the laity, time and time again. This stance is not the position of Messianic scholars but rather the position of fringe Torah teachers.
The Biblical model for the government of Israel was for the nation in the land with a functioning Temple and priesthood. This model was never intended to be used in small church communities outside of Israel under foreign governments. Sure we may see some parallels between the Levitical priests and the church leadership and we may see some parallels between the common Israelite people and the church members; but these are only parallels; similarities. We may also find wisdom in Jethro's model of delegation for Moses because it makes sense; it's the inspired Word of God. But we need to remember, there's only one Moses and the Senior Pastor is not functioning in his role.
We are not in Israel with a functioning Temple and Levitical priesthood. We are in the Diaspora, without a Temple and without a Levitical priesthood. So how should we govern our churches? In some of Paul's epistles we can find his God-inspired, Torah-based instructions on church government that he gave to the churches in the Diaspora. If you already have a knowledge of Torah, this would be a good place to start. For a clear explanation of how to run and establish a Messianic congregation, I recommend the TorahResource course "I Will Build My Ekklesia" – An Introduction to Ecclesiology. In this important teaching, Tim Hegg explains the necessity of a plurality of leaders (elders) which was the foundation of the governmental structure in the early church.
Related Articles:
Elders, be an Example to the Flock
Set Your Heart, June 9, 2011
Who owns your Church?
Set Your Heart, July 8, 2010
"I Will Build My Ekklesia" – An Introduction to Ecclesiology
By Tim Hegg, TorahResource.com
Bet Din
By Jacqueline Shields, The Jewish Virtual Library
Synagogues, Shuls and Temples
Judaism 101
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2 comments:
What an awesome God we serve! Just wanted to copy in what I was given this last week, Michael. High fives!!
What YHVH established in the garden is what Yeshua came to restore. By hanging on the tree, He became the curse for us. The curse of the garden is undone by believing in Yeshua, it can be stopped. There are many examples of this but the ones that fascinate me the most are the testimonies of women who trust God with the birth of their children. Clearly, there will be a certain amount of discomfort and pressure because you just don’t push something the size of a large cantaloupe out of a two and a half inch hole and not have something going on, however, the kind of pain that is traditionally associated with childbirth (because of the curse) can be literally nothing if you are trusting YHVH with the process. He designed women's bodies to do this and He should know, right? I could go on, but will let this be enough.
Pre-Yeshua there was Moses and the law. This was not ever intended to save people. It let them know what YHVH thought of sin and righteousness and how He expected His people to behave, but it got really messed up by the religious leaders trying to impose a bunch of rules on people to keep them in line. Yeshua came to restore the government of the garden NOT the Mosaic government. That is why women can have babies without pain - Yeshua became the curse and when they truly believe that, the curse no longer operates in them. I am using the baby thing as an example that can be applied to all kinds of stuff. Men and women do NOT have to operate under the curse: woman’s desire shall be to usurp man’s authority and he shall oppress, suppress, and lord over her . . . Well, that is pretty much how it is interpreted. IF they are in Messiah, they can now focus on YHVH and each other like before the fall instead of total self focus. They can have the kind of relationship YHVH intended from the beginning. Think about it. The consequence of sin - curses - are undone by Yeshua’s sacrifice. How cool is that?
Yeshua did not come to take us back to Moses. He came to take us back to the garden!! It is the separation of the fall which Yeshua’s blood restores, the ability for man and woman to once again come face to face - panim a panim - with the Father. Yeshua is now the mediator - not Moses. Yeshua did not come to set up new mediators LIKE Moses in the form of pastors, bishops, rabbis as they are now. Moses was the type and shadow of the Messiah, THE mediator who would RESTORE! Moses was not the pattern to be followed. The temple system and priesthood were the patterns of heavenly things and served until Messiah came to restore the separation between man and God. (When He comes a second time, it will be to restore ALL things, not just part as it is now.)
This is where I believe the current church government is wacked. Everything they do hinges on the Moses and Jethro deal. Having one who is over all and then appointing captains over tens and fifties and hundreds, etc. It may not start out that way, but many take on the mediatorship role and end up with a Messiah complex - I am your covering, I am your interpreter, I am your teacher, I am the owner of the church (statement by a Messianic leader on a podcast), I hear from God for you, I have the last word on you, your marriage, your family, etc., etc. They call this the order of things. But which order? YHVH’s order or the perverted order?
"The life of Moses presents a series of striking antitheses. He was the child of a slave, and the son of a queen. He was born in a hut, and lived in a palace. He inherited poverty, and enjoyed unlimited wealth. He was the leader of armies, and the keeper of flocks. He was the mightiest of warriors, and the meekest of men. He was educated in the court, and dwelt in the desert. He had the wisdom of Egypt, and the faith of a child. He was fitted for the city, and wandered in the wilderness. He was tempted with the pleasures of sin, and endured the hardships of virtue. He was backward in speech, and talked with God. He had the rod of a shepherd, and the power of the Infinite. He was a fugitive from Pharaoh, and an ambassador from heaven. He was the giver of the Law, and the forerunner of grace. He died alone on Mount Moab, and appeared with Christ in Judea. No man assisted at his funeral, yet God buried him" (Dr. I. M. Haldeman).
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