Seeing Jesus in the Old Testament

 

 

READ Numbers 5–9

My mind has been on yesterday’s devotional concerning the precise nature of God’s commands to His people. In the OT, these involved ritual and regulations for setting up the tabernacle and the duties of the priests. It also involved the movement of the people who were led by God with a cloud and a pillar of fire. While the details differ, the NT also involves precision in its commands. However, instead of obedience because of their sinfulness, the people who experience salvation by grace through faith respond to the love of God in obedience because He has changed our lives.

Theologians determine that the OT rituals point ahead to Jesus Christ. Certainly, I can see parallels even though I’m a bit leery of ‘spiritualizing’ and need to realize these ‘reminders’ of Christ I see may not be what was intended in the descriptions.

For instance, today’s reading gives instructions to the twelve tribes regarding what the leaders of each tribe must bring as an offering for the dedication of the tabernacle. The description was repeated twelve times for each leader — easy to skip yet it does point to a NT truth. First, it says . . .

On the (day) (name of the chief and tribe): his offering was one silver plate whose weight was 130 shekels, one silver basin of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; one golden dish of 10 shekels, full of incense; one bull from the herd, one ram, one male lamb a year old, for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the offering of (name) . . . (Numbers 7:12– 83)

As I read it, I thought that in the NT, the one offering is the same for every man, woman, and child — it is the offering of the Lord Jesus Christ, His sacrifice, His blood shed. Salvation is the same for everyone, just as it was for these offerings.

Later in this reading, the Lord spoke to Moses and told him how the priests were His and what their duties would be and how they should offer themselves to the Lord on behalf of the people. Does this not also point to Jesus Christ who specifically obeyed His Father and offered Himself on our behalf? Looking for images and hints of the Savior makes Numbers a far more fascinating read!

Another section of this reading speaks of how God led His people. It says that a “cloud covered it by day and the appearance of fire by night. And whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent, after that the people of Israel set out, and in the place where the cloud settled down, there the people of Israel camped. At the command of the Lord the people of Israel set out, and at the command of the Lord they camped. As long as the cloud rested over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. Even when the cloud continued over the tabernacle many days, the people of Israel kept the charge of the Lord and did not set out. Sometimes the cloud was a few days over the tabernacle, and according to the command of the Lord they remained in camp; then according to the command of the Lord they set out. And sometimes the cloud remained from evening until morning. And when the cloud lifted in the morning, they set out, or if it continued for a day and a night, when the cloud lifted they set out. Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out, but when it lifted they set out. At the command of the Lord they camped, and at the command of the Lord they set out . . . .” (Numbers 9:16–23)

The Lord Jesus leads me in a similar way. If He wants me to stay put and do nothing, I’ve no clear vision of any specific orders, not that I’m in a fog (cloud) but the contrast comes when that sense of not hearing anything is lifted and His direction comes as clear as a sunny day.

Also, there are times when all seems less clear than cloudiness — life is dark. But I’m often reminded of the saying: “When all seems dark, remember what God told you in the light” and like the pillar of fire, the darkness is lit by reminders from the Holy Spirit that He had not forsaken me; He is always with me and the truths He has revealed on those clear days is still true even if life has become blurry.

Lord Jesus, I’m so thankful for Your Word to me, even in census lists and detailed descriptions of tabernacle building and rules for life in a culture so different from mine. Thank You for being with me and letting me know You will take care of me now and forever!