Moses, Elijah, and Jesus
The Unfolding of God's Glory
As we study Exodus 24, we find ourselves immersed in a critical moment in Israel's history—a moment where Moses ascends Mount Sinai and enters the cloud of God’s glory. This encounter is not just an isolated event but part of a larger narrative that connects to two other significant mountaintop experiences: Elijah’s encounter on Mount Horeb and Jesus’ Transfiguration. Together, these moments reveal God’s unfolding plan of redemption, with Moses, Elijah, and Jesus standing as key figures in the story of salvation.
Mount Sinai: Moses and the Glory of the Law
Our journey begins in Exodus 24, where Moses is called to ascend Mount Sinai to meet with God. This moment comes after the giving of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) and the expansion of the covenantal laws in the Book of the Covenant (Exodus 21-23). In Exodus 24:15-18, we read:
“When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud.”
The cloud of God’s glory (known as the Shekinah) covers the mountain, signifying God’s holy presence. Moses remained on the mountain for 40 days, receiving the stone tablets containing the Ten Commandments and the instructions for the Tabernacle—the place where God’s presence will dwell among His people.
This event highlights a key aspect of God’s relationship with His people: the giving of the Law. The Law reveals God’s holiness, His moral standards, and His desire for His people to be set apart. However, even as Moses receives this covenant, it is veiled in mystery. The people cannot ascend the mountain, and God’s full glory remains hidden. The Law, while good and holy, is not the ultimate revelation of God’s plan.
Deeper Dive: The Significance of the Law
The Law given to Moses on Sinai is more than a list of rules—it represents a covenant between God and His people. It establishes Israel as a holy nation, set apart to be a light to the nations (Deuteronomy 4:6-8). But as Paul explains in Galatians 3:19-24, the Law also serves to expose sin and reveal humanity’s need for a Savior. The Law was never meant to be the final solution; instead, it was a guardian until Christ came.
The Tabernacle instructions that Moses receives on Sinai are equally significant. The Tabernacle is the dwelling place of God among His people, but its temporary nature and sacrificial system point forward to something greater—the coming of Jesus, who would tabernacle (or dwell) among us (John 1:14) and become the ultimate sacrifice for sin.
Biblical Connections:
Exodus 25-31: God provides detailed instructions for the Tabernacle, which will symbolize His presence among the Israelites.
Hebrews 9:1-14: The tabernacle’s design foreshadows the work of Christ, whose blood provides eternal redemption.
Mount Horeb: Elijah and the Whisper of God
The next step in this unfolding story occurs in 1 Kings 19, when Elijah flees to Mount Horeb (another name for Mount Sinai) after his dramatic confrontation with the prophets of Baal. Despairing and fearful for his life, Elijah seeks refuge and a word from God.
While on the mountain, Elijah experiences a series of dramatic natural events: a powerful wind, an earthquake, and a fire. But God is not in any of these forces. Instead, Elijah encounters God in a gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:12):
“After the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.”
Elijah’s experience reveals that God’s presence is not always found in overwhelming displays of power. Instead, God often works through quiet, intimate encounters. This encounter is deeply personal and speaks to Elijah’s discouraged state, showing that God’s work often continues quietly and faithfully, even when it seems like all is lost.
Deeper Dive: Elijah’s Mission and God’s Faithfulness
Elijah had just experienced a powerful victory on Mount Carmel, where God revealed His supremacy over Baal (1 Kings 18:20-40). But despite this triumph, Elijah feels defeated and believes that his mission has failed. God’s response in the gentle whisper reassures Elijah that His plan is still in motion. God instructs Elijah to anoint new leaders and train his prophetic successor, Elisha, showing that the mission will continue beyond Elijah.
Biblical Connections:
2 Kings 2: Elisha inherits Elijah’s prophetic role, continuing God’s work.
Luke 1:17: Elijah’s role foreshadows John the Baptist, who prepares the way for the Messiah.
Romans 11:2-5: Paul references Elijah’s despair to show that God always preserves a faithful remnant.
The Mount of Transfiguration: Jesus, the Fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets
The climactic moment that ties these events together occurs in the New Testament, on the Mount of Transfiguration. In Matthew 17:1-8, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a high mountain. There, He is transfigured before them:
“His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.” (Matthew 17:2-3)
Moses and Elijah—representing the Law and the Prophets—appear alongside Jesus. The cloud of God’s glory once again descends upon the mountain, echoing the cloud that covered Sinai. But this time, something new happens: God speaks directly to the disciples:
“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!” (Matthew 17:5)
Deeper Dive: Why Moses and Elijah?
The presence of Moses and Elijah is deeply symbolic. Moses represents the Law, while Elijah represents the Prophets. Together, they embody the entirety of the Old Testament revelation, which finds its fulfillment in Jesus. Their appearance at the Transfiguration testifies that Jesus is the one to whom the Law and the Prophets were pointing all along (Luke 24:27).
Jesus as the Ultimate Mediator:
Both Moses and Elijah were mediators between God and His people. Moses mediated the covenant by delivering the Law and interceding for Israel when they sinned (Exodus 32:11-14). Elijah mediated through prophetic confrontation, calling Israel back to covenant faithfulness. However, their roles were limited and temporary, pointing forward to Jesus, the final and perfect mediator.
Unlike Moses and Elijah, Jesus mediates a new and eternal covenant through His own sacrifice (Hebrews 9:15). He not only delivers God’s message but becomes the means of reconciliation between God and humanity.
Biblical Connections:
1 Timothy 2:5: Jesus is the one mediator between God and humanity.
Hebrews 12:24: Jesus’ blood speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
Hebrews 3:3-6: Jesus is greater than Moses, for He is the Son who rules over God’s house.
The Fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets
On the Mount of Transfiguration, God’s voice does not give new laws or prophetic messages. Instead, it declares that Jesus is the one to whom we must listen. What was veiled on Mount Sinai and whispered on Mount Horeb is now fully revealed in Christ, the Word made flesh.
Thematic Connections and Fulfillment
The connections between Moses, Elijah, and Jesus reveal a continuous unfolding of God’s plan of redemption. On Mount Sinai, God reveals His Law through Moses, establishing His covenant and instructing His people on how to live holy lives. On Mount Horeb, Elijah encounters God in a whisper, teaching that God’s work often occurs quietly and through unexpected means. Finally, on the Mount of Transfiguration, the glory of God is fully revealed in Jesus, who fulfills and completes the work of both the Law and the Prophets.
Christ: The Mediator of the New Covenant
The significance of the Transfiguration lies not only in the dazzling display of glory but in what it reveals about Jesus’ role in God’s plan. Hebrews 3:3-6 explains that while Moses was faithful as a servant in God’s house, Jesus is greater because He is the Son who rules over God’s house. Similarly, while Elijah faithfully delivered God’s prophetic word, Jesus is the Word made flesh (John 1:14).
Where the Law and the Prophets could only point forward to salvation, Jesus accomplishes it. The cloud of glory that once surrounded Moses and Elijah now proclaims Jesus as the final mediator of the covenant, the one who bridges the gap between God and humanity.
One STORY
The experiences of Moses on Sinai, Elijah on Horeb, and Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration are not isolated events—they are threads in the same divine tapestry. The Law given to Moses, the prophetic call given to Elijah, and the glory revealed in Christ all serve one purpose: to point us to the Savior who fulfills them.
As believers, we are called to listen to Him. The voice from the cloud at the Transfiguration reminds us that while the Law and the Prophets are essential to understanding God’s character, it is through Jesus that we encounter God fully. He is the one who completes the story and brings us to the fullness of God’s glory.
The journey from Sinai to Horeb to the Mount of Transfiguration is a journey of promise, revelation, and fulfillment. And at the center of it all is Christ, the one in whom God’s glory is fully revealed.
