The Moses Model

.... When we hear modern teachings on the ‘authority’ of Christian leaders, we are almost sure to hear the story of Moses presented as a proof text, for he was never to be challenged in his leadership and those who spoke against him incurred God’s wrath. In point of fact, they usually thought he was taking too much on himself, and they wanted to take some of his authority away from him, by taking it to themselves:

Aaron and Miriam:
.. "So they said, "Has the LORD indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?" And the LORD heard it."

(Numbers 12:2)

.

Korah, Dathan and Abiram:
.. "They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?"

(Numbers 16:3)

.... In response to their murmuring, God’s judgment fell: Aaron and Miriam were rebuked, and Miriam was struck with leprosy; Korah and the Levites were consumed with fire, and the earth opened up to swallow Dathan, Abiram and their faction – imagery that clearly suggests they were sent to hell (Numbers 12:10; 16:28-35). Thus we, too, must submit to church leaders wholly and without question, or we will bring similar judgments on ourselves.

.
.... But if modern church leaders reflect the same authority, to whom do they, themselves, answer, and how? Actually, the answer is in the very same passages though not as they've intended.

.

.... The problem with their analogy is that Moses is being viewed as an archetype for church leadership, which greatly understates the true perspective. For in God’s own mind, Moses was intended to foreshadow something far greater than this:

.... 'I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him.’

(Deuteronomy 18:18-19)

.... This prophet, who would be like Moses, would be Jesus Himself (Acts 3:20-23). So the true analogy of Moses is that he represented the absolute leadership of Jesus Christ in the church. The other people in the analogy represent the church, and – can it possibly escape our notice? Those who were resisting ‘Christ’, and who wanted to take his authority for themselves, were the other ‘church leaders' of their day!

.

.... Aaron was the high priest and Miriam was a leading minister among the women; Korah was the head of one of the families of the Levites, which was the priestly tribe; Dathan and Abiram were heads over the Reubenites, the oldest tribe, who thought the priesthood should have been shared with them.

.
.... Therefore, the true analogy is these passages is that of church leaders who have become self-willed and rebellious against the absolute authority of Jesus Himself in the church, and who covet His place because they seek a bigger role for themselves. And because of this, they will incur a stricter judgment:

.... "Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever."

(Jude 11-13)

.... Furthermore, on the day after Korah’s rebellion, the people who had followed his leadership example and ‘submitted’ to him, rather than clinging to Moses himself (to Christ); brought a similar judgment on themselves. So blind submission to the ‘church leaders’ was not enough to offer them a 'safety net' and to justify their actions!

.... "Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple."

(Romans 16:17-18)

To proceed to the next lesson, click here

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5