There are several key figures throughout the Bible. Moses most certainly is one of them. All of them are either types or antitypes of the ONE who is the central figure not only in the scripture but in all of the unfolding of GOD's purpose in the earth; the LORD JESUS CHRIST. Moses is typical of the LORD JESUS in that he delivered the LORD's people out of bondage. He was the judge and leader of Israel. Most importantly, he was their lawgiver. He was antitypical of CHRIST in that he was a sinful man unlike the LORD JESUS who "did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth" (I Pet.2;22). He was the administrator of the law written in tables of stone, but the LORD JESUS CHRIST is HE who writes HIS law upon the hearts of HIS people. He could not escape death, while the LORD JESUS laid down HIS life because no one could take it from HIM. Moses was buried out of the sight of men and no one knew what became of him. The LORD JESUS was buried by men in a tomb hewn out of rock in plain view of the world. The day of Moses resurrection is unknown to men. The day of the LORD's was both prophesied and fulfilled by HIM as HE arose on the third day just as HE said that HE would.
The account of Moses death is very intriguing and to my knowledge, he is the only person in the scripture that the LORD buried. He is not heard from again until he is seen on the mount of transfiguration where he appears with Elijah and the LORD JESUS. Now some think that this event did not actually occur and was but a dream like vision which Peter, James, and John saw. This is possible but it seems to me that there was a literal appearing of these men especially when we read Luke's account of this event. Also, it seems obvious that the LORD JESUS was actually there in all three accounts so HE would have literally been visible while the other two were but apparitions. Elijah did not see death but was taken to heaven in a fiery chariot so he has to exist somewhere and could be literally seen if we could be taken there. Moses, on the other hand, did die, but is now seen here on this mount in bodily form. Those who deny that the body is raised in the resurrection must chew on this appearing by both Moses and Elijah. Those who deny the resurrection have always been around, Paul warns of them,(see II Tim.2:16-18) and they delight to spread their poisonous doctrine among the saints from time to time, seeking to rob them of the hope that Paul clearly spoke of. (see I Cor.15:12-19) Here are several thoughts on the death, burial, and appearing of Moses:
The law was a schoolmaster to bring us to CHRIST.
The LORD specifically told Moses that he would not be allowed to enter the land of promise because of his transgressions. (see Num.20:12) This seems quite unfair, to some, since Moses suffered long with the children of Israel as they wandered in the wilderness for forty years. But the LORD would plainly demonstrate that men cannot inherit the promise through the works of the law. Moses is typical of the written law and was, himself, condemned by that very law. (see Gal.2:16) But the purpose of the law was never to minister life to men. Its purpose was to reveal sin and set the stage for the REDEEMER."For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect." (Heb 10:1) Then the work of CHRIST to fulfill the law and take it out of the way is manifested. "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross." (Col 2:14) Moses died, but JESUS CHRIST, our sovereign REDEEMER, ever lives to make intercession for us.
The law was forever satisfied and its power to condemn the elect was buried with CHRIST.
Moses was buried by the hand of the LORD to foreshadow the fact that JESUS CHRIST would forever disarm the ability of the law to condemn HIS elect. When HE walked upon the earth and as HE hung upon Calvary's cross HE fulfilled every jot and tittle of the law. The law has no power to condemn those whose sins are taken away (by substitution) in CHRIST. "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree." (Gal 3:13) The law holds no terror for those who stand justified by the blood of CHRIST. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." (Rom.8:1) "Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin." (Rom.4:7-8) One of the old puritans said, "the arrow of the law's condemnation was shot into the very heart of JESUS CHRIST, HE grabbed its shaft and broke it off forever in HIS bosom." "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh." (Rom.8:3)
CHRIST has more glory than the law, even when it thundered from Sinai.
Moses could not enter the land of promise by himself, but what the law could not do CHRIST has done. Moses appearance at the mount of transfiguration was real but brief. The law and the prophets were but temporary in power and glory and both (Moses and Elijah) must bow down to the greater glory of the true LAWGIVER and PROPHET. "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things." (Heb 1:1-2) The prophets desired to understand the things they prophesied and the law thundered loud from the darkness of Sinai's mountain yet they were not an end unto themselves. They both served GOD's purpose for the time being but when that which is PERFECT is come that which is in part is done away. "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." (1 John 5:11)
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