The New Moses, The New Exodus and The New Manna

I read a story recently about nine-year-old Joey. He was asked by his mother what he had learned in Sunday school. "Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When he got to the Red Sea, he had his army build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked across safely. Then, he radioed headquarters for reinforcements. They sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved." In disbelief, the mother asked, "Now, Joey, is that really what your teacher taught you?" Joey relented, "Well, no, Mom. But, if I told it the way the teacher did, you'd never believe it!"

With God’s direction and empowerment, Moses accomplished some amazing things! His faithfulness to return to Egypt and lead the twelve tribes of Israel out of bondage was no small feat! In fact, to this very day, the Hebrew people hold the Passover and Exodus to be the defining events in their relationship with God as His chosen people. Moses, despite the grumbling and complaining during the Exodus, is embraced as a great prophet and hero of their faith.

Over the centuries, the Children of Israel struggled to remain faithful. They were defeated and dispersed, and longed for the promised Messiah who might restore them. If I asked you, “What were the Hebrew people looking for in the Messiah,” how would you answer? Over the years, I have been taught that most people were looking for a military leader – a new King David – who would defeat Rome and all of Israel’s enemies so that the glory days of the past might be restored. Is that what you have been taught? There is certainly truth in this. The Zealots, in particular, would relate to this thinking. But there is an often overlooked prophecy that informed the people in their anticipation of the Promised Messiah. This article will suggest that the people were also looking for a New Moses. They wanted to be delivered from the oppression of foreign powers, particularly the Romans. Since Jesus did not fulfill their longing for a military leader, what about their desire for a New Moses?

Deuteronomy 18:15 to 18 contains the origin of this expectation that the Messiah would be a new Moses. Beginning in verse 15, Moses says, "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. 16 For this is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.” 17 The LORD said to me: “What they say is good. 18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him."

In this passage, Moses declares that God will raise up a “prophet like me,” and that the Israelites should, “listen to him.” So, is there evidence in the New Testament that Jesus is the fulfillment of this prophecy? If so, there should be typological fulfillments that connect Moses and Jesus? There is a rule of typology that we should learn before we continue. Any New Testament fulfillment of an Old Testament type must be superior to the type. In other words, the Old Testament foreshadows are always exceeded by their New Testament fulfillments. Let’s see if we can find a few examples.

Consider these facts: As Moses spent 40 days on Mt. Sinai before appearing with the Law, and then led the Children of Israel through the desert for 40 years, where they were tempted by Satan, and sadly, succumbed to sin, so too, Jesus, at the beginning of His ministry was led into the desert for 40 days where He was tempted by Satan, but did not sin. Here we see Jesus as the New Moses – like Moses only greater!

The first sign or plague that God accomplishes through Moses when he returned to Egypt was turning the water of the Nile to blood. What was Jesus first sign? Jesus’ first sign was turning water into wine. As we will find out later, Jesus relates wine to His own atoning blood as He holds out a cup to His disciples. Again, Jesus is the New Moses only greater than Moses! There are many examples that we could share. Allow me to suggest one more. Do you remember what Moses said the people should do when the prophet like him arrives? They are to “listen to him.”

Let's look at Luke 9:28. This is Luke’s account of the Transfiguration. "As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. 31 They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem."

In this amazing scene, Jesus meets with Moses and Elijah. What are they discussing as they stand in the glorious splendor? Verse 31 says they are talking about the departure Jesus will lead from Jerusalem. Guess what the Greek word for departure is? It is exodos. Jesus was discussing a new exodus with Moses. If that were not enough, let’s continue with verse 34… "While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” What did the voice say about the Son? Listen to Him! God the Father echoes the words of Deuteronomy 18. Jesus is the New Moses, the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy!

Finally, let’s explore John 6 as we continue to see Jesus as the New Moses who leads a New Exodus. Let’s look at verses 10-14. "Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. 12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. 14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

Does this scene remind you of anything? As Moses and the Israelites were fed with manna in the wilderness, now Jesus feeds the people out in the grassy place. The Israelites ate manna – bread from heaven. The crowd in John 6 also shared a miracle – Jesus fed thousands with five loaves of bread and two fish. Just as the twelve tribes were sustained by God’s gift of bread, there were twelve baskets of food leftover after the disciples collected it. What was the response of the people to the miracle that Jesus performed? They asked, “Surely this is the prophet who is to come into the world.”

In providing bread for the crowd, Jesus was fulfilling the expectation of the New Moses, who according to rabbinical teaching, would bring back the manna when He appeared. But they had no idea what kind of bread Jesus was bringing to them. They thought it was bread to satisfy earthly hunger. But, Jesus was more concerned with their need for spiritual sustenance! After all, he is not the old Moses – Jesus is the New Moses, who, in the New Exodus would offer them New Manna!

So, the next day the people follow Jesus and reveal by their question that they believe Jesus to be the New Moses. Verse 30 and following are instructive. "So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” 35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life.”

As they question Jesus, their mindset is revealed. They have connected Moses and manna from the Exodus with this New Prophet. They ask Jesus for another sign – can you imagine this. They had just seen at least five thousand fed with five loaves and two fish. Now they want another sign. I believe they are looking for daily bread, like the daily provision of manna in the wilderness. What they were not expecting was Jesus next statement – He said, I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE. From verse 35-48, Jesus teaches the people about believing in Him and coming to Him. All of this was fine with the people. Then, in verses 48-58, the unthinkable happened. Jesus began to teach them that they must eat His body and drink His blood. Verse 51 says, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” That was it! He had gone too far. The people walked away and stopped following Jesus.

The New Moses would soon lead a New Exodus, and He would institute a New Passover. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 5:7 and 8, “Christ our Passover is has been sacrificed for us, therefore let us keep the feast…” Those unwilling to share in the provision of New Manna would simply turn back and never know the Promised Land. “Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”