Between Babel and Beast
(America and Empires in Biblical Perspective)

The Glory of Kings: A Festschrift for James B. Jordan

Fyodor Dostoevsky
(Christian Encounters Series)

Athanasius
(Foundations of Theological Exegesis and Christian Spirituality)

The Four: A Survey of the Gospels

Defending Constantine: The Twilight of an Empire and the Dawn of Christendom

From Behind the Veil: The Epistles of John

Deep Exegesis:The Mystery of Reading Scripture

1 & 2 Kings
Brazos Theological Commentary

The Promise Of His Appearing: An Exposition Of Second Peter

A Great Mystery: Fourteen Wedding Sermons

Deep Comedy: Trinity, Tragedy, And Hope In Western Literature

Miniatures & Morals: The Christian Novels of Jane Austen

The Priesthood of the Plebs: A Theology of Baptism

A Son To Me: An Exposition of 1 & 2 Samuel

From Silence to Song: The Davidic Liturgical Revolution

Ascent to Love: A Guide to Dante's Divine Comedy

Blessed Are the Hungry: Meditations on the Lord's Supper

A House For My Name: A Survey of the Old Testament

Heroes of the City of Man: A Christian Guide to Select Ancient Literature

Brightest Heaven of Invention: A Christian Guide To Six Shakespeare Plays

Wise Words: Family Stories That Bring the Proverbs to Life

The Kingdom and the Power: Rediscovering the Centrality of the Church
Exodus 33:13: Moses said, Consider too that this nation is Your people.
When Israel breaks covenant by making and worshiping a golden calf, Yahweh is ready to start over. He warns Moses to stand aside, and at the same time promises to make Moses a new Abraham, the father of a new Israel (Exodus 32:10). Israel has no future; but Moses does.
In all that follows, Moses consistently rejects this proposal and reminds Yahweh that, stubborn and stiff-necked as they are, Israel is Yahweh’s people. Don’t let Your anger burn against Your people. Change Your mind about doing harm to Your people. Consider that this nation is Your people.
Moses is a type of Jesus: He is a teacher, a prophet, the one who leads from slavery. But Moses is most Christlike here, speaking face to face with Yahweh in the tent, pleading for Israel’s future. Like Jesus, Moses wants no future for himself at all unless it is a future with the people of God. And Yahweh agrees.
Jesus reveals the will of the Father in just this way. Jesus wants you as His table companion, and He’d rather die than abandon you. No matter what it takes, Jesus and His Father want a future with you, reclining with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, breaking bread in His kingdom.
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Sunday, September 2, 2012 at 7:20 am
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