What The Church Needs: Moses

WHAT THE CHURCH NEEDS: MOSES

     That is the question for the ages. What is needed? If we knew the answer and everyone followed suit, then the church and Christianity would not be in the shape that it finds itself. But, we are imperfect. We sin, cannot agree, and contaminate everything with are selfish preferences. Alas! God is on his throne. He is ruling and reigning from on high. God's will is being fulfilled and carried out as he sees fit; it is not our will. I do not know about you, but God never asked me for my opinion or what I thought. We do, however, have a responsibility to reform the church, purge impurities, tear down idols, call the people to repentance, preach and teach the whole counsel of God, and urge growth in grace and sanctified worship.

      There are many examples in Scripture of godly men fulfilling their call and glorifying God. They serve as models; albeit, they are imperfect ones. However, they can teach us many truths both by their positive and even their negative actions. We look to these men only in an effort to project their emulative characteristics back onto us, realizing all the time that they are mere men, and sinful men at that (except, of course, Christ Jesus). We can learn; we must learn from those who have gone before. We look at these men and examples of the past in order to reform the present. Ultimately, however, we must look to Christ. We know looking back throughout the Bible that Christ was active within his people. As we look back on them, we are actually focused on Christ and his work then to better our now. So, what do we need?

Moses (Exodus 33:12-34:8)

We need Moses-like intercession and desire to see the glory of God. Exodus chapters 32-34 are some of the most theologically rich and revealing portions of Scripture in the entire Old Testament. The Israelites had been delivered from Egyptian captivity by the mighty arm of God. He decimated the land and rescued his chosen people. They saw and heard things that make us envious. God revealed himself to this group and gave them laws and sacrifices. Yet, they disobeyed and committed idolatry continuously.

     These chapters in Exodus have Moses on the mount with God while the people danced around a false god. Moses was receiving the law; the people were breaking it. Moses was before God's face; the people were spitting in it. Moses desired to see God's glory; the people were content with metal fashioned in the shape of an animal. After all that had transpired up until this point, they rejected God and served themselves and their own carnality. How deplorable!

     Still, Moses interceded on behalf of those sinful and rebellious ingrates. God had every right to destroy the people. He did not; he could not. He is God and he cannot lie. He made a covenant to deliver this people and they were to occupy the Promised Land. He cannot fail. Instead, God forgives and rains down grace upon the undeserving and mercy on them who merit judgment.

     We need pastors who spend the week on the mountain with God while their sheep are in the valley dancing around other gods. They need to be interceding; they must be pleading to God to have mercy and beg God for grace. We need leaders who desire to see more of the glory of God. Then, they are to come down from the mountain and tell the people about God; they should tell them of his grace, mercy, judgment, and holiness. Remind them to repent and hide in the cleft trusting Christ alone for everything. Preach the law, and then apply the healing balm of the gospel.

     Moses was jealous for the glory of God. Where is that today? He was zealous for the truth and proclaimed it. Prayers were offered on the behalf of sinners who deserved death for worshiping false gods. Moses knew God, and he knew the hearts of the people. He knew that there had to be someone to stand in between them. That someone was him. Moses stood between God and the people. He interceded; God spared them. Moses accomplished this because he knew that God could not fail or deny himself. He knew that God was jealous for his glory; he would not defame his name by destroying the people he delivered. What would the nations say? The God of the Hebrews was able to lead them out of Egypt but could not get them through a desert? May it never be!

     Pastors, climb that mountain and get alone with God. How can you preach to your people about a God you yourself don't know? Pastors and leaders, you must seek the glory of God in all that you do. Do not settle for imitations. Do not fall prey to the whims of the people as Aaron did. You lead them; you teach them the truth about God. Do not let them dictate what you preach and teach. Intercede for your sheep. They are weak and are prone to wonder. They follow others and get entangled in idolatry. Rebuke them. Teach them. Charge them to repent. Lead them away from idolatry. How? Show them the glory of God! They will never be the same. Their faces will shine and everyone will know that they have been with the Lord.