EatScripture

In Numbers 35, there is a passage about the cities of refuge.  Even though many Christians have never even heard of this passage, there is a story of Jesus' sacrifice and redemption embedded in these verses of judgement and justice.

In this final part of Exodus 32-34, emphasis is upon Moses making intercession with God.  With phrases like "outside the camp," "face to face," and "Joshua the son of Nun" the text is pointing us to the greatest intercession of all time.  

Moses continues to intercede on behalf of the people; God wants to call off the marriage, but Moses won't let it go and God agrees to go with them into the Promised Land.  God passes before Moses who is in a hole in the ground while God proclaims His character. The covenant is re-established and Moses returns to the people transformed.

The Golden Calf incident at the foot of Mt. Sinai in Exodus 32-34 has been discussed, taught, made movies about, and picked apart for centuries. But few connect it to the Christ Story.  Yet it was Jesus who came down from His position with God, interceded on the people's behalf, addressed a bad leadership, and called the faithful to Himself.

What is it? The people are hungry and complaining (again) and God is fulfilling their needs, and at the same time pointing to the greatest filling they will ever receive through Christ.

These two stories in Exodus are very similar even though they also have significant differences.  Why do these stories of thirsting in the wilderness sound similar and yet are obviously different?  Why does a tree make water sweet?  How does water come out of a rock - a rock that Paul says is Christ?

Leaven as influence; 3 days of darkness; pillar of cloud & fire as Holy Spirit; and "The Lord will fight for you."

The Exodus story is as wonderful from a typological perspective as it is from a historical perspective.  So many pieces of the historical narrative are just pointers to what we experience today in Christ.

The plagues and the Passover both have very strong connecting points to the Jesus story. 

The savior of Israel is born; his life is threatened as a baby; he grows up with a dual identity between the palace and slavery; his attempt to help his people is rejected; he is driven out of his home to a distant land where he finds a bride at a well and has a child named "stranger." Sound familiar?