Symbolism of the Church from the Old Testament 6-12-25

Jethro’s advice to Moses Exodus, chapter 18

Jethro told Moses is symbolic of men doing things their way, even though they think it is the right thing to do. Both you and those people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out. For this thing is too much for you; you are not able to perform it by yourself.  Listen now to my voice; I will give you counsel, and God will be with you: Stand before God for the people, so that you may bring the difficulties to God.  

And you should teach them the statutes and the laws and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do.  Moreover, you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. 

And let them judge people at all times. Then it will be that every great matter they shall bring to you, but every small matter they themselves shall judge. So, it will be easier for you, for they will bear the burden with you (Exodus 18:18-22).

The truth is, it won’t work or have good success unless it is done the way God ordained it to be. This command had to come from God first, especially when everything started with Him. God spoke directly to His prophet, Moses. That principle has always been. So, the LORD spoke to Moses face to face (Exodus 33:11a). God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds (Hebrews 11:1a-2).

This does not mean that there are no other prophets today, which have more than one aspect- the people of God are the new testament prophets who proclaim the Word of God, and the five ministry gift (office) of the church.

GOD spoke to Moses (Numbers, chapter 11)

So, the Lord said to Moses: “Gather to Me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the tabernacle of meeting, that they may stand there with you. Then I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone (Numbers 11:16-17).

Principle- that was symbolic of how God wanted His church structured, if that changed, why didn’t the foreshadowing, types, and Jesus change. In this  instances the Old Testament was a foreshadowing of the church which comes to choosing leaders.

Notice that Moses was instructed to choose seventy elders, which was also symbolic (foreshadowing- something to take place in the future) of Jesus sending out seventy for the work of the ministry (Luke 10:1). This also indicates that Jesus shared His ministry with the disciples; they were fellow laborers (1 Corinthians 3:9).

Hopefully when I get to Biblical guidelines for God’s people, the readers will be able to connect the Old and New Testaments when it comes for foreshadowing of things to come and types and figures. For instance, Moses was a type of Christ- he set the people free form being in slavery in Egypt.  

For Moses said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things; whatever He says to you.  And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people (Deuteronomy 18:15-19, Acts 3:22-23). The Prophet was Jesus Christ who fulfilled all things, and He left us here to fulfill God’s purpose for the church.

Leaders, brothers and sisters, it is time for order in God’s house; those who are truly called by God.

I don't know about you, but I am determined to follow Jesus!

His handmaiden, Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org