Dictionary of Bible Themes » 5000 Humanity » 5070 Individuals in OT and NT » 5101 Moses » 5103 Moses, significance of
Moses performed a number of major roles in the history of Israel. Many of these roles later found their perfection in Jesus Christ.
The roles of Moses
As teacher
Exodus 18:20; Matthew 23:10; John 1:38
As intercessor
Exodus 17:11; Exodus 32:11; Numbers 12:13; Numbers 21:7; Psalm 106:23; John 17:9; Hebrews 7:25
As servant of the LORD
Joshua 1:1-2; 2 Chronicles 24:6; Acts 3:13; Hebrews 3:5; Revelation 15:3
As prophet
Numbers 12:6-8; Deuteronomy 18:15; Deuteronomy 34:10; Acts 3:22
As deliverer
Exodus 3:10; Acts 7:35; Galatians 5:1
As judge
Exodus 18:13
As writer
Exodus 24:4; Deuteronomy 31:9; Luke 24:27; John 1:45; John 5:46
As shepherd
Exodus 3:1; Psalm 77:20; John 10:11
As the friend of God
Exodus 33:11 See also Exodus 33:17; Matthew 17:5; John 5:20
As the mediator of the law and the covenant
Exodus 19:5-6; Deuteronomy 6:1-3; Deuteronomy 31:9; Joshua 23:6; 2 Kings 18:12; Galatians 3:19; Hebrews 9:15; Hebrews 12:24
Characteristics of Moses
He was a man of faith
Exodus 14:13-14; Hebrews 11:24-28
He was not eloquent
Exodus 4:10
He understood that the law meant life
Deuteronomy 32:46-47 See also Matthew 5:17-19; Matthew 19:17; Acts 7:38
He was passionate in his defence of the Lord's holiness
Exodus 32:19; Numbers 16:30; Luke 19:45-46
He worked miracles that brought glory to God
Exodus 14:15-18; John 2:11
Institutions established by Moses
He fathers, and is identified with, the Judaic legal system
Joshua 1:7-8; 1 Kings 2:3; Ezra 3:2; Nehemiah 13:1; John 5:45; John 7:23; 1 Corinthians 9:9
He inaugurates the ritual slaughter of the Passover lamb
Exodus 12:21 See also John 1:29
He sprinkles the people with the blood of the covenant
Exodus 24:8; Leviticus 17:11; Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 9:13-14; Hebrews 11:28
He orders the atonement sacrifice
Numbers 16:46; Romans 3:25
Moses enters the glory of the LORD
Exodus 24:17-18; Exodus 34:29; Matthew 17:2; 2 Corinthians 3:7; Revelation 15:3-4
Moses present at the transfiguration
Mark 9:4 pp Matthew 17:3 pp Luke 9:30
Jesus Christ is superior to Moses
See also
Hebrews 3:3,5-6
1045 God, glory of 2321 Christ as redeemer 2327 Christ as servant 2330 Christ as shepherd 2360 Christ, prayers of 2580 Christ, transfiguration 5378 law, OT 6614 atonement 7314 blood 7474 Tent of Meeting 8122 friendship with God
