The faith of the disciples was greatly strengthened at the transfiguration,
when they were permitted to behold Christ's glory and to hear
the voice from heaven testifying to His divine character. God
chose to give the followers of Jesus strong proof that He was
the promised Messiah, that in their bitter sorrow and disappointment
at His crucifixion, they would not entirely cast away their confidence.
At the transfiguration the Lord sent Moses and Elijah to talk
with Jesus concerning His sufferings and death. Instead of choosing
angels to converse with His Son, God chose those who had themselves
experienced the trials of earth.
Elijah had walked with God. His work had been painful and trying,
for the Lord through him had reproved the sins of Israel. Elijah
was a prophet of God; yet he was compelled to flee from place
to place to save his life. His own nation hunted him like a wild
beast that they might destroy him. But God translated Elijah.
Angels bore him in glory and triumph to heaven.
Moses was greater than any who had lived before him. He had been
highly honored of God, being privileged to talk with the Lord
face to face, as a man speaks with a friend. He was permitted
to see the bright light and excellent glory that enshrouded the
Father. The Lord through Moses delivered the children of Israel
from Egyptian bondage. Moses was a mediator for his people, often
standing between them and the wrath of God. When the anger of
the Lord was greatly kindled against Israel for their unbelief,
their murmurings, and their grievous sins, Moses' love for them
was tested. God proposed to destroy them and to make of him a
mighty nation. Moses showed his love for Israel by his earnest
pleading in their behalf. In his distress he prayed God to turn
from His fierce anger and forgive Israel, or blot his name out
of His book.
When Israel murmured against God and against Moses because they
could get no water, they accused him of leading them out to kill
them and their children. God heard their murmurings and bade Moses
speak to the rock, that the people might have water. Moses smote
the rock in wrath and took the glory to himself. The continual
waywardness and murmuring of the children of Israel had caused
him the keenest sorrow, and for a little time he forgot how much
the Lord had borne with them, and that their murmuring was not
against him, but against God. He thought only of himself, how
deeply he was wronged, and how little gratitude they manifested
in return for his deep love for them.
It was God's plan to bring often His people into strait places,
and then in their necessity to deliver them by His power, that
they might realize His love and care for them, and thus be led
to serve and honor Him. But Moses had failed to honor God and
magnify His name before the people that they might glorify Him.
In this he brought upon himself the Lord's displeasure.
When Moses came down from the mount with the two tables of stone
and saw Israel worshiping the golden calf, his anger was greatly
kindled, and he threw down the tables of stone and broke them.
I saw that Moses did not sin in this. He was wroth for God, jealous
for His glory. But when he yielded to the natural feelings of
his heart and took to himself the honor which was due to God,
he sinned, and for that sin God would not suffer him to enter
the land of Canaan.
Satan had been trying to find something wherewith to accuse Moses
before the angels. He exulted at his success in leading him to
displease God, and he told the angels that he could overcome the
Saviour of the world when He should come to redeem man. For his
transgression, Moses came under the power of Satan-- the dominion
of death. Had he remained steadfast, the Lord would have brought
him to the Promised Land, and would then have translated him to
heaven without his seeing death.
Moses passed through death, but Michael came down and gave him
life before his body had seen corruption. Satan tried to hold
the body, claiming it as his; but Michael resurrected Moses and
took him to heaven. Satan railed bitterly against God, denouncing
Him as unjust in permitting his prey to be taken from him; but
Christ did not rebuke His adversary, though it was through his
temptation that the servant of God had fallen. He meekly referred
him to His Father, saying, "The Lord rebuke thee."
Jesus had told His disciples that there were some standing with
Him who should not taste of death till they should see the kingdom
of God come with power. At the transfiguration this promise was
fulfilled. The countenance of Jesus was there changed and shone
like the sun. His raiment was white and glistening. Moses was
present to represent those who will be raised from the dead at
the second appearing of Jesus. And Elijah, who was translated
without seeing death, represented those who will be changed to
immortality at Christ's second coming and will be translated to
heaven without seeing death. The disciples beheld with astonishment
and fear the excellent majesty of Jesus and the cloud that overshadowed
them, and heard the voice of God in terrible majesty, saying,
"This is My beloved Son; hear Him."