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and the : The First Attempt at Fulfilling the Abrahamic

1. A Nation of Size The tells the story of , , and ’s posterity–often called Israel, the children of Israel or I. The seed of Abraham become a nation: a people of the House of Israel–going to where they became a large size. people of size, were brought into bondage, and their redemption from bondage in preparation for their return to Recall that when Jehovah entered into the covenant He the promised land. made with Abraham, He told Abraham that his posterity When Jacob and his family came to Egypt, gave would a foreigner “in a lnad that is not theirs,” and that in that to him and his sons the land of Goshen–a in the land they would brought into bondage “four hundred years.” eastern portion of the Nile . They made Goshen the But the Lord promised Abraham that “in the fourth permanent place of residence for the next 400-plus years generation” he would bring them back again to the promised (Gen. 15:13-16; Ex. 12:40; Acts 7:6). During this time “the land” (Gen. 15:13-16) children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and Also Recall that when Jacob (Israel) was invited to move multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was to and live in Egypt (Gen. 45:16-25), the spoke to him “in the filled with them” (Ex. 1:7). visions of the ” and said: “fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation.” He was II. The Children of Israel are brought into bondage. also promised, “I will also surely bring thee up again” (Gen., Abraham’s posterity had now become a people of great size. 46:4). That was the good news. But there was also bad news. The

Egypt, Sinai, and the Promised Land from Space Egypt is on the left side of this picture with the Nile emptying into the . Goshen, where the children of Israel were held in bondage, was in the eastern region of the delta of the Nile River. The Sinai is the peninsula on the north end of the . The Promised Land is the green area along the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea to the north of Sinai. The nearest rout to the Promised Land from Goshen would have been to follow the coast line from Goshen to the Promised Land. However, the Lord lead Israel through the Red Sea into the Sinai Desert. In the desert was a mountain named Horeb–known as the mountain of . It is often called Mt. Sinai. It was to here that Moses was to lead the children of Israel (see Ex. 3:12; 19: 1-2) began to fear the size of the , yet, at the Jethro, the of and a descendent of Abraham same time, they saw Israel as a valuable commodity of through Keturah, Abraham’s third wife (Gen. 25:1-4). Jethro laborers who could build their cities. They forced them into gave to Moses one of his daughters to marry (Ex. 2:21). He bondage and to build “for Pharaoh treasure cities, also conferred upon Moses the Melchizedek priesthood and Raamses.” The account says that “their lives bitter with including the keys of the kingdom (D&C 84:6). hard bondage” (Ex. 1:8-14). III. Moses called to redeem Israel from bondage and III. The Children of Israel lose the fulness of the . bring them back to the promised land. Though we are not specifically told when or how, during Some forty years after fleeing Egypt and living with the their time in bondage, the children of Israel lose the fulness Midianites, the Lord called Moses as His servant, priesthood of the gospel administered by the “greater priesthood” which leader, to redeem Israel from bondage. This calling came holds the “key of the knowledge of God” (D&C 84:19). when he was shepherding his sheep near the base of a Though they were descendants of Israel they were no longer sacred mountain known as “the mountain of God” and called “the covenant people” of the Lord. They were hard in heart Horeb, often simply Mt. Sinai. While shepherding, the Lord and “a people that [did] err in their heart, and they [did] not called to Moses from a bush that appeared to be on fire but know my ways” (Ps. 95:6-11). They were like salt that has “was not consumed.” He told Moses, “Draw not nigh hither: lost its savor. The Lord has said: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou When men are called unto mine everlasting gospel, standest is holy ground.” Truly this was no ordinary mountain and covenant with an everlasting covenant, they are but the “mountain of God” or the Lord’s holy temple or accounted as the salt of the earth and the savor of men; dwelling place (Ex. 1:1-5). The Lord introduced himself to Moses, saying, “I am the They are called to be the savor of men; therefore, if God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, that salt of the earth lose its savor, behold, it is and the God of Jacob.” recalling the Abrahamic covenant. thenceforth good for nothing only to be cast out and He then told Moses that he was to return to Egypt and bring trodden under the feet of men. (D&C 101:39-40; emphasis the Israelites out of bondage and lead them to the very added) mountain Moses was standing upon (Ex. 3:6-12). Elder Carlos E.. Asay of the Seventy explained what it At the sacred mountain of Sinai, the children of Israel were means to “lost its savor”: to meet with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and sacrifice unto him, or in other words, they were to come to A world-renowned chemist told me that salt will not the temple and enter into a covenant with their God (Ex. lose its savor with age. Savor is lost through mixture 3:13-18). All this would be preparatory to the children of and contamination. Similarly, priesthood power does not Israel going to the promised land. dissipate with age; it, too, is lost through mixture and contamination.“ (Ensign, May 1980, p.42) 4. Israel Redeemed from Egyptian Bondage IV. God remember’s the covenant made with Abraham, I. Moses comes before Pharaoh who questions who Isaac, and Jacob. Jehovah is. The plagues were the Lord’s devise to teach The Lord was not going to allow this situation to continue. both Egypt and Israel who Jehovah is. The account reads: “God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon Moses returned from Sinai to the court oanf Pharaoh in the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them” (Ex. Egypt. To Pharaoh, Moses said, “Thus saith the Lord God 2:24-25). In other words, according to the promises made to of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob–that he would bless Abraham’s me in the wilderness” (Ex. 5:1). To no surprise, Pharaoh posterity with the gospel and a land where they could refused the request. Under the direction of God, Moses worship God (Abr. 2:6-11)–the Lord would now his hand levied a series of nine plagues upon Egypt (Ex. 7-9). to restore Israel to the knowledge of the gospel and to the It appears the plagues were intended to accomplish two promised land. To do this, a man with priesthood authority things: (1) to show to both Egypt and Israel that the of and keys whereby His government could be administered Egypt were false, and thus (2) to soften Pharaoh’s heart so was needed. that he would follow the only true and living God and allow the children of Israel leave Egypt. Each plague was designed to accomplish this by showing 3. Moses, the First Gatherer of Israel that the God of the had power over the various I. The early years of Moses elements that the Egyptians believed were controlled by their false gods. Through the progression of each plague, Egypt About 1300 B.C., the man ordained of God to restore the and Israel were shown that the god of Israel was not limited gospel to Israel and free them from bondage was born. His in power but in fact the god over all the earth. name was Moses. Bruce R. McConkie (1915-85) of the Pharaoh refused to be impressed by these events but Quorum of the Twelve Apostles stated that, “Moses, the man hardened his heart not allowing Israel to leave Egypt (JST of God, continued the work of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in Ex. 9:12; 10:1, 20, 27; 11:10). The Lord then sent a tenth standing as a father and friend and founder of the family of and final plague upon all Egypt. This was the plague of the Israel.” (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith [1985], p. 522) death of the first born (Ex. 11). Moses was born a Hebrew but raised an Egyptian in Pharaoh’s court. We are told in the by II.The tenth plague, the death of the firstborn, would free Stephen that he “was learned in all the wisdom of the Israel from bondage. The plague would not only effect Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds” (Acts Egyptians but also the Israelites. They could escape it if 7:22). When he was forty, Moses killed an Egyptian who was they participated in a special feast that has become “smiting an Hebrew” slave. When this was found out, Moses known as the Feast of Passover followed by a seven day fled Egypt for his life. He went to the land of Midian near the feast called Unleavened Bread. They eventually become Sinai wilderness (Ex. 2:11-15). While there he lived with one Feast. speak the mind and will of Christ whose words will lead us to The Israelites were taught that in order to avoid this exaltation. plague, they were to participate in the ordinance of the As Israel was led through the Red Sea to be saved from the Passover (Ex. 11-12). This was a special dinner which destruction of the Egyptians, we must all be baptized to be involved the eating of a roasted lamb with unleavened saved from the eternal consequences of our sins. (In 1 Cor. bread and bitter herbs. After the “destroying ” (D&C 10:1-2, Paul tells us that the crossing of the Red Sea was 89:21) went throughout Egypt killing the firstborn of every symbolic of baptism. Further, note that the parting of the Red man and animal, Pharaoh relented and allowed the children Sea is similar to the ritual of the cutting of the covenant in of Israel to be released from bondage. Then God, Genesis 15 where the animals were cut in half and the one represented by a pillar of fire and smoke, led the children of making the covenant walked between the severed pieces.) Israel out of Egypt (Ex. 13:20-22). As Israel was fed bread and from instead of To learn more of the Feast of the Passover and its given the food of this world, so we must live the ways of God symbolic meanings, see-- instead of the ways of the world. Finally, as we will now see, • “Feasts” in the LDS Dictionary. as Israel was brought to Mt. Sinai to enter into covenants with • “The Passover Supper,” Ensign, Apr. 2014 God before entering into the promised land, so we must be • John P. Pratt, “Passover: Was It Symbolic of His Coming?” brought to the temple to enter into covenants with God that will Ensign, Jan. 1994, pp. 38–45 prepare us to enter into the celestial king. • Terry W. Treseder, “Passover Promises Fulfilled in the Last Supper,” Ensign, Apr. 1990, pp. 18–23. • Lenet H. Read, “Symbols of the Harvest: Holy 5. The Gathering of Israel to Their God Days and the Lord’s Ministry,” Ensign, Jan. 1975. I. Israel to become “An Holy Nation” III. Upon the death of the firstborn, Pharaoh commanded In the third month of their journey from Egypt, the children the Israelites to leave Egypt. The Lord directed them of Israel arrived at the base of Mt. Sinai where they “camped through a pillar of fire and by the way of the Red Sea before the mount” (Ex. 19:1). Their stay lasted for eleven (Heb. reed sea). months. The scriptural account tells us that God did not lead the Coming out of Egypt, Israel was now a people of size. Israelites out of Egypt by way of the nearest or quickest They now needed to become a “covenant people.” It was the route which was “through the way of the land of the Lord’s intent to establish the descendants of Abraham as a ,” but instead “God led the people about, through unified people with one God and one religion. To the the way of the wilderness of the Red sea.” As they left, Israelites, the Lord said: “Now therefore, if ye will obey my “Moses took the bones of with him” as he “straitly voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a sworn the children of Israel” to do. (Ex. 13:17-19). peculiar [Heb., valued property] treasure unto me above all Pharaoh had a change of hear after releasing Israel from people . . . and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of , bondage and led his army to recapture the Israelites. With and an holy nation” (Ex. 19:5-6). Pharaoh’s army to their back and the Red Sea to their front, It was also the Lord’s design to get the Israelites ready to Israel was hemmed in. Seeing there was no apparent way “behold the face of God” or bring them into his presence to escape the Egyptians, the children of Israel complained to (D&C 84:23). Moses regarding their plight. To this, Moses said, “stand still, and see the salvation of II. The Preparatory and Higher Gospel the Lord.” Upon that, the Lord parted the Red Sea and [The following is a repetition of what you should have caused the children of Israel to pass through on dry ground. learned earlier in the course; but like Moroni teaching However, when the Egyptians tried to pass through the Red Sea, the Lord caused the to return, thus destroying Joseph Smith, it will be repeated.] army (Ex. 14:5-31). In order to be prepared to enter into the presence of God Once through the Red Sea, Moses and the children of and receive all the blessings he had in store for them, Israel Israel were in the barren desert of the where would have to enter into and keep all the ordinances of both both food and water were scarce. As the Israelites journeyed the lower and higher or everlasting gospel. to Mt. Sinai, they hungered for food and water. The children The lower gospel is known as the preparatory gospel and of Israel murmured to Moses saying that it would have been consists of “the gospel of repentance and of baptism, and better to have remained in Egypt where at least they had the remission of sins, and the law of carnal commandments food and water. In consequence of their grumbling the Lord [such as the ten commandments]” (D&C 84:26-27). Or in provided bread from heaven (manna) on a daily basis (Ex. other words, it is the first principles and ordinances of the 16) and on one occasion he had Moses heal bitter water (Ex. gospel (A of F 4). The preparatory gospel is entered into by 15:23-26) and on another occasion he supplied water from covenant of baptism. Upon entrance into the preparatory a rock (Ex. 17). Thus, after leaving Egypt the children of gospel, the initiate has entered into the “strait and narrow Israel lived off the sustenance of the Lord. path” that leads to eternal life. Once on the strait and narrow path, one must enter into IV. story a type and shadow of the Plan of the ordinances of the higher gospel before being qualified to Redemption come into the presence of God and live. The higher gospel The Exodus story has become a type and shadow of what is variously called the “the everlasting covenant of the holy man must do to escape the bondage of this world that comes priesthood” (JST Deut. 10:2) or the “holy order, and the because of sin so that he might enter into the promised land of ordinances thereof” (JST Ex. 34:1; see also Alma 13 and the celestial kingdom. Moses 6:67). Just as the first step of Israel’s escape from bondage was We have observed in the time of (see Moses 6: 64- the death of the firstborn, so the first step of our deliverance 68) that the holy order consists of the ordinances of the from sin is the death of Christ. As Israel followed Moses to the Melchizedek Priesthood. Recall that President Taft promised land, so we must exercise faith in living prophets who Benson stated: “To enter into the order of the Son of God is the equivalent today of entering into the fulness of the While on the mount, Moses not only received the tables of Melchizedek Priesthood, which is only received in the house stone upon which the fullness of the gospel was written but of the Lord.” (“What I Hope You Will Teach Your Children About the he also received detailed instructions concerning the building Temple,” Ensign, Aug. 1985, p. 43) It is only by active participation of a portable temple commonly called the in these ordinances that men and women can prepare wherein the ordinances of both the preparatory gospel and themselves to enter into God’s presence (see D&C 84:19- the higher law could be performed (Ex. 25-31). 22). One of the Hebrew names of the Tabernacle is ohel mo’ed, which is best translated “tent of meeting.” This is an III. Israel Enters into the preparatory gospel appropriate name for this structure because the Tabernacle The first step in becoming “an holy nation” (or was the place where the Israelites were to prepare to meet society) worthy of entering the presence of God was for the God and live in his presence. children of Israel to enter into the preparatory gospel by The Tabernacle consisted of a large rectangular courtyard covenant. Exodus 19-24 gives an account of the children of within which was placed the sanctuary. Entrance into the Israel entering into the preparatory gospel by covenant. courtyard was through a single gate which located on the To prepare for the covenant, the children of Israel were eastern side. The sanctuary was found on the western end. sanctified and their clothes were washed (Ex. 19:10-11). The Between the gate and the sanctuary there was an altar mountain was also prepared by establishing a border around for sacrifice and a laver (a large metal bowl full of water) for the base between the people and the mountain with the ritual washings. This is where the ordinances associated injunction that no one was to touch the border or pass with the preparatory gospel (or Aaronic Priesthood) would be beyond it lest they should be put to death (Ex. 19:12-13). performed. Beyond the laver was the sanctuary or On the third day, the Lord descended on top of the temple. The sanctuary was divided into two rooms. The mountain, his divine presence being represented by “fire and foreroom was called the holy place while the back room was smoke”(Ex. 19:16-25). In the hearing of the Israelites, the known as the most holy place or the holy of holies. In the Lord gave to Moses the 10 commandments (or “carnal holy place there was a seven-branched candelabrum, a table commandments”) as part of the preparatory gospel (Ex. 20; with twelve loaves of bread placed thereon, and an altar of Deut. 5). incense. The altar of incense was placed immediately Exodus 24 records the ritual the Israelites participated in before a veil which separated the holy place from the most when they entered into the covenant where they promised to holy place. The furnishings of the holy place were obey the 10 commandments. After reducing the covenant associated with the ordinances of the higher gospel (or into writing, Moses built an altar at the base of the mountain Melchizedek Priesthood). and placed twelve stones representing the twelve tribes of The holy of holies was the most sacred room in the Israel around the altar. Tabernacle. In it was placed an ark known as the Ark of the Moses then read to the children of Israel the terms of the Covenant. The represented the throne covenant. In response, the Israelites said, “All that the Lord of God. hath said will we do, and be obedient.” It appears from D&C 84:19-24, that the Lord initially Then Moses sprinkled the blood of sacrificed animals on intended that the children of Israel would pass through the the altar (representing God) and the children of Israel (most ordinances of both the preparatory gospel (performed in the likely the twelve stones) suggesting the retributive of courtyard) and higher gospel (performed in the holy place) the covenant (the same as when the Lord passed between thus qualifying them to come into his presence symbolized the pieces of the severed animals in Gen. 15). That is, if the by the passing through the veil into the most holy place children of Israel broke their covenant they would suffer (where God’s presence was represented by the Ark of the death even as the sacrifices from whom the blood had come. Covenant). However, as we will now see, Israel lost their Moses referred to this as the “blood covenant” in these right to the Melchizedek priesthood portion of the temple. terms: “Behold the blood of the covenant which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words” (Ex. 24:8). V. Israel’s rebells and break their covenant with God (These words were used similarly by the Savior when During the 40 days Moses was on the mount, the children introducing the sacrament of the new covenant in Matt. of Israel turned back to Egyptian idolatry. They fashioned a 26:28.) and participated in the fertility cult worship with its immorality (Ex. 32:1-6). IV. Moses receives the higher law In so doing, they violated many of the ten commandments After entering by covenant into the preparatory gospel, the they had covenanted with the Lord that they would obey. next step for Israel to become “an holy nation” involved Hence, the covenant was broken, forcing God into the entering into higher covenants or ordinances of the position of executing the demands of the broken covenant: Melchizedek Priesthood. In preparation for this, the Lord Israel must be destroyed! informed Moses that he was to once again come to the At the moment God was going to satisfy justice, Moses mountain where he would receive tables of stone upon which interceded in behalf of his people, reminding God of the these higher ordinances and laws would be written (Ex. covenant he made with Abraham, saying, “Remember 24:12). Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou For forty days and , Moses was in the presence of swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will God upon the mountain. Against common belief, this is the multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land first time Moses was on the mountain for 40 days and nights. that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they During this time, Moses received the higher law. Then the shall inherit it for ever” (Ex. 32:13). In response, the Lord details of both the preparatory and higher gospel were said: “If they will repent of the evil which they have done, I written on the tables of stone “with the finger of God” (Ex. will spare them, and turn away my fierce wrath; but, behold, 31:18). thou shalt execute judgment upon all that will not repent of this evil this day” (JST Ex. 32:14). The Tabernacle–A Portable Temple We find within this story Moses as a type of Christ wherein he demonstrates the mediatorial role of Christ. Further, this Tabernacle was nevertheless necessary. story illustrates the powerful role of the Abrahamic covenant The reason was this: the altar of sacrifice and laver in the salvation of Israel. located in the outer courtyard, which were essential in When Moses came off the mount he found the children of performing the ordinances associated with the preparatory Israel participating in the fertility cult worship. He threw down gospel, would naturally play an essential part in the the tables of stone breaking them as a sign of the broken performances and ordinances of the law of Moses. Further, covenant and the loss of the higher law they would have the fact that the common Israelite was cut off from the received (Ex. 32:19). He then stood outside of the camp and sanctuary should have been a constant reminder that higher cried, “Who is on the LORD’s side?”(Ex. 32:26). Those laws and ordinances were necessary in order for man to repenting of their actions came to where Moses was come back into the presence of God. The law of Moses did standing while the rest were executed by the tribe of Levi not provide those ordinances and laws. These must come (Ex. 32:27-29). at a future time. How much of this the children of Israel understood is not VI. Law of Moses given in place of the higher law known. Nevertheless the building of the Tabernacle was Moses returned to Mt. Sinai once again for another forty important to them in order to live the law of Moses. days and forty nights (Ex. 34:28). During this time he Consequently, after the children of Israel entered into the received divine assurance that the Lord would once again covenant of the law of Moses, “they came, every one whose own his people and bring them to the promised land (Ex. heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made 32:31-33:23). willing” and brought all the offerings necessary for the The Lord then commanded Moses to “hew two other construction of the Tabernacle (Ex.35:21). The Tabernacle tables of stone” whereon the terms and conditions of a new was then constructed. covenant were written. This included everything that was After its completion, the cloud of smoke and fire (which led written on the first set of tables “save the words of the the children of Israel out of Egypt and which rested upon Mt. everlasting covenant of the holy priesthood” or the higher Sinai) descended upon the portable temple indicating God’s ordinances of the temple (JST Deut. 10:2; see also JST Ex. acceptance (Ex. 40:34-38). Further, the Tabernacle would 34:1-2 and D&C 84:23-27). In other words, the higher be the residence of Jehovah and no longer Mt. Sinai. gospel or Melchizedek Priesthood order was removed thus Wherever Israel went, their God would be with them. denying the children of Israel the ordinances that would However, Israel would never be able to behold God’s enable them to come into the presence of the Lord. presence for they remained cut off from the presence of Brigham Young said of this: “If they had been sanctified God. This was dramatically symbolized by the veil that and holy, the children of Israel would not have travelled one separated the holy place from the most holy place for year with Moses before they would have received their according to the law of Moses the common Israelite could endowments and the Melchizedek Priesthood. But they not pass through the veil into the most holy place could not receive them, and never did. Moses left them, and they did not receive the fulness of that Priesthood.” (Journal of Discourses, 6:100-10) In place of the higher gospel, Moses received what became known as the “law of Moses” (much of which is found in the Books of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). The prophet Abinadi said that the law of Moses was “a law of performances and ordinances, a law which they [Israel] were to observe strictly from day to day, to keep them in remembrance of God and their duty towards him” (Mosiah 13:30). The Apostle Paul taught that the law was intended to be a “schoolmaster” that would “bring [Israel] unto Christ” and the higher law (Galatians 3:24). Essentially, the law of Moses was a set of laws that were given to the Israelites that might be thought of as object lessons that illustrated the importance of the preparatory gospel and explain how it functioned. Hence, the preparatory gospel was the focus of the law of Moses. This law was not only to be the religious code of the Israelites but also their civil code. After returning from the mount with the new set of stone tablets, Moses explained the new law and covenant to the children of Israel (Ex. 34:29-35:19). Then the children of Israel entered into a covenant to keep the law of Moses (Ex. 34:27-28). This covenant replaced the covenant the children of Israel had made in Exodus 24.

VII. The Construction of the Tabernacle Though the higher ordinances of the Melchizedek priesthood (those which would have been performed in the sanctuary or temple) were excluded from the law of Moses, thus essentially cutting the people off from the sanctuary or presence of the Lord, the building of the portable temple or