Don’t you love the part in a book or a movie when something happens and you just know it’s pointing to something else that’s going to happen in the future?
That’s called “foreshadowing.”
“Foreshadowing is used in written art and film to give hints about things to come in later plot developments. It can be very broad and easily understood, or it may be complex use of symbols, that are then connected to later turns in the plot.” (From wisegeek.com)
Today’s “Bible Pick ‘Ems” is an example of Biblical foreshadowing.
It is about one year after the Israelites had departed from Egypt. They are camped out near Mount Sinai. Here they have received all the laws and regulations recorded in the book of Leviticus, and they are ready to go possess the Promised Land.
Now the LORD gives them specific directions for their lifestyle in the new land. His instructions are very precise, very detailed, as He begins to form the nation of His chosen people.
In Numbers, Chapter 3, God lays out His instructions for the Levites, the Israelites appointed for service in the Tabernacle and to minister to all the people.
And here’s the “foreshadowing” –
“And the LORD said to Moses, ‘Look, I have chosen the Levites from among the Israelites to serve as substitutes for all the firstborn sons of the people of Israel. The Levites belong to me, for all the firstborn males are mine.”
(Numbers 3:11-12)
YES, we know what’s coming, don’t we?!
We have the advantage of living on “this side” of Christ. We can see what God had planned all along. We know that many of His instructions to the Israelites were “foreshadowing” the Master Plan of Christ’s death on the cross.
There is quite a difference between the priesthood in the Old Testament, and the priesthood of Christ in the New Testament. However, the whole idea of “substitution” was a recurring theme in the old covenant.
God completed and fulfilled the “sacrificial system” when He sent His Son, Jesus, to die “in our place.” He became the ultimate substitute for us – our “once and for all” sacrifice. He is our High Priest, our intermediary with God – the One who died in our place.
Now all believers can come into God’s presence without fear.
Some may think that portions of the Old Testament are boring or dry. But make it a point to look for all the “foreshadowing” that’s there.
Everything points to Jesus – before He appeared on earth, while He was here...
...and to His future return to claim His Lordship over all!
“When in doubt, search God out!”
