some thoughts

I read Numbers 14 as part of my morning devotions, and am struck by the idea of the covenant mediator as intercessor before God.

The events of Numbers 14 take place after the Exodus, after the Manna and the waist-high pigeons, immediately after the spies have returned given their bad report of the land of Canaan. When Joshua and Caleb hear the people say they’d rather be in Egypt, they’re obviously upset. And so is God.

So, in a Noah-like pattern, the LORD comes to Moses and says, “I will destroy all this people, and make of you a nation greater than they.” But unlike the Noah pattern, Moses intercedes for the people (like his father, Abraham, before him). Moses was the mediator of the Old Covenant, and he had a certain standing before God–a certain audience before the King. But, as the inspired writer to the Hebrews teaches us, Christ is a better mediator of a better covenant, who has a better audience with the Great King. Moses and that people came to a Mount that could not be touched; Christ and our people have come to Mt. Zion–Moses and the weak-because-of-death Levitical priesthood could only enter once a year and brought only the blood of bulls and goats. Christ, the Second Adam, the better-than-Moses, has entered once for all time into the holy of holies, on account of his own most-pure blood, and because of the power of an endless life, is able to stand continually before the throne interceding for our eternal, not just our physical well-being.

It seems that with each successive covenant-mediator type, the mediator’s role of intercession becomes increasingly clear, increasingly closer to the heavenly throne, and increasingly more eternal and permanent in nature, until we see the Christ; the final, permanent, and only Mediator between God and men.

This morning, I’m yet again blown away that Christ Jesus, High King of heaven and earth, stands with “all authority” even now in intercession for my eternal well-being. The majority of the characters in the story of Numbers 14 didn’t make into the promised land; but we have a better-than-Moses mediator, who upholds a better-than-Moses’ covenant–so all who come under Christ shall enter into the true promised land, because it is impossible that Christ should fail.

Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:24, ESV)

(With this in mind, now read the whole of John 17 for what Christ is most likely praying for us even now…)