Ecclesiastes is about Jesus

Ecclesiastes is about Jesus

ECCLESIASTES 1
The book of Ecclesiastes opens with the author (probably Solomon) giving a few brief clues to his identity.  What is remarkable about this is how closely these clues describe Jesus.  The first word the author uses is “Teacher.”  Of course, this was a title that Jesus often answered to.  Next is “Son of David.”  Jesus refers to Himself this way.  The Messianic prophecy also states that the Christ would be the son of David.  Thirdly, the author calls himself “king in Jerusalem.”  As we know, Jesus is the eternal King.  He was lifted up and exalted in Jerusalem.  Currently He reigns from heaven, but eventually, Jerusalem will be where His throne lies.  This is all from verse 1 of Ecclesiastes 1.  The author (probably Solomon) is clearly a precursor to Jesus.  Solomon here makes it very clear that he is but a type of the One to come.

In verse 2, the author gives the thesis statement that will be supported throughout the entirety of the book.  He says, “Everything is futile!”  He goes on in the chapter to speak of the deeds of man and even the accruement of knowledge.  He determines that all these things are futile.  Ultimately, these things are futile because the Lord is King.  He is the only thing worthy of recognition, and next to Him, all other things pale in comparison.  They become futile.  As John the Baptizer said, “He must become greater, and I must become less.”  All things must be seen as futile, and Jesus must be exalted.  Ecclesiastes 1 is about Jesus.

ECCLESIASTES 2
Ecclesiastes 2 might be the most practical chapter in the Bible for today’s world.  In the chapter, Solomon speaks of how he has amassed the greatest of wealth for himself.  He has worked hard.  He has earned many things.  He has designed and indulged in the greatest of luxuries.  He has more women and money than anyone can count.  He is wiser than any previous ruler and yet he is still unsatisfied with life.  Solomon has realized that no matter what a person does or has in life, life ends.  He understands that people only live a short while, and when they die, they lose everything.  Not even wisdom saves people from death.  Solomon concludes in chapter 2 that the only way to experience lasting joy is to be with God (Jesus).  Verses 24 and 25 say, “There is nothing better for people than to eat and drink, and find enjoyment in their work.  I also perceive that this ability to find enjoyment comes from God (Jesus). For no one can eat and drink or experience joy apart from Him (Jesus).”  Jesus is the only thing that lasts beyond death.  We cannot take anything with us when we die.  The pursuit of earthly desires is, in the end, worthless.  Jesus is the only “worthy” thing we can chase after.  Ecclesiastes 2 is about Jesus.

ECCLESIASTES 3
Ecclesiastes 3 is a difficult chapter to fully comprehend.  In some places, it is very gloomy, seemingly saying that there is really no point to life, so just try to enjoy what you have.  But this cannot be the intent of the author.  In previous chapters, he has pointed out how man cannot take his treasures with him when he dies.  The author has decided that there must be something more to life than simply material possessions and wealth.  In verse 2, the author says that time has been appointed for man to be born and for man to die.  He acknowledges that the Lord is sovereign over all happenings on earth.  The chapter ends on a low note as the author compares man to animals, saying there is no advantage over being one or the other.  Verse 21 says, “Who really knows if the human spirit ascends upward, and the animal’s spirit descends into the earth?”  The passage seems to cry out for more.  The author is missing a vital part of existence.  The answer, of course, is Jesus.  Ecclesiastes 3 showcases one of the human-problems, and Jesus is the answer to that problem.

ECCLESIASTES 4
Ecclesiastes 4 is another chapter where the author speaks extensively about the love of early goods and treasures.  He emphasizes the fact that no amount of earthly riches ever brings satisfaction or may buy eternal life.  The chapter is very open ended, begging for the answer to the world’s problems.  That answer, of course, is found in Jesus.  Only in Jesus may the world find safety.  Only in Jesus may the world find salvation.  And only in Jesus may the world find true satisfaction and peace.  Ecclesiastes 4 begs for Jesus.

ECCLESIASTES 5
Ecclesiastes 5 encourages its readers to place their treasures, not in earthly things, but in heavenly, eternal things.  This is true for multiple reasons.  First, you can’t take it with you when you die.  Verse 15 says, “Just as he came forth from his mother’s womb, naked will he return as he came, and he will take nothing in his hand that he may carry away from his toil.”  Second, you could lose your earthly stuff at any time.  Verses 14 says, “[His] wealth was lost through bad luck; although he fathered a son, he had nothing left to give him.”  Finally, earthly possessions and wealth never bring the fulfillment they promise.  Verse 10 says, “The one who loves money will never be satisfied with money, he who loves wealth will never be satisfied with his income.  This also is futile.”  This passage points us away from earthly things and, subsequently, points us straight to Jesus, the only satisfying, eternal thing.  But Jesus is not ours for the work we have done or for the toil we have put in.  He is only attainable by His own will.  Thankfully, He has decided in eternity past to make Himself attainable for His people.  Ecclesiastes 5 is about finding eternal satisfaction in Jesus Christ.

ECCLESIASTES 6
Chapter 6 of Ecclesiastes focuses on the idea that no matter how successful a person is in life, they will die.  Of course, we know this to be the result of sin.  The author here begins comparing the man who has much but never enjoys life to the one who is stillborn.  He asks the question, “Would it be better for someone to be stillborn?”  The author here is viewing the world and life through “the big picture,” looking at outcomes and asking questions about the nature of death.  Though the author has given ground to wisdom over folly, in this chapter it is clear that wisdom is only secondary in life because not even wisdom can save someone from death.  The chapter cries out for something, someone who can save from death, someone who can give a second option other than the grave.  The chapter would be answered by Jesus’ death on the cross.  Through Jesus, people may experience eternal life with the good and holy Creator of the Universe.  This is the only endeavor that is not “futile,” as the author of Ecclesiastes would say.  This chapter lays much groundwork for the need for Jesus.

ECCLESIASTES 7
Ecclesiastes 7 captures much of the heart of Jesus.  One very clear area where salvation is accurately portrayed is in verses 15-18.  In this section, the author exhorts his readers to not be wicked, but also not to trust in themselves and their own wisdom for their salvation.  As later generations would experience, it is only through Jesus that we may be saved.  The next section, as well as the final section, reminds us that there is no one righteous enough to be saved on their own.  They must be saved by grace.  Jesus is the only way that this happens.

ECCLESIASTES 8
Verses 12 and 13 of Ecclesiastes 8 remind us that Jesus, our Judge, is just. No matter what happens in this life, in the end, the wicked will receive the due punishment for their sins. The real kicker comes when we realize that none are righteous and everyone is deserving of death. The only people who don’t receive justice are the Christians. They receive grace. Because Jesus paid the penalty for their sin, they are free to live in eternity with God.

ECCLESIASTES 9
In Ecclesiastes 9, the author is realizing that there is simply more to life than being wise or foolish, or having wealth or power.  He realizes that no matter how a person lives there life, everyone eventually comes to death.  This begs for there to be more.  If everything stopped at death, the world would be truly unjust.  But, as the author of Ecclesiastes suspects, there is more after death.  Those in Jesus will live forever with Him in His Kingdom.  Those who are not with Jesus will pay for their sins with eternal suffering and death.  Ecclesiasts 9 is about Jesus.

ECCLESIASTES 10
The basic theme of Ecclesiastes 10 is that people get what they deserve. “Whoever digs a pit may fall into it.” Very common-sensical. Verse 17 says, “Blessed are you, o land whose king is of noble birth.” Though these different parts of the chatter seem to be unrelated, the noble king (Jesus) is there to ensure that everyone gets what they deserve. They only people that don’t get what they deserve are the people on whom the king has mercy. However, unlike an earthly king, Jesus does this without forgoing justice.  For every person which the lord Jesus has mercy, He pays the penalty for their sin with His own righteous blood. This is the noble king of Ecclesiastes 10. This is Jesus.

ECCLESIASTES 11
Ecclesiastes 11, strangely enough, has a sort of Paulian tone at the end. The author urges his readers to rejoice and embrace their freedom in God to pursue the desires of the heart, as long as they are not in contention with the Law of God. This is similar to Paul’s encouragement to live as free men, under the Law of Christ.  The passage also reminds us that we are to live with the knowledge that our lives could end at any time. We are to live for the Lord because we ow that He is the only thing worth living for. Finally, the passage also reminds us of our own limited knowledge when it comes to the things of God. We must trust in Him alone, and not in our own understanding. We must trust in Christ alone for our hope and salvation. Ecclesiastes 11 is about Jesus.

ECCLESIASTES 12
Ecclesiastes 12 immediately reminds us of the grace of the Lord Jesus in His creation of us. The author exhorts his readers to not forget the Creator in days of our youth, but rather to build good habits of worship now so that when the tough days come later, we will have a relationship with the Lord to lean on.
As it is the last chapter of the book, the author repeats his thesis statement, that everything under the sun is futile. There is nothing worth living for on the earth. However, he brightens up is morbid statement in his closing remarks, saying that after all his life and all his study, he has reached a conclusion. “Fear God and keep his commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.” He decides that nothing is worth living for except the Lord Himself (Jesus). The chapter was begun by reminding us that it was the Lord who created us. The chapter ends with “For God will evaluate every deed, including every secret thing, whether good or evil,” reminding us that in the end, we will stand before Jesus who will set us on one of two paths into eternity. Ecclesiastes is about Jesus.

Numbers is about Jesus

Numbers is about Jesus

NUMBERS 1
Numbers introduces us to the nation of Israel on a very large scale.  With over 600,000 men of twenty years old or older, the total population was likely between 1 and 2 million.  This is a huge number of people for Moses to lead and consider.  The logistics involved in having 1 to 2 million people travel constantly are outrageous to think about.  Keeping this number in mind, the miracles of the OT are amazing as well: crossing of the Red Sea, everyone being fed by manna, even the massive sight of the Exodus itself.  God’s promise to Abraham to bless him with many descendents is easily seen by the numbers given in this chapter.  But in all of it, the story of the Bible is about Jesus.  Even in the midst of the huge population growth, the concern of Numbers 1 is with the tabernacle, the House of the Lord.  Jesus, YAHWEH, is to be the focus of the community, no matter how large they are.  No matter how successful or prosperous they may become, the Lord still desires that they focus upon Him.  Jesus does not change from the OT to the New.  He is the same, leading and guiding His people, teaching them to seek Him in blessing and in trial.  Numbers 1 is about Jesus.

NUMBERS 2
Numbers 2 gives a picture of the traveling nation of Israel.  Two important symbolic things should be noticed here.  The first, less-consequential, is that the nation is set up in such a way as to foreshadow the New Jerusalem promised in Revelation.  In the New City, there are three gates on each side, each labeled with the name of one of the twelve tribes.  The account in Numbers does not match up perfectly with Ezekiel’s vision, and is therefore more coincidental than consequential.  The more important thing to notice is that the whole body of Israel is oriented around one thing: the tabernacle.  But it is not the building itself that is important, but the Lord who lives inside of it.  Jesus desires that the body of believers be oriented around nothing/no one else besides Himself.  Jesus desires to be the core of His people.  This is symbolized in Numbers, and Jesus Himself confirms this in the New Testament (see “Martha and Mary” for example).

NUMBERS 3
The glaring foreshadowing of Jesus in Numbers 3 is at the end of the chapter as it speaks about redeeming the firstborn of the families of Israel.  God had declared that the firstborn of each family were to be His, but in mercy, He allowed for all of the Levites to be declared His in order that the rest may be redeemed.  The priests of the Lord were given as a living sacrifice for the redemption of God’s people.  This so closely foretells the story of Jesus: the eternal High Priest, offered up to the Lord for the atonement of God’s people.  Numbers 3 is about Jesus.

NUMBERS 4
Numbers 4 gives us two clues about Jesus.  Foremost is that the Levites were not counted as “able” to serve until age 30.  Coincidentally (or not), this is the age that Jesus (and John the Baptizer) began their public ministry.  The reason for this specific age being picked is not told outright, but it could have been selected for a combination of reasons including fitness, maturity, wisdom, and family stability.  The second relationship we see between Numbers 4 and Jesus is the transition from secrecy and reverence to openness and boldness when referring to the most holy things.  In this day, a person had to go through the priests who would communicate to God.  The common person could not see the holy place, and only the high priest could enter the holy of holies and come into the presence of God.  But Jesus changed all that.  Jesus simultaneously became the sin offering, the high priest, and the mediator of mankind.  Through Him, we can come boldly before the throne of grace and meet with God.

NUMBERS 5
Two things in Numbers 5 remind us of Jesus.  First, the rules about the unclean being forced to leave their camps.  These rules only apply before the cross.  After the cross, all in Jesus are considered “clean” by Him.  This is not to say that the sick didn’t still separate themselves.  In fact, this is a common practice today by those who are ill, so as not to pass their sickness on to others.  But when Christ gave Himself, He removed their ceremonial “uncleanliness.”  The second thing in Numbers 5 that should remind us of Christ is the section about the adulterous wife.  Under the Law, the adulterous wife would suffer for her sins.  Under the New Testament Law, AKA Grace, the husband (Jesus) drinks the bitter water for His bride (the Church) because He loves her.  Even though we, the Church, have sinned against Him, as we will continue to do until we are glorified, He still loves His bride.  He would rather He Himself suffer for our sake than lose any that are given to Him.  Numbers 5 reminds us of what we would be like without the grace of Jesus Christ.

NUMBERS 6
Numbers six ends with a “Priestly Benediction” from God.  In this prayer, the name Jehovah is repeated three times.  In Jewish culture, this repetition is a great mystery.  For Christians, however, it has been explained.  Paul says in 2 Cor 13:14 that Jesus gives grace, the Father loves and blesses, and the Spirit gives us peace and community.  The benediction of Numbers 6 is a direct expression of the Trinity.  Even in Numbers, Jesus and His grace take center-stage.

NUMBERS 7
Numbers 7 is about Jesus and His relationship to all people.  In the chapter, the tribe of Judah is listed first.  This is significant because it is the tribe from which the Messiah was to come.  Out of all twelve tribes, Judah is listed first.  This is a blessing.  This is not, however, a reason to praise the tribe of Judah. “Great is Judah” would be a ridiculous praise.  While Mary was extremely blessed to be the mother of Jesus, it is ridiculous to praise her.  When a woman cried out to Jesus, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you!,” Jesus shifted the focus off of Mary saying, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”  Numbers 7 backs this up, showing us that even though Judah was listed first, all the tribes of Israel brought forth the exact same sacrifices, no matter how big or small the tribe was.  Even those who are in the family line of Jesus hold no special place among His Kingdom apart from their faith in Him.  Numbers 7 is about Jesus.

NUMBERS 8
Numbers 8 is the precursor to the substitutionary atonement of Jesus.  In the creation of Israel, the tribe of Rueben is the firstborn.  But because they were wicked, the Lord passed the title of “firstborn” to the Levites.  The Lord also decreed that every firstborn child of Israel was to be set apart to the Lord as holy.  Instead, the Lord allowed for the all of the Levites to be set apart in substitution for the firstborn of Israel.  In the same way, the Lord allowed Jesus, the firstborn over all creation, to be substituted for the sinners of the world.  Even in Numbers 8 the doctrine of “Penal Substitutionary Atonement” is present, pointing to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus.

NUMBERS 9
Numbers 9 foreshadows the mercy of God through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ.  There are two parts to Numbers 9: the guiding of the Israelites by the cloud in the wilderness, and the regulations of the Passover.  Not only does Christ serve as a guide for life and death, but He also serves as the Passover Lamb.  His perfection is traded for our sinful nature by the shedding of His blood.  Without it, we are subject only to God’s just judgment.  Since we are sinful, the only righteous judgment of God would be our destruction.  But since Jesus acts as our Passover Lamb, we are given His righteousness and He takes our punishment.  Numbers 9 is about Jesus.

NUMBERS 10
Numbers 10 is about the movement of the nation of Israel from the wilderness, closer to the Promised Land.  The story is an allegory for God’s people going from sinfulness to righteousness.  In the chapter, the nation is led, in formation, by the tribe of Judah.  This sets a precedent that points straight to Jesus.  As Judah (the Messianic tribe) led the Israelites (God’s covenant people) out of the wilderness and into the Promised Land, so Jesus leads God’s people into a saving relationship with God.  Numbers 10 parallels the story of Jesus and His redemptive sacrifice.

NUMBERS 11
Numbers 11 foreshadows a couple different stories about Jesus.  First, in Numbers 11:26-30, Joshua tells Moses that others are prophesying and that he should stop them.  This event is a foretelling of the very similar event that happened between Jesus and His disciples (Mark 9:38-41).  In Verses 11-15, Moses’ actions foreshadow Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.  He is heavily burdened by his God-given mission and goes to God about it.  The difference here, and why Jesus is the fulfillment and perfection of Moses, is that Moses says He would rather die than continue to lead, Jesus resolves to die in order to lead.  Finally, Numbers 11:1-3 shows Moses as the intercessor between man and God.  Of course, Moses was sinful like everyone else, so his intercession could only do so much.  Again, Moses is perfected in Jesus because He had no sin of His own to carry, and could therefore carry all of the people’s sin.  Numbers 11 is undoubtedly about Jesus.

NUMBERS 12
In Numbers 12, Miriam and Aaron oppose Moses before God.  They try to be of equal standing with Moses, and in the process, they sin greatly.  In the story, Moses is the precursor to Jesus.  Miriam and Aaron are symbols for humanity, fallen and wicked.  Like humanity, they sin.  They break the Law and sin directly against Moses (Jesus).  And just as Christ said, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do,” Moses also prayed for the Lord to heal Miriam from the consequences of her sin.  The story reminds us of Jesus’ mercy and grace to forgive sinners, even after they have directly sinned against Him.  Moses received grace, and therefore passed grace on to others.  Numbers 12 is about Jesus.

NUMBERS 13
In Numbers 13, Moses picks twelve men to go up into the land of Canaan and investigate it, gathering necessary information before the nation goes up to conquer it.  Of those selected, two are very important.  Caleb will be used mightily of God.  He will show himself to be a great leader and warrior for Israel.  More importantly however, is Hoshea.  Hoshea is renamed by Moses.  His new name is Joshua.  This renaming is about Jesus.  Not only is “Joshua” the Hebrew version of the Greek “Jesus,” the meaning of the name change is important too.  The name “Hoshea” means “he saves.” Presumably, Moses knew the credit should go to God and not to Hoshea, so Moses renamed him “Joshua,” which means “the Lord saves.”  Subsequently, Joshua would do many great things that foreshadowed the work of Jesus.  Numbers 13 is about Jesus.

NUMBERS 14
Numbers 14 points to Jesus by showing the opposite of Him.  In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus says His famous words, “Not my will, but yours be done.”  But here in Numbers 14, the Israelites say the opposite, “Not your will God, but ours be done.”  In turn, and in wrath, God answers, and gives them their will.  The Israelites decide it would be better for them to die in the wilderness than to die in battle, so God obliges.  This is not always how God operates, but sometimes He does.  Obviously, God has a better plan for our lives than we do.  But unfortunately, we don’t always realize that.  Jesus however, did, and therefore submitted His will to the Father’s will and took the cross upon Himself.  In doing so, Jesus has fixed and completed the story of Numbers 14, righting what the Israelites did wrong.  Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament and Numbers 14 is all about Jesus.

NUMBERS 15
The whole chapter of Numbers 15 is an act of grace upon the part of the Lord.  The people had just sinned greatly against the Lord, and He has told almost all of them that they will not enter the Holy Land.  But in His grace, He will give them hope for their children.  The Lord continues to speak of the Holy Land and give the people instruction.  He does not abandon them or kill them, but rather, nurtures holiness.  This act of grace and love runs parallel to the cross.  Though mankind had sinned greatly against God, Jesus, in His great love and mercy, went to the cross anyway.  He paid for our sins when we had neither deserved nor desired it.  In fact, the cross is more graceful than the chapter of Numbers 15 in that the guilty are saved, not just the innocent, for there are no innocent in this case.  Numbers 15, being a stepping stone of grace, builds up and points to the pinnacle of grace, the cross of Christ.

NUMBERS 16
Numbers 16 is a great example to us of God’s mercy and justice.  Even after the judgment of Korah and his followers, when God’s presence is clearly made known, the people continue to murmur against Moses and Aaron (and essentially against God).  God begins to deal with the people according to their folly.  He sends out a plague against the people because their sin deserves death.  But in His mercy, He allows for sacrifice to be made as atonement for their sins so that they themselves don’t have to die.  This is just one of many times that the Lord would show mercy, all of which culminate in the cross of Christ.  Though humanity was/is wicked and deserving of death, the Lord has allowed that Jesus be sacrificed in our place for our sins.  He is our atonement, allowing us to be justified before the Lord, rather than be destroyed by the Lord.

NUMBERS 17
Numbers 17 shares common ground with the teaching of Jesus found in John 15.  Jesus explains that He is the True Vine and His followers are the branches.  Just like a real plant, the branches must stay plugged in to the vine in order to bear fruit, their primary objective.  Branches are not self sustaining.  In Numbers 17, twelve branches (or staffs) represent the twelve tribes of Israel (and more accurately, their leaders).  Though not visible, one staff is plugged into the Vine.  The staff of Aaron buds, flowers, and produces fruit as a symbol of God’s power moving through the Vine and into the branch of Levi.  This story serves to show that even in the Old Testament times, Jesus was alive and working, creating stories to which the people would be able to relate.  This event happened secondarily that Aaron and the Levites might be appointed.  It happened primarily to showcase Jesus in John 15.

NUMBERS 18
Numbers 18 is addressed to the priestly people of God.  In the Old Testament times, and even up until Jesus’ death and resurrection, this concerned only the Levites.  As seen in the previous chapter, their calling was confirmed by God.  The Levites, in actuality, were only called to be the priests of the temple until its purpose was fulfilled in Jesus.  What we see is that Jesus becomes the New Temple (rebuilt in 3 days) as well as the permanent High Priest.  After His death and resurrection, the Levites were no longer the priests of God (though some may be, but not all as a tribe).  Peter speaks extensively of this idea that those in Christ are a “priestly nation, a royal priesthood, a people called out by God.”  The priesthood has been split wide open and those who are in Christ are called, without exception, to be the priests of God, under the authority of the Heavenly High Priest, Jesus Christ.  Many of the duties in Numbers 18 are fulfilled and finished, but many are ordinances that last, which have become the responsibility of the new priesthood.  We should study these passages closely to better understand what Jesus has done for us and what He desire that we do as His priests.

NUMBERS 19
Numbers 19 illustrates two things about Jesus.  First, Jesus is, or course, our only needed atoning sacrifice.  Second, Jesus is powerful enough to overcome sin and death.  The first section of Numbers 19 is about the “Red Heifer Ritual,” reminding us that Jesus is the spotless, young sacrifice needed by the Law.  In His death, He fulfilled all the sacrificial requirements of the Law.  The second half of the chapter links up with the stories of Jesus bringing someone back from the dead.  This happened several times, where Jesus would come into close contact with, and at times touching, the dead.  But Jesus is so powerful that when He wills, death flees and therefore He never became “unclean” before God so as to ruin His eligibility for being our atonement sacrifice.  It is not that Christ was not subject to the Law, but rather, He fulfilled the Law perfectly, and in His grace went beyond the Law, paying the penalty for our sin.  Numbers 19 is about Jesus.

NUMBERS 20
Numbers 20 is the sad chapter where Moses sins against God and is forbidden from entering the Promised Land.  Moses had committed many other sins in his lifetime, but this one disqualified him.  When comparing Moses to Jesus, this just goes to show how fragile Jesus’ mission really was.  Like Jesus, Moses was given everything he needed by God.  He was given the tools as well as clear instruction, right down to what to say, in order to achieve God’s purposes.  Moses didn’t completely fabricate a new command.  He didn’t try to lead the people away from God.  It is important to note that Moses only deviated a small bit from God’s command.  But this is a big deal to God.  In doing so, Moses falsely portrayed God as being like humans in an emotional wreck and as an angry tyrant.  The focus here, however, should not be on Moses, but on Jesus.  The story of Moses’ fall should only serve to glorify Christ’s perfection.  Where Moses failed, Christ succeeded.  Moses was unable to lead God’s people into the earthly Promised Land.  Jesus led the way into the heavenly Promised Land.  Moses struck the rock in anger to provide water so his people could live.  Jesus is the Rock, and from Him flow streams of living water.  Moses died for his sin.  Jesus died for the sins of others.  Moses enforced the Law.  Jesus enforced grace.  Jesus is the greater Moses.

NUMBERS 21
Numbers 21 is one of the most exciting foreshadowings of Jesus’ work in the Old Testament.  It is so important that Jesus Himself references this very chapter when speaking to Nicodemus.  The people, in short, sinned against God, again.  So as just punishment, the Lord sent poisonous snakes against them and many were bitten.  Many had died from the poison, which represents sin, and many more were dying from its effects.  Then comes Jesus.  Moses intercedes for the people, asking God that they be forgiven.  So God gives them Jesus.  He tells Moses to fashion a bronze snake and to place it atop a pole and raise it up.  Whichever of the Israelites that looks up from their own suffering and defilement and gazes at the snake on the pole would be saved.  The curse of the poison would be drawn away from them and to the snake on the pole.  There is hardly a better illustration of Jesus’ atonement in the Old Testament.  Jesus point was that everyone was infected with a poison called sin.  He knew that, like the snake on the pole, He would be raised up, and if the infected would simply look at Him in faith, their sin would be drawn to Him and away from themselves.  The fact that it was a snake on top of the pole shows us what Paul meant when he said, “He who knew no sin became sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”  Jesus became filthy, defiled, and contaminated by our sin, wickedness, and depravity.  He became like a snake, a symbol of death and shame.  In Israel’s insolence towards God, He created a story that points directly at Jesus.  His sovereign will cannot be delayed by men’s sin.  He is too big for that.  His purpose is complete and He reigns over all people in all times, and when everything culminates in the end, we will find that the story is all about Jesus.

NUMBERS 22
In Numbers 22, Balak summons the diviner Balaam to curse the nation of Israel. Eventually, Balaam agrees to go meet with Balak. On the journey, Balaam is confronted by the Angel of the Lord (probably Jesus). The Angel let’s Balaam’s donkey see Him, but Balaam cannot.  Finally, after Balaam is enraged at the donkey for acting strangely, the Angel opens Balaam’s eyes to see Him. This allegory is appropriate in that it represents God’s sovereign will in our lives, even unto seeing Him. Because of our sin, like Balaam we are blind to the Lord.  It is only after Jesus opens our eyes that we may behold His grace. We must recognize the grace given 1) to the donkey, and 2) to Balaam. If the Lord had not allowed the donkey to see Himself, Balaam would have died. If the Lord would not have allowed Balaam to see Himself, Balaam would have died. We must remember that it is only by grace that we live every day, and only by grace that we may be saved unto eternity.  And grace comes only through the nail-scarred hands of Jesus Christ.

NUMBERS 23
Numbers 23 tells the incredible story of Balaam’s obedience to God by the Holy Spirit. Though the Spirit is never mentioned outright, it was evident that Balaam could only speak the words given to him by God.  What Balaam learns is that what the Lord blesses is blessed, and there
is no way to curse a people blessed by God. Without knowing it, Balaam sets a great stage for the blessings of Jesus Christ upon His people.  We may be encouraged in our faith that if Balaam was unable to curse those blessed by the old covenants, how then may those under the New (Final) Covenant be cursed? Jesus is better than the Law. Therefore, if the Law is a blessing unable to be cursed, in Jesus we should have no fear. Jesus Himself secured this by becoming our curse. “Anyone who hangs on a tree is cursed” and “God made Him who knew no sin that He might become sin for us, and that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” Jesus paid it all. All to Him we owe.  Understand that Numbers 23 is merely a small piece of a giant
orchestration pointing directly to the life and death of the Savior Jesus Christ.

NUMBERS 24
Numbers 24 contains very specific information about Jesus, as well as more general information.  The prophecy about Jesus begins in verse 7, which says, “their king will be greater than Agag, and their kingdom will be exalted.”  Balaam spoke again, saying, “I behold Him, but not close at hand.  A star will march forth out of Jacob, and a scepter will rise out of Israel.”  This prophecy speaks both to the birth of Jesus, and His growth to Kingship.  The star refers to His birth, as it is the star that the wise men followed to find Him.  Numbers 24 is about Jesus.

NUMBERS 25
Numbers 25 reminds us of God’s perfect justice, and channels our thought towards the grace of Jesus Christ.  The Israelites were committing sexual sin with the women of Moab.  They had blatantly turned from the Law in order to satisfy their physical longings.  They had abandoned God right after He had delivered them on the field of battle.  “Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins.”  As God begins to judge the people, the “leaders” of the sin are executed.  The other participants begin to be killed by the plague.  In this story, we see a member of the Jewish priesthood put to death one man in order to spare judgment on the rest of the people.  This story is so similar to the death of Christ as atonement for the sins of His people.  Obviously, Christ was sinless, whereas the man who died was very sinful.  (This is why this one man’s death did not satisfy the righteous requirements of judgment for more than this one occasion.)  Christ, however, being sinless, was able to take on the sins of others and become the eternal satisfaction of the Father’s wrath.  Numbers 25 gives us a picture of the gospel, as rendered among humanity, long before the Messiah was to come.

NUMBERS 26
Numbers 26 reveals God’s faithfulness to His word.  He had promised that the previous generation of Israelites, because of their sin, would all die before they entered the Promised Land (with the exception of Joshua and Caleb).  In this chapter, that has come true.  The only men left from the previous generation are Joshua, Caleb, and Moses.  (Moses would die before entering the Promised Land.)  Because of this stroke of God’s justice, many of the tribe actually decreased in number since the first census.  It is important, however, to point out that the tribe of Judah, while not the firstborn, was still the largest, most powerful tribe.  This is a great parallel to Jesus.  It shows, on a more tangible scale, how His power and humility interplayed.  While Jesus was from humble roots (rural community of Nazareth, born in Bethlehem, impoverished family, teenage unwed mother, etc), there is no one in history that could rival His great power.  To be sure, Judah would not always be the most powerful tribe, but at the time of documentation, the information recorded into Numbers 26 shows that they were indeed the largest.  In this way, Numbers 26, through the tribe of Judah, points to Jesus.

NUMBERS 27
Numbers 27 is a short chapter that is very closely linked with Matthew 9.  The same phrase is used to describe the nation of Israel and God’s people in both chapters, respectively: “Sheep without a shepherd.”  When Jesus made this statement in Matthew 9, He must have been purposefully referencing Numbers 27.  He needed His followers to know that the people then were in the same condition as the people under Moses.  Moses’ concern was preemptive, in that he knew he would soon leave leadership.  He didn’t want the people to be like sheep without a shepherd (v17).  God, however, had a plan.  He was ready to have Joshua lead the people.  Joshua was the next in line to play the role of “type of the One to come.”  Many before had played this role (Adam, Joseph, Abraham, Isaac, Noah) and many after Joshua would as well (Gideon, Samson, Samuel, David, Solomon).  Joshua is merely a link in the chain from Adam to Jesus.  It is important, however, to note that Joshua would be a great leader.  He would exemplify Christ in many prolific ways as he led God’s people.  In the end, though, it’s all about Jesus.  As Moses dies and Joshua takes over, the leadership of the people is slowly transferred as it comes closer and closer to Jesus.

NUMBERS 28
Numbers 28 points out the progression of the relationship between God and man.  Man did nothing to advance it, in fact, man did everything to destroy the relationship, but God, in His faithfulness, would not leave man to himself.  After we separated ourselves from God by sinning, we had to start a new relationship with Him, one filled with rituals and customs, sacrifices and offerings, because He was a stranger to us.  But as time went on, God’s plan was for us to come to know Him better and to have a better relationship with Him.  What kind of a relationship do two people have if every time they come together, they feel obligated to bring gifts?  The same is true of God.  God enjoys our presence and we should enjoy His.  God enjoys us loving Him, just as He has loved us first.  So in this way, the relationship between God and man progresses, until one day, when we will stand in His very presence, having been fully transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ.  Numbers 28 captures the relationship at an early stage.  We are still burning offerings to Him and making atonement sacrifices to Him daily.  Our transgressions are many; so many that we must make continual payment on our debt of sin.  Humanity is awaiting the Savior who will come and complete the payment for our sins.  Jesus would come and exchange His righteousness for our wickedness that in Him, we could be counted as righteous before a perfect and holy God.  The “Great Exchange” (as Martin Luther calls it) is what Jesus is all about.  All of the chapters leading up to this –especially Old Testament passages about sacrifice– are merely practice for the Great Exchange.  In the end, it is all about Jesus, the One who would take away, not only sin, but the need for us to slaughter animals as a way to try to atone for the sins we have committed.  In Jesus, we have everything we need to be holy before God.  He is the completion, in its entirety, of the work that needed to be done, of the perfection that we must be in order to please God.  Numbers 28 is simply a “warm-up” to Jesus.  It prepares the way and sets a pattern where, one day, Jesus would naturally step in and take the place of the sacrifice.  Numbers 28 is about Jesus.

NUMBERS 29
Numbers 29 shows us a glimmer of the worth of Jesus Christ.  This chapter speaks of the special, yearly rituals the Israelites were to go through to make atonement for their sin.  This chapter does not talk about the regular daily, weekly, or monthly rituals, but simply the special, one-a-year events and festivals.  In this chapter, 83 bulls, 17 rams, and 119 lambs are killed for special rituals.  This had to be done year after year.  Atonement had to be made.  The people kept sinning but the blood of the animals could not atone for all of their sins, so they had to keep killing more animals.  This is not even counting the daily, weekly, or monthly rituals in which they sacrificed even more animals.  The blood of all the animals ever sacrificed could never be enough to save God’s people.  Enter Jesus.  Jesus is perfect and He is the final sacrifice.  Because it is the shed blood of God, its worth is infinite.  No amount of blood from rams, bulls, or lambs could ever equal what Jesus did on Calvary.  Not only do we not have to go through the painstaking process of sacrificing animals and other offerings, we can rejoice in knowing that Jesus Christ has paid for all of our sins, past, present, and future.  There is no more sacrifice necessary.  Numbers 29 is about Jesus.

NUMBERS 30
“But if he should nullify them after he has heard them, then he will bear her iniquity.”  This statement is made for a husband and a wife.  If a wife took a vow and the husband initially okay’d it, only to go back on his word later, he would bear the punishment for the broken vow, not her.  This, in a way, applies to Jesus.  Jesus did NOT go back on His word, but He certainly canceled out the effects of the Law.  In doing this, He took the penalty upon Himself, for the sake of His bride, the elect.  Because the elect (true Christians) had broken the Law, they only deserved death.  Jesus decided that the tie between their actions and their fate would be severed, using His death as the ultimate atoning sacrifice (modeled by the animals sacrificed in the Old Testament).  It is not that He went against the Law, it is that He went further than the Law.  Grace always goes further than the Law.  Numbers 30 is about grace going further than the Law.  Just as the husband in Numbers 30 would take the penalty of his wife upon his own back, so too did Jesus take the penalty for the sins of His bride upon His own back.  Numbers 30 is about Jesus.

NUMBERS 31
In Numbers 31, the Israelites war with the Midianites, under God’s direction.  It is a sanctioned holy war in which God delivers the smaller Israeli force against His enemies.  Not a single Israelite fell in battle to the Midianites.  Even so, after the battles had been fought, Moses tells them, “Any of you who has killed anyone or touched any of the dead, remain outside the camp for seven days.”  The study note from the NET says “These verses are a reminder that taking a life, even if justified through holy war, still separates one from the holiness of God.”  So the men had to stay outside the camp and purify themselves, along with all of their possessions and the spoils they had collected, including their captives.  The idea that they would need to clean themselves points to Jesus.  Over the years prior to Jesus, God’s people would realize that we are unable to cleanse ourselves sufficiently to remain in God’s presence.  God did allow for the limited atonement through animal sacrifice, but these sacrifices never had lasting effects.  They did however, set the scene for the sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross.  Unlike the previous sacrifices, this sacrifice had a lasting effect, an everlasting effect in fact.  Jesus cleanses permanently because His blood has paid for not only past and present sins, but future ones as well.  Numbers 31 may be primarily about a war between the Israelites and the Midianites, but at the end of the day, the Israelites had to come home and seek atonement for what they had done.  This parallelism is true of life in general.  We may go about our lives, but at the end, we must come before the Lord Jesus and answer for what we have done.  If we, like the Israelites, are trying to cleanse ourselves, we will find that we are inadequate.  It is only through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus that we may enter into the eternal camp of God’s people.

NUMBERS 32
In Numbers 32, the Israelites are getting ready to go forward into the Promised Land.  Two of the tribes appeal to Moses to stay on their current side of the Jordan and live in the land there.  Moses response is very firm, warning the tribes against frustrating the plans of the Lord.  One phrase in particular, in verse 14, stands out.  Moses uses the phrase “brood of sinners” to describe the haughty people who pretended they didn’t want to cross the Jordan simply because the place they were at was good for cattle.  Moses sees through their fear and selfishness and calls them on it.  The phrase “brood of sinners” is very similar to things said by Jesus about the Pharisees.  Jesus saw through the religious acts of the Pharisees, much like Moses saw through the selfish logic of the Gadites and Reubenites.  In this way, Moses once again plays the role of the foreshadowing of Jesus.  This was especially important with Reuben, because they were the oldest tribe, holding the seat of honor among the twelve tribes of Israel.  If a rebuke goes to the Reubenites, the other tribes must listen closely.  Again, foreshadowing: If the Pharisees receive a rebuke, everyone else had better listen.  In fact, Jesus says, “Your righteousness must surpass that of the Pharisees.”  Numbers 32 foreshadows Jesus in many ways.  Numbers 32, like the rest of the story, is all about Jesus.

NUMBERS 33
Numbers 33 recaps the story of the Israelites leaving Egypt and coming to Canaan.  The chapter is almost entirely a recording of the places where the Israelite nation camped.  The few details that are mentioned are 1) how the Israelites left Egypt, 2) the death of Aaron, and 3) the charge for the Israelites to take the Promised Land.  The Exodus is a huge parallel of Jesus leading His people out of sin and its consequences.  Egypt was a land of captivity for God’s people.  Moses, the type of the One to come, was chosen by God to lead His people out.  Along the way, they have many great successes and many great failures.  Though they were out of Egypt, they were not completely free of their bondage to its ways.  Despite this, God was faithful to His people and He delivered them to the Promised Land.  Their journey from Egypt represents their salvation and sanctification, and as their leader, Moses represents Jesus.

NUMBERS 34
If any chapter seems to be free from the hand of Jesus, it would see that Numbers 34 would be the one.  But in fact, it is far from it.  Jesus can be seen, with a little digging, in this chapter.  The chapter begins with the Israelites preparing to enter Canaan.  The Lord speaks to Moses, telling him the borders of the land they are to inherit.  The chapter continues and seems fairly normal, ending without any noticeable climax or excitement.  But if we take a closer look at the last two sections, we may see some divine revelation.  The eastern border of the land holds miraculous symbolism.  The sea of Chinnereth (harp- symbolizing peace, harmony, and in essence, sinlessness) empties into the Jordan (waters of judgment) and quickly passes through the city of Adam (the first man).  The Jordan then moves quickly into the Dead Sea.  This is symbolic of the perfect creation of God, followed by the sinful fall of Adam, which when judged, leads down to death.  When Joshua (Y’shua), a covenant mediator preceding Jesus, led God’s people across the Jordan, bearing the Ark of the Covenant in front of them, the Waters of Judgment receded, all the way back to Adam, letting God’s people pass, escaping judgment and death.

The last section also contains something interesting.  We see the tribe of Judah elevated to its rightful place as first among the tribes.  Though Judah was not the firstborn, the tribes above them in order of inheritance had already claimed their land early, much like the Prodigal son who left his father before due time.  Judah was the first tribe to be given inheritance within the Promised Land of God; an appropriate event, as they would deliver the Firstborn to the world.

NUMBERS 35
Numbers 35 tells of the Lord’s provision to the Levites in the form of 48 Levitical cities.  More specifically, eight of these cities were set aside as “cities of refuge” for those who are seeking safety after accidentally killing someone.  The book goes through the different rules and laws associated with murder or accidental killing.  One such rule highlights the extremity of Jesus’ sacrifice, saying “You must not accept a ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death.”  The fact that the Father did this very thing, using the life and death of Jesus as a substitutionary atonement, shows just how magnificent Jesus was.  Jesus’ death was applied to the worst of sinners.  The children of God have been redeemed from the worst sins (rape, death, murder, idolatry, etc) by the blood sacrifice of the God-man, Jesus Christ.

NUMBERS 36
The short, final chapter of Numbers seemingly has nothing to do with Christ.  But upon further study, we find that this chapter sets a precedent and begins an example for the people of Jesus to follow, via the command of Jesus.  It is ruled that the daughters of Israel may only marry within their father’s family, in order to maintain purity of the tribe and that God’s blessing would stay where He intended it.  This leads into Jesus’ command to not be “unequally yoked.”  The Lord’s people (of today) are commanded to not marry those who are not the Lord’s people.  However, we must remember that it is also our charge to love all people, regardless of who they are.  This does not mean we condone their actions or their beliefs, and many times we fight against them, but the motivation is always love.  In Numbers 36, the Israelites must marry within their father’s family.  Today, we must seek union only with those in our Father’s family.  This is only possible through Jesus Christ, who has done the work to allow adoption by the Father to happen.  He did the “paperwork” and His blood paid the price.  We are sons and daughters of the Father, and if we seek union, it must be amongst the children of the Father, through the cross of Christ.

Leviticus is about Jesus

Leviticus is about Jesus

LEVITICUS 1
Leviticus 1 begins almost immediately talking about the requirements for a sacrifice to be acceptable to God.  This applies entirely and completely to the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.  He must be flawless and He will make atonement for the people. After the animal has been sacrifice, His blood must be splashed against the altar as a sign of the covenant between man and God: innocent blood for the atonement of man’s sin.  Leviticus 1 is about the sufficiency of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus.

LEVITICUS 2
Leviticus 2 starts by proclaiming that sacrifices must be the best of the best.  The wheat and bread must be “choice” wheat and bread.  Jesus was the Bread of Life.  He was the best wheat.  Before it can be sacrifice, it must be covered in oil, much like Jesus was anointed by the prostitute.  Because He was prepared right, the Lord Jesus became the most fragrant offering to the Lord.  In this way, Leviticus 2 is about the fulfillment of the Levitical sacrifice through Jesus.

LEVITICUS 3: JESUS THE PEACE OFFERING
Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the tradition of the “peace offering” from Leviticus 3.  The people ended their religious rituals with a peace offering, in which only the fat of the animal was sacrificed.  The meat was then consumed by all the people before the Lord in a great meal as a sign of the covenant between God and His people.  Jesus tells His followers that if they are to continue following Him, they must eat of His flesh and drink of His blood.  In saying this, Jesus was labeling Himself as the peace offering.  The fact that this sacrifice, with the meal, was put at the end of the worship ceremonies is also incredible.  Jesus likes meals with His people.  The fall of human history came when man chose to eat a meal (an apple) with the enemy of God.  Jesus is often found eating with His disciples, as well as other people who wished to know Him.  And in the end, the people of God will be reunited with Him at the great Wedding Supper of the Lamb.  Jesus is the final peace offering.  Leviticus 3 is about Jesus.

LEVITICUS 4: JESUS THE SIN OFFERING
Jesus is the fulfillment of the sin offering, made for the atonement of the people, corporately and/or individually.  As with all other sacrifices, the Lord demands that the sin offering come from a spotless animal.  For sin offerings, the Lord chooses a spotless sheep.  The high priest must place his hands on the sheep and cast the sin to be atoned for upon the sheep.  Then the sheep is to be slaughtered and its blood is to be sprinkled in the presence of the Lord.  It is only by the blood of the sheep that sin is atoned for.  The same is true for Jesus.  He was the spotless Lamb of God, the only One qualified to fully and finally atone for the sin of man.  In the Garden of Gethsemane, the sin of the world was put upon Him and He was taken to be killed, to die on a cross in the presence of the Father.  As the blood flowed down the cross, the sins of the world were paid for.  As He died, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, symbolizing that the sin of man was forever paid for by the death of Jesus.  People would no longer have to make sacrifices for their sin because Jesus paid for it all, even the sins of future generations.  Jesus became the eternal High Priest who constantly intercedes on our behalf.  Jesus was and is the full and final sin offering for the people of God.  Leviticus 4 is about Jesus Christ, crucified for the sin of the world.

LEVITICUS 5
Jesus is the final sacrifice for sin.  Leviticus 5 is full of different sins and the sacrifices that must be made for atonement.  This law was instituted by God for the purpose of being replaced and fulfilled by Jesus’ death on the cross.  Leviticus 5 should remind us of the fact that Jesus is the proper sacrifice for all of our sins: past, present, future, know, unknown, intentional, and unintentional.  The Lord foresaw our hearts and our motives and, knowing that our intentions were evil, He designed the Law in such a way as to be incomplete and lacking.  This was done so that when Jesus came, He would become the One Hope that all humanity had to cling to for the chance of salvation.  For the Law only shows us our sin and condemns us.  Jesus pays the Law’s due penalty for us, and sets us free to live a life glorifying Him.  Leviticus 5 is about Jesus.

LEVITICUS 6
Leviticus 6 sets a new precedent for priests.  The Lord commands His priests that they must give everything (as opposed to the small portion required from others) in order to make a sacrifice for sin.  This standard took great faith as it caused the priests to rely even more heavily upon God’s grace.  This practice is never better exemplified than through Jesus Christ, the Eternal and Heavenly High Priest.  No other priest gave of himself so completely as Jesus did.  The Most Holy High Priest not only gave all He had on this earth, including His life, He also abdicated His rich heavenly throne in order to come to the earth and be beaten and murdered by His people, for His people.  When Leviticus 6 was written down, Jesus already knew that He would fulfill it far beyond what anyone else would ever do.  He already knew that He would die a horrific, bloody, painful death by beating and crucifixion.  Jesus knew that He would complete the Law in the most extreme way.  Leviticus 6 is about Jesus.

LEVITICUS 7
Jesus is found in Leviticus 7.  Obviously, He was our sacrifice, not just for peace, but for all things that require sacrifice.  These things He accomplished.  He knew that He would become like the sacrifices made in Leviticus 7.  Surely when He read from the Law, He thought, “I shall be that sacrifice.”  This is confirmed when Jesus tells His followers that if they are to partake in Him, they must “eat of [His] flesh.”  This is a hard and strange teaching, but when we look at it through the lens of Leviticus 7, it becomes much clearer.  Jesus was not calling for cannibalism; rather, He was identifying Himself as the great sacrifice for the people of God.  If we look closely at the Peace Offering from Leviticus 7, there are some things we should note.  First, the peace offering is only good for two days after it is sacrificed.  Second, if the meat of the Peace Offering touches anything unclean, it too becomes unclean.  Third, because it is a “clean” thing, a person must already be ceremonially clean in order to partake of it.  But Jesus is the superior and final Peace Offering.  First, He never expires.  He is not like simple meat that He spoils after a day.  Jesus is infinite and is available until the Day of Judgment.  Second, Jesus is supreme in that He can never be made unclean.  Jesus touched the dead, mingled with sinners, and walked with lepers.  Yet He remained holy and pure before God.  Third, Jesus took the sin of mankind away.  He is our expiation: like the goat sent into the wilderness, Jesus takes our sin away from us.  Thus we are clean, able to approach Him, to partake in the meal of His flesh, and to receive the peace of the offering.  Leviticus 7 is about Jesus.

LEVITICUS 8
In Leviticus 8, we see Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons coming before the Lord.  They have come to consecrate themselves and to ready themselves for service as the Lord’s priests.  Like any people, they are sinful and must have their sin atoned for before they may come before the Lord.  In a beautiful foreshadowing of the covenant of the Jesus’ blood, Aaron and his sons are marked with the blood of the sacrifice, showing that their sin has been paid for.  Moses smears blood on their ears, their hands, and their feet.  They are clearing marked with the blood of the sacrifice.  To refuse to receive the blood would be to refuse to receive the atonement that it stood for.  Moses further marks them by sprinkling the blood on their clothing.  Blood is used as a sign for covenant throughout the Bible, culminating in the New Covenant, completed with the blood of Jesus.  Though His followers do not smear His blood on themselves, they are figuratively “marked” with His blood.  Aaron and his sons only received the blood because they killed the animal.  Moses did not kill it, they did.  Only those who kill the animal may take part in the blood.  In the same way, only those who kill the Son of God may take part in His blood.  The good news: we all qualify.  Anyone who has committed sin (everyone according to Rom 3:23) has had a hand in the bloody, awful, torturous, barbarous execution of Jesus Christ.  But to deny this is to deny your part in the Covenant.  Only the one who is willing to accept his part in the death of Jesus may claim his part in the life that He gives.  Leviticus 8 teaches us this.  Leviticus 8 was written for the purpose of leading people to salvation through Jesus Christ.

LEVITICUS 9
Jesus is the superior consolidation of the sacrifices of Leviticus 9.  In the chapter, there are a number of sacrifices made, both for the priests and for the people.  There are sacrifices of inauguration, sin offerings, burnt offerings, grain offerings, peace offerings, and wave offerings.  Many of these happened multiple times for the sake of the priests and the people.  Jesus is the superior consolidation of all of these.  In His death, all of these sacrifices are made final.  There will never be need of another sin offering.  Jesus’ death was sufficient, paying for all sin past, present, and future.  There will never be need of another peace offering.  Jesus was the ultimate peace offering. In Jesus, there is no distinction between priests and common people.  “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”  We are all sinners, and we all may find hope in Jesus’ death alone.  Leviticus 9 is about Jesus.

LEVITICUS 10
Leviticus 10 begins on a low note with man committing sin, even on the inauguration day of the tabernacle.  Nadab and Abihu committed some offense against the Lord, though we can only speculate as to what “strange fire” might have been.  They were immediately consumed by fire from the Lord in just punishment for their disobedience.  This passage should immediately trigger our minds to ponder the grace of Jesus.  If Nadab and Abihu were destroyed on the spot, justly, for one, single disobedience, how many opportunities have we personally had to be fried by God?  Yet each time, He has granted us unmerited grace and said, “No,” giving us one more chance to obey Him. In fact, He went to such great lengths to not destroy us.  He gave His only Son to die on the cross to take the punishment that we deserve.  If we add up all the times we deserved to go up in smoke like Nadab and Abihu, we can see just what we added upon Jesus’ shoulders as He suffered and died, carrying our sin and the sin of the world.  We must willingly accept our part in His suffering if we are to claim our part in His resurrected life, and subsequently, ours.  Leviticus 10 is about God’s grace and mercy.

LEVITICUS 11
Leviticus 11 takes us through the Old Testament Law concerning clean and unclean animals.  It also speaks of a person making himself unclean by touching an unclean thing or a dead carcass.  Uncleanliness spreads like disease.  Unclean pots must be smashed.  Extensive washing and rituals must take place to clean a person of their “uncleanliness.”  But when Jesus comes, He overcomes the Law with grace.  Jesus touches dead bodies in order that they may come back to life.  The Lord tells Peter to eat of clean and unclean animals.  Jesus associated with the sinners, tax collectors, and the lepers of His time, a people most definitely considered unclean.  Because grace always goes farther than the Law, Jesus was able to do this.  Leviticus 11 simply sets the scene, building up the wall for the purpose of Jesus busting through it.

LEVITICUS 12
Leviticus 12 tells about the impurities associated with childbirth.  Not only does this passage testify to Jesus’ work of cleansing impurities, it also testifies to the humble state of Jesus’ family.  The end of the passage specifically gives note to what should be done if a family could not afford a lamb.  The woman was to bring two doves or two pigeons to be sacrificed by the priest.  This is exactly what Mary, the mother of Jesus, did, thus testifying to the poor status of the family of the Messiah.  Leviticus 12 is about Jesus.

LEVITICUS 13
In Leviticus 13, we see much law connected to a person’s status of “clean” versus “unclean” by way of skin condition.  Most of the Law here is probably concerned with actually health issues, most of which were probably contagious.  People with these diseases were considered social outcasts, especially those who were considered to have leprosy.  This extensive chapter gives support to the fact that they are to be put outside the camp for the safety of the greater whole.  This is the Law.  But Jesus goes beyond the Law with grace.  Grace always goes further than the Law, therefore, Jesus went to the lepers.  Jesus healed many, many people considered to be unclean.  Leviticus 13 makes those acts of healing all the more incredible to those who witnessed them.  The people would see that Jesus was willing to go even to the people cast out because of physical ailment.  No one was too remote or “unclean” for the gospel.  Leviticus 13 is about the grace and love of Jesus.

LEVITICUS 14
Leviticus 14 again deals with the purification of disease both from people and from objects.  All through the middle of the chapter, we see the person being purified undergoing the same ritual as Aaron and his sons.  They had the blood of an offering put on their right ear, right thumb, and right big toe.  But the remarkable thing about Leviticus 14 comes once at the very beginning and once at the very end.  The person with the skin infection and the house with the infection both must undergo a ritual in which a bird is sacrificed over an open container of water.  The blood of the bird then mixes with the water and, in order to be purified, the object of purification must be sprinkled, covered by, the blood and water.  In the gospels, it says that a Roman soldier went and drove a spear into the side of Jesus on the cross, and out flowed “blood and water.”  The infected of the Old Testament had to be cleansed through the blood and the water.  It is no different for us.  As we are infected with sin and death, we may only be cleansed by the blood and water of Jesus Christ.

LEVITICUS 15
In what is probably the most awkward chapter of the entire Bible, the Law addresses the uncleanliness associated with male and female “discharges” from the body.  However, it would be folly for those of us under the new covenant to focus on anything but the transition from unclean to clean.  The point of this chapter is for us to understand that in everything, even in things that we seemingly have no control over, Jesus has washed us, expiating our uncleanliness.  In His death, Jesus becomes the goat onto which we cast our sin and chase out of the camp.  Leviticus 15 is about Jesus taking away our uncleanliness.

LEVITICUS 16
Leviticus 16 is all about Jesus and His work on the cross.  Leviticus 16 is about the Day of Atonement.  Under the Old Testament Law, the Israelites were to bring two goats to the temple on the Day of Atonement.  These goats would serve two distinct purposes.  The first goat served as the people’s propitiation, which meant that the goat would die as the only just penalty for the sin of Israel.  The Law declares that sin must be atoned for through the shedding of blood.  God was gracious enough that He allowed the Israelites to kill a goat instead of He killing them.  The second goat would be the people’s expiation. This means that he would take their sins away from them.  (For example: If someone murders someone, they might go to jail and serve their sentence.  But when they get out, are they still a murderer? Yes!  Expiation serves to remove this label from the people.) After the second goat, the people were freed from the titles of their sins.  

Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament Law.  While the goats served as a yearly sacrifice to bring atonement for the people of God, Jesus sacrificed would be good enough to last through eternity.  In His death, He would become the eternal propitiation and expiation for the children of God.  He has paid the penalty in full, bearing the weight of the world’s sin upon His shoulders.  He is our propitiation, dying the death we should have died.  He is also our expiation.  Though I have lied and done many sins in my life, before God, I am no longer labeled a “liar” because the Lord has taken my sins and separated them from me.  Leviticus 16 was written with the expressed purpose of one day glorifying the Lord’s death on a cross.  The Law affected many things in between, but the primary purpose was to glorify Jesus and show us that everything is oriented around Him.  Leviticus 16 is all about Jesus.

LEVITICUS 17
In Leviticus 17, the Lord commands, again, that people not eat or drink the blood of animals they sacrifice.  He references Himself from Genesis, reminding the Israelites that blood contains the life of the creature.  Though this seems like an odd principle, it is a support beam that holds up the entire structure of Christ’s sacrifice.  It is only because the blood contains the life that Christ is able to pour out His life for the sake of others.  This is why Jesus says, “Drink my blood.”  Does this contradict the OT Law? No.  The OT Law was set up so that God’s people would not drink of any blood except that of Christ.  His blood is the only blood that brings life, and not a curse, to those who partake of it.  He is the perfect sacrifice and His blood I perfect.  Other sacrifices are imperfect, and to drink of the blood would be simply to fill ourselves with more imperfect blood than we already have.  Grace says we are saved by being covered, willingly, by the blood of the Lamb of God.  Leviticus 17 is an essential building block in the foundation of Jesus’ work on the cross.

LEVITICUS 18
Leviticus 18 commands the people of God to not defile themselves by disobeying the Lord’s commands.  The Lord tells them not to be like the Egyptians or the Canaanites, referring to idolatry, wickedness, and most prominently in this chapter, sexual relations.  The bulk of this chapter is dedicated to addressing improper sexual relations between a man and another person.  The point here is not to focus on sex.  The point is to focus on Jesus.  The Law says, “What things am I not allowed to do?”  Grace says, “How close can I come to Jesus?”  Grace always goes further than the Law.  Again at the end of the chapter, the Lord reminds the people to be obedient to Him, not so that He will save them, but because He has already promised to.  Leviticus 18 should remind us of the relationship of unconditional love that Jesus has for those who are His.

LEVITICUS 19
Leviticus 19 shows the complexity and depth of the character of Jesus Christ. The chapter shows God’s predisposition for justice while displaying His great heart for the poor. We see God’s love for order and Law, while not missing His unfailing love for individual people. If anyone owes something, it must be paid back. But so many times, God steps in and pays what we cannot afford. This theme, repeated through the chapter and the bible, points directly and candidly at the work of Christ on the cross. We, all people, have committed sin against a good and holy God. We owe Him for what we have done against Him. But, to our apparent dismay, the cost for sin is death (Rom 6:23), a price we cannot afford. But the Lord, in the greatest mercy and love, left His throne in heaven to come die the death we could not die. Only because He was sunless could He harbor the sins of the world. Only because He is the Creator-God could He overcome death.  Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sin, not His own, that we could not afford, thereby freeing us from the bondage that we put ourselves in. If we look at Leviticus 19, we are the man who has lain with the virgin who is not ours. We have defiled her and we owe the owner. In Leviticus 19, we are the ones who have defiled our bodies, given by Christ, and we are in need of God to clean us. We are the residents who oppress the foreigners, though we forget that we are actually foreigners in another’s land. We are in desperate need of a savior capable of washing the stains of sin away and paying the debt to God that has mounted up so high we could never fathom paying it off. We need Jesus.

LEVITICUS 20
In Leviticus 20, many laws are laid down for the Israelites.  At first glance, they seem sporadic, unrelated, and disjointed.  But when you pull back and look at the whole chapter, you can see that the Lord is prohibiting the people of Israel from searching in things other than the Lord for fulfillment and salvation.  The Lord is a jealous God and Jesus says that no one comes to the Father, except through Him.  Leviticus 20 reminds us that only Jesus is our fulfillment and our salvation.  We need not search anywhere else.

LEVITICUS 21
Leviticus 21 teaches us a few things about Jesus.  The chapter commands that the priests, and the High Priest, not defile themselves by touching the dead (unless they are a very close relative).  But, as is the theme, grace always goes further than the Law.  As Jesus is about His ministry, He comes into contact with many dead people.  Normally, this would have been an abomination to the pious Jews around Him.  But Jesus did things differently.  Jesus would not become unclean in any manner until the time appointed for Him to become sin upon the cross.  Instead, when around the dead, Jesus brought them back to life!  He called Lazarus from his tomb, even though he had been dead for several days.  Jesus brought the little girl back to life, even though everyone had laughed at Him for saying she was merely sleeping.  Jesus touched the casket of the dead boy.  This must have caused a huge social reaction, as this was very-much the opposite of what any other Rabbi would do.  But Jesus brought the boy back to life and was therefore free of defilement.  

In Leviticus 21, we also see other requirements for the High Priest.  He must marry a virgin, not a widow or divorced woman.  But grace always goes further than the Law.  Jesus did not give Himself in marriage, but rather chose to pursue God completely and not to divide His interests on earth.  

Leviticus 21 also speaks against those who have physical defects, not allowing them in the presence of God.  But grace always goes further than the Law.  The Law says no physical defects.  Jesus says that when His Kingdom comes, He will make everyone new with glorified, perfected, resurrected bodies.  Leviticus 21 is about Jesus showing loving grace, going beyond what the Law requires.

LEVITICUS 22
Leviticus 22 gives regulations concerning the food of the priests, as well as free-will and votive offerings.  There are two obvious implications that point to Jesus.  In the section about offerings, it is commanded that the people must give a flawless male if their offering is to be accepted by God.  This regulation carries over into the New Testament.  Jesus would not have been an acceptable sacrifice if He had not been a sinless male.  He met this regulation, as well as many others.  Jesus was the firstborn of His mother Mary and He was guiltless in every way.  The second thing in Leviticus 22 that points at Jesus deals with the regulations regarding the priest’s food.  Because it was given to the temple, the food of the priest was not for just anyone.  Anyone who was not a priest had to have very special privileges in order to consume the food of the priests.  In verse 11, it says, “but if a priest buys a person with his own money, that person may eat the holy offerings, and those born in the priest’s own house may eat his food.”  This verse points straight to Jesus and His purchase of a people for Himself.  The Bible says that He has purchased us (the elect) with His blood and that we are born anew into His family.  He has qualified us!  We are allowed to consume the Bread of Life!  Jesus has done the work, abiding by the Old Testament Law in order that we might live a life of freedom in Him.  Leviticus 22 is about Jesus.

LEVITICUS 23
Leviticus 23 is about two things: God doing and us not doing.  The chapter is a list of different times of the year when the Israelites were to stop what they were doing and remember what God had already done.  This chapter reminds people how little influence they have over the things of life.  These times of rest remind people that they don’t have the strength to do life on their own.  Ephesians 2:8-9 sums up this chapter well, saying, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, not by works – and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God – so that no one may boast.”  Leviticus 21 shows us that all we can do is be grateful to God for what He has done for us.  This all culminates, of course, in the work of Jesus on the cross.  Like the Israelites in Passover, we must acknowledge that we can do nothing to change the course of events, change the heart of people, or change the mind of God.  We are simply the recipients of His just wrath, or His unwarranted grace.  This applies nowhere more directly than the cross, because it is the most loving act ever, incurred for the most ill-deserving people, by the most gracious Being in existence.  Leviticus 23 should point us to the cross, remind us to rest in it, and only offer up our thanks to Him who endured it.

LEVITICUS 24
Leviticus 24 is about Jesus.  The first section tells of the bread that is to be laid before the altar in the temple.  It is holy and for the priests.  This is the same bread that Jesus speaks of when telling the story about David eating the temple bread.  Jesus points out that the Sabbath is for man, not man for the Sabbath.  Many times, Jesus would be referred to as Bread (Bread of Life; this bread is my body, broken and poured out for you; etc.).  In Leviticus 24, the text states that the bread of the temple is only for the priests.  To be sure this regulation is not broken, Jesus has done something miraculous for us.  He has made us all priests!  “You are a royal priesthood.”  Jesus has qualified us to eat of the temple bread, which gives us life in God.

LEVITICUS 25
Leviticus 25 contains an interesting statute:  in the year of Jubilee (every seven years), property was returned to the original owner.  To be sure, this served a great social purpose, guaranteeing some level of security and equality among most of the people.  Even if someone was terribly poor, they could sell their house.  If they could then survive until the next year of Jubilee (a max of 7 years), their property would be returned to them and their family would have a place to live.  (This is not to downplay the harshness of life that could come upon someone in that time-frame.)

This peculiar law is also important for another reason.  Because families were always returning to their homes, it made it possible to keep very accurate track to the tribes and genealogies of the Israelites.  This leads us to Jesus.  Why in the gospel accounts is a genealogy, all the way back to Adam, so readily available?  It is because of this particular law.  When this law was created, it was done so, by God, with the birth of Jesus in mind.  Leviticus 25, especially the law about redemption of property, is about Jesus!

LEVITICUS 26
Leviticus 26 shows us two different things about Jesus.  First, we see Jesus’ vision for the end of days.  We see the same picture that is found in Revelation where He rules on the throne.  There is no more sorrow or pain.  Everything good is plentiful and everything evil is destroyed or “put outside the walls.”  There is no want for anything, and Jesus reigns supreme.  According to Leviticus 26, this is the life that awaits those who are faithful to the Lord.  (Not by works, but through faith; Eph 2:8-9)  The second thing we see about Jesus is His willingness to forgive.  After dragging the Israelites through the atrocities that await those who are unfaithful, Jesus, the Author of our faith, says that He will forgive those who confess their sins to Him and turn to Him in repentance.  Those that walk against the Lord will see the Lord walk against them.  This too is prophesied in the book of Revelation.  Leviticus 26 shares a great link with the book of Revelation and both are all about Jesus.

LEVITICUS 27
Leviticus 27 reminds us of all that has been written in the Law so far.  It reminds the people of God of their obligation to glorify a holy God.  This is the core of the Law.  We are to honor Jesus Christ, not because honoring Him brings us salvation, but because He has already brought us salvation.  We know, from the Law, that we are sinful and separated from God.  It is only once we realize this that Jesus true glory can be made manifest in our souls.  Leviticus preaches the gospel by cornering us in such a way that we cannot escape, lest we cry out to the very Maker of the Universe.  Leviticus 27 reminds us of the monumental work done by God in Jesus for our sake and for His glory.  All of Leviticus is about Jesus.

Exodus is about Jesus

Exodus is about Jesus

EXODUS 1
Exodus chapter 1, though short, is still referent to Jesus.  Just as the king of Egypt ordered that all baby Hebrew boys be killed, so too did King Herod, in Jesus’ day, command the same.  At that time, the nation of Israel was again oppressed, not by the Egyptians as in Exodus, but this time by the Romans.  And just as the midwives would not give up the baby boys to death, neither would the wise men disclose where Jesus was so that Herod could have Him killed.

EXODUS 2
It is important to note that Moses was not born into the tribe of Judah as Jesus was.  Moses is from the tribe of Levi, the priestly tribe.  He is different from Jesus.  Moses represents the Law, as we see on the Mount of Transfiguration.  Jesus represents sacrifice and salvation.  But they do still have some things in common.  As Mary could not let it be known that she had given birth to Jesus, neither could Moses’ mother let his birth be known if she wanted him to live.  So, to deliver him, he was placed in an ark, as some translations read, to be delivered by water.  This is very similar to both the story of Noah bringing deliverance on a wooden ark and Jesus bringing deliverance on a wooden cross.  Water symbolizes judgment in the bible, and the ark is what protects those in it from the water.  Moses’ successor, Joshua, would eventually lead the nation of Israel through the Jordan (waters of judgment) carrying the Ark of the Covenant, which was able to deliver them from the Jordan.  Jesus brings this same deliverance that was foreshadowed time and time again in the Old Testament, even in small things like the birth of Moses.

EXODUS 3
In Exodus 3, Moses sees the burning bush and communicates with God.  Here Moses is commissioned to go back to Egypt and lead the nation of Israel into the Promised Land.  Moses is very hesitant to accept the task, showing that he is still only a type of the One to come.  Jesus never questioned His mission or His Master’s sovereignty like Moses does here.  Moses’ faith is exposed here as being “questioning,” believing in God but not having full faith that He will do what He says He will.

Fortunately, Moses is not the only participant in Exodus 3; God speaks as well.  When Moses asks for a name to tell the Israelites who has sent him, the Lord answers, “I AM.”  Two points here: First, “I AM,” when written out in Hebrew, looks very similar to YAHWEH.  Second, when Jesus was to be arrested in Gethsemane, the arresting troops said they were looking for Jesus of Nazareth.  Jesus responded by saying, “I AM he.”  At this, the troops all fell to the ground! (John 18:6)  When Jesus said this, He was referencing Exodus 3, declaring Himself to be the same God that spoke to Moses in the burning bush.  Exodus 3 is about Jesus, the God of Moses.

EXODUS 4
Moses’ fear shows through in Exodus 4.  He is afraid of failure and comes up with every excuse to get out of the job that God had given him, even though he deeply desired the freedom of his people.  The Lord gave Moses three signs to perform for the Israelites to help them believe that God had sent him.  This is very similar to Jesus, who explained to His disciples that the miraculous signs He performed were to help the people believe He was the Christ, sent by the Father.  Also like Jesus, Moses had to leave the people and return before they were truly moved by his message and deeds.  When he left, he was scorned as a criminal, just as Jesus was.  But upon his return, the people would see him in a new light.  Exodus 4 is a foreshadowing of Jesus.

EXODUS 5
Exodus 5 is a foreshadowing of Jesus’ dealings with the people of Israel, the Pharisees, and the Devil.  To free his people from Pharaoh, Moses prepares to embark on a 3-day journey into the dessert.  To free His people from Satan’s grip, Jesus took a 3-day journey through death.  The slave-drivers made the Israelites’ live harder by adding more work without adding more pay or reward.  The Pharisees made the Israelites’ lives harder by adding more work to their religious rituals for no true reason. Just as this emboldened Jesus to chastise the Pharisees and see His mission through, so too will it embolden Moses and give him strength to persevere in his commandment from God.  Exodus 5 foreshadows Jesus work in Israel.

EXODUS 6
Exodus 6 is a foreshadowing of the Salvation that was to come through Jesus.  The Lord declares that He will free His people from the domineering hand of the Pharaoh.  He has made a covenant with His people and He will not forsake them.  He says, “I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.”  Jesus references this when offering a chance to follow Him saying, “Take my yoke upon you.”  As much as this was a Rabbinical saying, it would have resonated with many of the Jewish people as a reference to the Exodus.  But Moses preached freedom to the Israelites in his day, and most did not listen, just as they did to Jesus.  For both Moses and Jesus, the mission was not conditional on the approval of the people.  It had to continue because God commanded it.  But Moses hesitated in his faith, asking God, “If the Israelites will not listen to me, why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I speak with faltering lips?”  Moses’ imperfection points us to Jesus’ perfection.  Jesus did not falter in His mission or His faith in the Father.  Moses was simply a type of the One to come.  Exodus 6 is about Jesus.

EXODUS 7 & 8
Exodus 7 and 8 will be analyzed together because chapter 8 is a direct continuation of chapter 7.  Indeed, they seem to connect mid-paragraph.

Exodus 7 & 8 might best be summed up by Paul in Romans 1:1-2, “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God – the gospel He promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures.”  Aaron and the different plagues represent the different prophets that came to Israel to proclaim the coming of the Christ and the freeing of the people of God.  Like Pharaoh, the people of Israel listened intently, but soon forgot and hardened their hearts.  The oppressed nation of Israel in Exodus is representative of God’s people, hidden among the national populace of Egypt.  Finally, the parallel of Jesus in the Exodus story is Jesus.  As word comes from the Father, Moses speaks “only what the Father tells him.” (See John 5:19)  But before Moses can lead his people to freedom, like Jesus, he must be rejected.  Pharaoh rejects him multiple times and the chapter ends with the people still in captivity, just as Jesus’ life ended with people still “apparently” waiting on the Messiah.

EXODUS 9
Unfortunately, Exodus 9 shows us many people’s relationship with Jesus Christ.  Many people live daily as kings of their own life.  The only time they come before God is when things are bad.  Just like Pharaoh, they seek God in calamity, but as soon as peace returns, they too return to their old ways.  God would later say through the prophet Ezekiel, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone.” (This is called Regeneration) Exodus 9 shows us why we need Jesus to regenerate us, to give us new hearts.  No matter how many times Pharaoh called on the Lord for help, his “heart of stone” always became hardened again.  Only Jesus can give a new heart and a new spirit.  Exodus 9 reminds us of another reason why we need Jesus.

EXODUS 10
Exodus 10 is a good picture of the Lord’s sovereignty over all peoples.  It was the Lord who covered the land of Egypt in thick darkness so that no one could see.  It was the Lord who kept the homes of the Israelites lit.  It was the Lord who lifted the darkness from the land and returned sight to those in the land.  It was the Lord who hardened Pharaoh’s heart for His purposes in the future.  Jesus perfectly explained this.  He said it was He who would restore sight to the blind.  He told many stories in parables so that not everyone would understand.  It was He who said that many would turn from Him, even after His mercy was displayed, just like the Egyptians in Exodus.  The Lord made it abundantly clear that He was in control, but the Egyptians in Exodus, much like many of the Jews in Jesus’ day, were so hard-hearted and stiff-necked that even in the midst of “undeniable” evidence, they denied the One True God, Christ Jesus.  Even so, the Lord still withheld judgment on them because of His mercy.  He would still deliver His people from oppression, no matter what the enemy did to frustrate His plans.  Nothing stops the plans of Jesus, as evidenced when He overcame even death on a cross.

EXODUS 11
In Exodus 11, Moses and Aaron are ordered to tell Pharaoh that the Lord will kill all the firstborn children of Egypt.  These children would die in order to set the captive Israelites free from Egypt.  This was a foreshadowing of Jesus, for just as the death of the firstborn of the Egyptians would pay for the physical freedom of the Israelites, so the death of the Firstborn of God would pay for the spiritual freedom of the children of God.  Exodus 11 is about Jesus.

EXODUS 12
The Passover is all about Jesus.  Those who partake are saved by the blood of a perfect and innocent lamb.  The lamb is slaughtered for the lives of many.  The Lord forbids His people from breaking any of the lamb’s bones, so that in death, just as Psalm 22 declares, the bones of Lamb of God will all be intact.  The Israelites are to eat the lamb as it saves them, just as Jesus commanded of His followers to “eat my flesh and drink my blood.”  The Passover meal was never set up to be an ends to itself, but rather, the Passover meal was set up to show the coming purpose of the Christ.  The Passover is about Jesus.

EXODUS 13
The chapter begins with the command from God to set apart as holy the firstborn male of every family.  This command would set the precedence that would lead to Jesus.  Jesus, the Bible says, is the firstborn of God, as well as Mary and Joseph.  Obviously He was set apart as holy.

Another interesting thing from this chapter is the command dealing with bread and yeast.  Jesus gave commands and told parables using bread and yeast as metaphors.  This command in Exodus would ensure that all of Jesus’ Jewish listeners would know what He was talking about.

In verse 13, the Lord commands redemption by the blood of a lamb, an obvious foreshadowing of Jesus’ sacrificial death.

Finally, Jesus’ words are again prepared for Him in verse 22.  Just as the pillar of cloud and fire never left the Israelites, Jesus promised to never leave nor forsake His people.

EXODUS 14
Exodus 14 is another foreshadowing of Jesus leading His people through judgment.  As water many times in the Bible represents judgment, Moses, a type of the One to come, leads the people of Israel through the Red Sea.  Just as Jesus led His people in death and new life, so the people of Israel followed Moses to a new life.  Like those without Christ, the Egyptians were not able to escape the righteous judgment of God, and were thus swept away.  Exodus 14 is about Jesus.

EXODUS 15
If you read the song that Moses sings, it is very easy to forget that it was written before the time of Jesus.  It seems to fit Him so well.  “The Lord is my strength and my song, He has become my salvation… the Lord will reign forever and ever.”  Jesus is clearly described in many ways in the song.

One other foreshadowing of Jesus exists in this chapter.  After the song, when the chapter speaks of Moses leading the people after crossing the Red Sea, the bible says that they traveled into the desert for three days with no water.  This is a foreshadowing of the death and resurrection of Christ.  Moses traveled in the desert for three days, representing the three days that Jesus was in the tomb.  Water, representing life, was finally found on the third day, just as after three days, Jesus took on new life and rose from the grave.

EXODUS 16
Jesus said that He is the Bread of Life.  Anyone who will have eternal life must partake of Jesus.  “You must eat of my flesh.” But like the Israelites in the desert, we cannot go purchase this food.  We cannot earn it.  We cannot steal it.  We have only one option, to wait upon God and to partake when He provides.  We are only able to take of Jesus enough for our own souls.  Should we try to take a part of Him intended for someone else, it will rot before the next day.  The Israelites were completely dependent upon God’s provision of the manna.  All they could do was look to heaven and wait.  So too must we be about our salvation.  We cannot acquire it whenever we want.  We must patiently await God’s timing and partake of Jesus when He is given.  Exodus 16 is about Jesus.

EXODUS 17
The first section of Exodus 17 reminds us that in order to live, we must rely fully upon God through Christ.  The people of Israel were dying of thirst, yet they would not turn to God for water.  Moses, the precursor to Jesus, would bring the water to sustain the Israelites’ lives, just as Jesus would bring the spiritual water to His people to sustain their spiritual lives.

The second section of Exodus 17 reminds us of our victory in Christ.  If Moses is not lifted up, the Israelites have no victory and are defeated.  If the Son of Man is not lifted up, salvation does not come to His people.  Exodus 17 is about Jesus.

EXODUS 18
In Exodus 18, we are shown a foreshadowing of Jesus and His relationship with His people.  Just as Moses is presiding over the Israelites, so too does Jesus preside over all of His people.  Moses and Jesus both act as the “go-between” for man and God.  They both act as judge for their people, and they both instruct their people in God’s ways.  Jesus is described in the NT as the “Chief Shepherd” of the Church.  Many others are appointed as “undershepherds,” or pastors.  This is the same system set up by Moses and Jethro.  Exodus 18 is about Jesus.

EXODUS 19
In Exodus 19, the Israelites must take three days to consecrate themselves.  After three days, they may go out to God’s mountain.  During these three days, they were to wash and to ritually purify themselves of their sin.  This is a foreshadowing of Jesus’ death and resurrection.  Though He knew no sin, He became sin for us.  When Jesus was killed, He carried the weight of the world’s sin all the way to the grave.  After three days, He rose again, purified, no longer carrying the world’s sin.  Thus it is only appropriate that the Israelites would take three days to purify themselves before coming before God’s mountain.  Exodus 19 is about Jesus.

EXODUS 20
In Exodus 20, the full Law is laid out for the first time.  It may have been around before then and been passed verbally, but this is the first time it is recorded in the Bible.  Jesus references this specific part of the OT, saying, “I have not come to destroy the Law, but to fulfill it.”  Jesus is the fulfillment of this Law.  No other person at any time from any place has ever kept the entire law, without exception, for his or her entire life, except Jesus.  C.J. Mahaney says of Jesus, “He is the Only One who ever has, He is the Only One who ever can, He is the Only One who ever will stand in this unique place.”  A defined Law is imperative for the salvation of our souls.  Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  The Law shows us how guilty we are and how guiltless He is.  And it is only by One who is guiltless that we can be saved.

EXODUS 21
Exodus 21 is a list of laws.  It seemingly has little to do with Jesus, but I would contend that without Exodus 21, there is no reason for Jesus.  The Law is the very foundation upon which the need for the Messiah is based.  The Christ is the fulfillment of the Law.  It convicts us and condemns us, shows us that we are guilty and in desperate need of a Savior.  Jesus Christ, the God-man, comes to earth to pay our ransom for breaking the laws of Exodus 21.  Thank you God for giving Exodus 21 to your servant Moses so that I might more fully see and understand why I, personally, need your Son, Jesus Christ.

EXODUS 22
The Laws in the OT are amazing because they are the words of Jesus.  As you read them, you can’t help but be reminded of His teaching, because this is where He based them!  So many people think that the Old Testament and the New are so different, but that is simply false.  The New Testament is built on the Old.  Jesus is built on the Law!  In Him are all the Laws fulfilled.  In Him, the Old Testament is given meaning and credibility.  Exodus 22 is another example, building up to Jesus Christ.

EXODUS 23
In Exodus 23, the chapter ends with a promise from God to send His Angel to guide the nation into the Promised Land.  Regardless of what individual people do, the nation of Israel will advance against the other nations in the area, because God is leading them.  All that God requires of His people is that they believe He will prevail and to follow Him.  This is an incredible parallel to the promise of Jesus’ New Covenant.  We are promised an eternity with God in Heaven.  His Angel, Jesus, is leading the Kingdom as it advances.  It doesn’t matter what individual people do, the Kingdom will advance.  All that God requires of His people is that they believe He will prevail and to follow Him.  Exodus 23 is about Jesus and His Kingdom.

EXODUS 24
Exodus 24 contains some interesting parallels to Jesus and the New Testament.  The story is really an incomplete version of the Transfiguration of Jesus.  In Exodus, two men go up the mountain to speak with the Lord: Moses and Joshua.  (Joshua is the Hebrew translation of the Greek name Jesus).  So in this incomplete version, only Y’shua (Joshua) and Moses stand atop the mountain.  The story is missing Elijah and the three disciples.  This is a good example of the Law being incomplete until Jesus fulfilled it.  Like He said, “I have not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it.”

EXODUS 25
As human beings we are so prone to wanting things simply handed to us.  Many of us desire precise instructions, black and white.  When it comes to spirituality, heaven, and hell, many people, all around the world, have this notion that we would rather try to work our way, earn our way into heaven, than accept the grace of Jesus that we don’t understand.  This part of the Bible is dedicated to showing us how foolish that is.  The Law is set up to show us that we are guilty (see Romans) of sin.  None of us can work our way to God.  It almost looks like God, in the Old Testament, gives His people every opportunity to learn this on their own.  He gives them rules and regulations, measurements and qualifications, yet none of them are able to keep all of the Law and remain upright.  Even the men that God worked through were chosen by grace alone.  Moses murdered a man before God used him. Noah was sinful like the rest of people, only set apart by grace.  Lot was spared even though he had put up with the rampant sin going on around him.  Later in the Old Testament, King David, a man after God’s own heart, was a murderer and an adulterer.  This is the lesson we must learn as human beings.  We are not able to do salvation on our own.  No more precise instructions will get us there.  No better sacrifice do we have to give.  There are no less lies we can tell, and no more evil we can do.  The only way to be reconciled to God is through the blood of the Spotless Lamb, Christ Jesus.  The Law is built for the purpose of teaching us this one thing: we need Jesus.

EXODUS 26
Just like many people in the Old Testament, the Tabernacle is a type of the One to come.  The Tabernacle was used to house the Covenant of man and God.  It was the common ground on which man and God could meet.  It was the place where atonement was made for God’s people.  The Tabernacle would eventually become the Temple.  Jesus claimed that He would destroy the Temple, and that the true temple would be built back in three days.  Though the people did not understand Him at the time, He was referring to Himself as the Temple.  Jesus would forever replace the Tabernacle and the Temple.  He would house the final Covenant of man and God.  He would be the common ground on which man and God could meet.  He would be the place where final atonement was made for God’s people.  The primary purpose of the Tabernacle was to teach about Jesus and make His role understandable for coming generations.  Exodus 26 is about Jesus.

EXODUS 27
Chapter 27 of Exodus is seemingly another daunting chapter of repetitious rules and guidelines.  But its true nature is discovered when we realize that only by building this foundation of the physical temple are we able to fully understand and appreciate the nature of the eternal Temple, Jesus Christ.  The elements of the temple are each very important, for in them is explained the elements of the true Temple, Jesus.  Exodus 27 speaks of the Alter for sacrifices, the Courtyard of the temple, and the Oil for the Lampstands.  The Alter is arguably the most important place in the whole temple.  It is where man meets God.  It is where atonement, payment, is made for the sins of the people.  It is the only place where man can find peace with God.  According to the Law, for the forgiveness of sins, there must be blood.  The Alter is the place where the blood of the perfect lamb would be spilt.  It is only by this perfect, guiltless blood that the sins of man could be transferred to the lamb.  For Jesus, His Alter is the cross.  It is here that man finally, fully meets God.  The innumerable transgressions of man are poured out upon the perfect Lamb of God, who suffers and dies, and in doing so, by His blood, imputes to His descendents perfect righteousness.  Next is the Courtyard.  While the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place were only for the anointed Levitical Priests, the courtyards were for the more common folk.  It is here that anyone could come to God’s temple and worship, serve, commune with other believers, and be together in God’s presence.  Among the courtyards was the Court of the Gentiles.  The Courtyard shows God’s love for all of His people, no matter their social rank, age, race, or gender.  Jesus showed this openly to all people.  He especially emphasized the importance of the Courtyard when He physically went there and overturned the tables and drove out the money changers.  The people (mostly Jews) had crowded the Courtyard and were using it for things other than letting the Gentiles come to God; One of the few times in all of Scripture where the wrath of the incarnate Jesus is unleashed.  Lastly is the Oil and the Lampstands.  Just as the lamps in the temple lit the way for men to come to God, so too would Jesus light the path to God before men.  He declared: “I am the light of the world.”  But for Jesus to light the world, first He must do one thing.  He must take on the sin of the world and be crushed.  The lamps of the old temple were kept burning by the oil taken from the crushed olives.  The Lamp of Jesus would be kept burning by the blood taken from the crushed Son of God.  It was in the Garden of Gethsemane that Jesus took on the burden of the world’s sin.  The word “Gethsemane” actually means “wine press.”  It is ever-so appropriate that this is the place where, as Isaiah 53 says, Jesus would be crushed, as was the Father’s will, by the sins of the world, even to the point of sweating blood.  It would be this blood and this deed that would strike the match to the Lamp that would light the world unto Salvation.  Exodus 27 is about Jesus.

EXODUS 28
Exodus 28 is about the garments of the priests.  Aaron and his sons are instructed in what they must wear in order to perform their duties in the temple.  There is a pattern throughout the Bible that begins with this command from God.  People are seen, not as their hearts truly show them, but rather as their outer garments show them.  This pattern does both good and bad.  Ephesians 4 speaks of “putting on” a new self, one found in Christ.  Isaiah 61:10 says, “For [God] has clothed me with garments on salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness…like a priest.”  Job 29:14 says, “I put on righteousness as my clothing; justice was my robe and my turban.”  God knew that if His priests were to come before them as they were, sinful and blemished, they would die.  The priests would have to come before Him as holy, not by their own accord, but only with God’s assistance.  The clothing itself was only temporary however.  All clothes eventually wear out.  The robes were never meant to be a final solution to the problem.  In Galatians 3:27, Paul explains that we must “put on Christ” as our permanent righteousness.  Paul writes, “for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”  All this is to say that the priestly robes from Aaron’s day were simply a precursor to Jesus!  We must be clothed in His righteousness to appear before our God.  Thank God that one-death-saves-all!

EXODUS 29
Exodus 29 is a tiring chapter of rules and rituals.  It seems to drag on with no apparent effect on today’s world.  But like many things in the Bible, the first glance is not always the best glance.  Exodus 29 could have been written right before the gospels and would have flowed right into them.  The sacrifices and the rituals were commanded of God.  There were not evil or wrong.  They were put in place in anticipation of the coming of Jesus.  God foreknew that upon Jesus death, these sacrifices would no longer need to exist.  But until He came, the people must perform these rituals of consecration and sacrifice for the forgiveness of their sins.  These are simply the beginning.  Jesus is the end.  He is the fulfillment of these sacrifices.  The Israelites begin by sacrificing the inferior, which will ultimately lead to them sacrificing the Superior, Jesus Christ.  Jesus is the final sacrifice, and just as it makes no sense to continue buying bricks after the wall is completed, it makes no sense to return to inferior sacrifices after the Superior sacrifice has been made.  Exodus 29 is the beginning of a long staircase of atonement that leads from the birth of sin to the death of Jesus.

EXODUS 30
Exodus 30 is yet another precursor to Jesus, showing Him in a light that many of us have probably never seen Him in.  Exodus 30 does speak briefly about atonement, the most common view of Jesus, but that is not the focus of the chapter.  Instead, the chapter says much about the burning of incense as a fragrant offering to the Lord.  The “pleasant odors” of the incense are pleasing to the Lord.  In the Bible, these pleasant odors are often equated to the “prayers of the saints,” or the “righteous deeds” of God’s people.  If Exodus 30 is the beginning of a long tradition of “pleasant odors unto the Lord, the trend must culminate with the Cross of Christ.  No other prayer or act could possibly measure up to the amount of pleasure it brought the Lord.  “We considered Him stricken by God.  For it was the Lord’s will to crush Him.”  Saving His people brought the Lord great joy, even if He had to experience pain and loss to accomplish it.  No other odor is more pleasant than the one that emanated from the Cross of Christ.  We must strive to constantly live in that, not trying to produce our own “pleasant odor,” but rather always lifting up the odor of the cross of Jesus Christ.

EXODUS 31
Exodus 31 has two distinct parts.  First, Moses writes about the supernatural calling and qualifying of those who will work on the Tabernacle (Tent of Meeting) and the Ark of the Covenant.  Second, the Lord reminds Moses that even in the midst of the work being done for Him, the Law must not be neglected by working on the Sabbath.  The Lord makes it very clear that He already has people chosen whom He has gifted with the skills, understanding, and knowledge necessary to build the Tabernacle and the Ark.  When God moves on the earth, there should be no doubt that He already has someone here that He will use to do His work.  They may not be qualified of their own accord, but He will qualify them if He wills it.  In any endeavor of God’s in the Bible, this is true.  To lead the people out of Egypt, He called Moses.  To rebuild the wall, God called Nehemiah.  To build the Temple, God called Solomon.  To atone for the sins of mankind, He called Jesus.  These people were purposed, before the foundations of the world (1 Peter 1:20) to do their own specific work of God.  The second part of the chapter is incredibly important when considering God’s calling on people throughout the Bible.  It is very important to note that these people, especially Jesus, were called to complete these great acts while still remaining inside the Law.  For Jesus, this was more than an imperative command.  It was an intrinsic attribute.  Jesus, the God-Man, prepared before the beginning of time, did only what He could do in dying on the cross for the sins of the world.  He did all this, and He did not violate the Law.  Exodus 31 sets up the scene for the future life and death of Jesus Christ.

EXODUS 32
Exodus 32 begins with the despicable sin of the Israelites worshipping a golden calf.  They have just been led out of captivity in Egypt.  God has just fed them, led them, protected them, and spoken to them.  Yet the first chance they get, they turn their backs on Him and worship something that they made with their own hands.  As awful as this is, in no culture, including today’s, is it a rare occurrence.  Too often today, we turn our backs upon God, choosing to worship anything else we see: grades, our paycheck, our families, football, our dream-car, that new pair of shoes, etc.  We sacrifice our worship of God on the altar to these lesser things, just as the Israelites sacrificed their faith in God on the altar of their golden calf.* Even in the midst of punishment, God shows His love and grace towards His people.  He allows Moses to intercede for them, saving some of them: those God chooses.  Moses acts as a mediator between God and His people.  In doing so, he takes up the role that would ultimately be fulfilled by Jesus as the Supreme Mediator between God and man.  Exodus 32 is a foreshadowing of the work that Jesus would do, not on the small scale of God and Israel, but on the largest scale of God and the world.  Exodus 32 is about Jesus.

*Just as God did not tolerate idolatry then, neither will He today.  There must be punishment for sin, and there has been through Jesus on the cross.  But punishment is handicapped if it is not followed by repentance.

EXODUS 33
Exodus 33 is about the sinfulness of man.  It is about God’s plan for redemption through Jesus.  The chapter follows the nation of Israel after they have sinned against God by worshipping the golden calf.  God has renounced His promise to go before the Israelites in battle because they have violated the terms of the covenant given to them.  Moses expresses what the chapter never clearly states: the Israelites are helpless in battle without God going up before them.  He understands that without God’s leadership, they are doomed.  But because of their sin, they are separated from the Holy God.  In order for the gap between them to be closed, someone must intervene.  Moses, a type of the One to come, must be the mediator between man and God.  Partially because of the work of Moses, and fully because of His sovereign grace, God resumes a relationship with His people.  This whole story is a foreshadowing to the story of Jesus.  Moses, while able to temporarily restore Israel to God, is unable to atone for all sin.  Only Jesus could do this.  Because man was sinful, they were separated from the Holy God.  Only a spotless Lamb would do for sacrifice.  Only One who could pay the full penalty of the sin of the world could atone for the sins of mankind.  Only Jesus, the God-Man, come to earth, could pay the ransom to free humanity from their depravity.  Exodus 33 is the foretelling of the gospel message.  Exodus 33 is about Jesus!

EXODUS 34
Exodus 34 is about the renewal of the covenant between God and his people of Israel. It is also a precursor to the New Covenant of Jesus’ blood. Just as the people violated the first covenant by committing idolatry, the people of Jesus’ time had committed many sins including idolatry. They had Brocken the terms of the covenant. Like an unfaithful bride, they forsook the Lord for other pleasures. Like the original tablets given to Moses by God, the people of Jesus’ day had smashed through the covenant law of their God. It is only by God’s grace that He called Moses back and allowed him to intercede for the people; and it was only by His grace that He allowed Himself to be crucified as the only proper atonement for the sins of the world. It was to God’s glory that we are reconciled to Him through the bloody cross of His Son, Jesus Christ. Exodus 34 is a foreshadowing of the rendering of the New Covenant. Exodus 34 is about Jesus.

EXODUS 35
There are two connections to Jesus in Exodus 35.  First, Jesus is the completion of the willing.  In the passage, Moses calls all those who where “willing” to come before the Lord with an offering.  Because of the nature of people, it is safe to assume that not every Israelite was “willing,” and therefore did not come.  Some came with the wrong motives.  Some came reluctantly.  But Jesus is the ultimate example and completion of the “willing” people of Israel.  No one in history has ever been as willing as Jesus to go before the Lord to submit an offering, which leads us to the second connection between Exodus 35 and Jesus: His offering.  Jesus’ offering is the completion of the offerings of the willing.  Though many Israelites came, though many of them were skilled in making things, no Israelite could offer what Jesus could, and did.  Many of their offerings were good, but they were not good enough to make atonement for the sins of mankind.  Jesus’ offering of His perfect, sinless body outweighs every sin and sacrifice ever made before or after His death.  It is the ultimate sacrifice in which the will of God is fulfilled for mankind.  Exodus 35 lays the foundation for Jesus to be glorified and exalted.

EXODUS 36
Exodus 36 showcases the redemptive power of Jesus Christ.  Just a few chapters ago, the Israelites spit in the face of God, worshipping an idol as He told them not to have idols.  Even after they had been brought out of Egypt, they chose to go their own way rather than follow He who brought them out of slavery.  But something has changed since then.  The Israelites have been given a new heart by God, a heart that desires Him above all else.  Their idolatry has turned into overwhelming generosity towards God.  The people have done a 180.  This is an early Biblical example of what the Spirit of Christ does in the heart of a believer.  For a believer, following God is not about obeying a set of rules.  It’s about the intrinsic desires of the heart to seek hard after Him and to be like Him.  Exodus 36 is about the renewal of the heart through the redemptive power of Jesus.

EXODUS 37
In Exodus 37, we are given a detailed plan for building the items to be placed inside of the tabernacle.  This chapter is only relevant to Christians if you believe that it is about Jesus.  When it was written, it was completely relevant, being the will of God for the people of that time.  But this was not meant to be a lasting thing.  Jesus would come and replace the perishable temple with an eternal one, and in doing so, would also replace the perishable items in the temple with eternal ones.  The Ark represents the Covenant between God and Israel.  Jesus’ Blood represents the Final Covenant between God and man.  The table held the instruments for administering the sacrifices to the Lord.  Jesus carried His own instrument, in the form of a cross, on His back.  The lampstands served to light the tabernacle for men to find their way to God.  Jesus is the Light of the World, making clear the path whereby men may come to God.  The altar was of course a place to offer up a sweet-smelling offering of incense to God.  Jesus offered up the sweetest offering by dying on the cross.  Exodus 37 shows us many different facets of Jesus, because Jesus says He did not come to abolish the Law, but to complete it.  This means that all of the duties and regulations of the Law are still being met, just in a different way.  They are not met by the hand of man conducting rituals.  Rather, they are met by the eternal body and blood of Jesus Christ, God come to earth.  Exodus 37 is about Jesus.

EXODUS 38
Exodus 38 is another chapter that seems to have little to do with Jesus.  But upon closer inspection, we might find that we learn things about Jesus that we never knew before.  We know that Jesus did not abolish the Law, but rather, He fulfilled and surpassed it.  This means that when we view the Law, we can find Jesus completing it.  In Exodus 38, the elements we see are the altar for burnt offerings and the courtyard of the tabernacle.  If we look at these things and decipher their purpose, we will find out just what it was that Jesus fulfilled in them.  The altar is used for sacrifices.  An animal would be slain and burnt before the Lord as atonement for sin, because the Law states “there must be blood for the atonement of sin.”  So a square, wooden altar was used for sacrifices up until the Law of Atonement was fulfilled on a cross-shaped, wooden altar, the cross of Jesus.  The courtyard was a “common-ground” where most people could come to be in the presence of God.  At the time, this was just Israelites, but since the Tabernacle was basically just poles and sheets, it was easily expandable for when the courtyard would be opened up to the Gentile world.  Jesus openly expanded the courtyard to all people.  The Bible tells that with His blood, He purchased people from every tribe, tongue, nation, and people.  Jesus is a multi-racial God who deeply cares about all of His children, not showing any favoritism.  In fact, it was in the courtyard of the Gentiles that Jesus drove out the moneychangers.  He desired that even His Gentile children have a place to go to stand in the presence of their God.  Of course, Jesus would even eventually reveal Himself as the Eternal High Priest, thereby eliminating our need for a human high priest to go into the Holy of Holies.  This means that all believers can simply gather before Jesus in the safety of the same temple to worship the same God who will meet all of our needs.  Exodus 38 is about Jesus.

EXODUS 39
Exodus 39 shows us how the Israelites obeyed the Lord without compromise in His orders about building the Tabernacle.  In doing so, they would foreshadow the perfect obedience on Jesus Christ.  As long as the list is of things the Israelites had to do, it is nothing in comparison to what Jesus had to do.  Hanging in the balance of the Israelites’ obedience was only their own fate.  Hanging in the balance of Jesus’ obedience was the fate of every person in the world.  As close to perfect as the Israelites were to following God’s will, Jesus was closer.  In fact, He perfectly did the will of the Father, without any compromise.  “I only do what I see the Father doing.  I only say what I hear the Father say.”  The Israelites were creating the first temple to the Lord and installing the first priest.  Jesus was creating the Final Temple and the Final Priest, namely Himself.

EXODUS 40
In Exodus 40, Moses is finally able to set up the Tabernacle.  The House of God would be established and His people could come before Him and worship in an established place.  This is a major milestone for the people of God.  The Bible has worked thus far in order to get here: communion with God.  Tragically, this would only be the beginning in a long line of God uniting His people to Him only for them to sin and be separated from Him.  However, God knew that this would happen, and therefore had a plan to save His people for eternity.  Though this was the first temple, and Aaron was the first of the royal priesthood, God the Father would send His Son Jesus to bleed and die as the Ultimate Sacrifice for the people of God.  The sacrifice would be so bloody that the people of God could never remove the blood of the covenant from themselves, no matter how many sins they ever committed.  Jesus would establish the Final Temple by the Final Sacrifice and He would become our Final High Priest.  Exodus 40 is about Jesus.