The Big Mac (which is what I’m going to call Dave McDougall today) made a really interesting link that I’d never noticed today.
We’re doing a series on prayer at the moment (I’m preaching on the Lord’s Prayer next Sunday) and today was on the subject of God saying “no” to our prayers.
God said “no” to Moses when he prayed to be allowed to set foot in the Promised Land in Deuteronomy 3. I always felt a bit sorry for Moses. He worked pretty hard at trying to keep an unwieldy people in line. And I felt vicariously ripped off for him that he had to miss out on the fulfillment of the promise he worked so hard to deliver.
I’ve also always struggled to figure out the significance of his presence at the transfiguration (Matthew 17). He, like Elijah, is a pretty significant Old Testament player. And I thought that could be it. This is where the Big Mac came to the fore this morning. At the transfiguration Moses is present both in the Promised Land and with the fulfillment of all Old Testament prophecy. Which is pretty special — and now I don’t feel sorry on his behalf at all.
Nathan runs St Eutychus. He is currently a student at the Queensland Theological College. In a previous professional life he worked in public relations for an economic development and tourism marketing organisation. He is married to Robyn. He likes coffee and the internet.Read Nathan's
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I read recently a suggestion that the visitation is symbolic of Jesus fulfilling the law and the prophets (which I think had just been talked about directly before the transfiguration account).
Moses = Law
Elijah = Prophets
Jesus has a chat with them, then he is left alone — an indicator that they have been superseded/fulfilled.
It sounded pretty reasonable to me when I heard it.