The Story - Chapter 5

Was anyone struck with how much Moses did similar things that Jesus did…or Jesus did similar things that Moses did? In The Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown, authors Andreas Köstenberger, L. Scott Kellum, and Charles Quarles suggest that one of Matthew’s primary goals in writing his Gospel was to present Jesus as the new Moses: “Matthew’s Gospel stressed four aspects of Jesus’ identity … (one of which is that) Jesus is the new Moses, the deliverer and instructor of God’s people” (p. 191). As we read chapter 5 of The Story, there is no denying the comparison between Moses and Jesus! Btw: I'm not the first person with this thought...below is one of many comparisons/parallels you can find on the interwebs when you search "Moses Jesus comparison"! But three images from chapter 5 really stood out to me.

First, both Moses and Jesus experienced God in unique ways. In The Story page 67 (also Exodus 33:18), Moses asks God, "Show me your glory," reflecting his desire for a more intimate connection with the divine. God grants this request in part, allowing Moses to see His back as He passes by. This encounter shows Moses' unique relationship with God, one where the divine is revealed in awe-inspiring yet partial ways. This reminded me of Jesus’ Baptism, where the heavens open, and the voice of God declares, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17).

Second, Moses’ fast of forty days and forty nights on Mount Sinai, as recounted in The Story page 69 (Exodus 34:28), signifies his preparation to receive God’s Law for the people of Israel. During this time, Moses’ communion with God is so deep that he receives divine instruction, which shapes the moral and spiritual life of the nation. Jesus, too, fasts for forty days and nights in the wilderness (Matthew 4:2). During this period, He is tempted by the devil but emerges victorious, confirming His identity as the Son of God and preparing Himself for His public ministry.

After Moses spends time in God’s presence, we read that his face becomes radiant, a physical sign of the divine encounter he has experienced (The Story, p. 69; Exodus 34:29-35). His face shines so brightly that he must cover it with a veil when speaking to the Israelites. This radiance marks Moses as one who has been transformed by God’s glory. In Matthew’s Gospel, we see a similar but even more profound moment in the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-2). Jesus’ face shines like the sun, and His clothes become dazzling white, revealing His divine nature to Peter, James, and John. And if you continue to Matthew 17:3, “Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.” Unlike Moses, whose radiance was a reflection of God’s glory, Jesus’ transfiguration reveals that He is the source of that glory (Matthew 17:5).

These moments illustrate sanctifying grace - that through faith, grace can transform us in holiness and Christlikeness, perfectly loving God and neighbor. Both Moses and Jesus show us what it means to have a close, transformative relationship with God. The Lord spoke to Moses “as one speaks to a friend” (Exodus 33:11, p. 67 in The Story), and Jesus embodied an even deeper, intimate relationship with the Father. These stories remind us that we too are invited into this friendship with God - a relationship marked by grace, transformation, and a deeper understanding of who God is, which is love.

As we reflect on this week’s reading, I hope you allow the Holy Spirit to draw you near to God, to experience His glory, and to be transformed by His grace. Spend some time in prayer this week on question #6 in the “Discussion Questions” on p. 475: The Lord spoke to Moses “as one speaks to a friend.” What steps can you take to gain a deeper understanding of who God is?