Experiencing God's Presence #99

He is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises.

Hebrews 8:6

Think of all the promises God gave to Moses and the Israelites: that He was leading them to a land of promise, that His Presence would go with them, that they would be blessed if they followed His will and obeyed His laws, that they would be victorious against their enemies and fruitful in their labor, and on and on. These promises were often conditional on their obedience, but they were extravagant nonetheless. And we have seen the mind-boggling ways Moses and those around him experienced God’s Presence. God was doing a truly remarkable thing among His people.

Yet the writer of Hebrews twice—in 7:22 and here in 8:6—refers to our covenant in Jesus as a “better covenant.” It’s based on better promises. The God who cannot lie and who does not change His mind somehow fulfilled His covenant with Moses in the work of Christ, and He has grafted us into all the blessings His Son will receive. We receive a standing of righteousness, an inheritance of glory, free access to the throne room of God, and all the qualities of life our Savior secured for us and experiences Himself. It is truly an exchanged life; He took our death upon Himself and gave us His life in all its fullness. That’s a better covenant.

It’s amazing to consider that Moses’ closeness to God and face-to-face encounters with His Presence have been surpassed by a better covenant with better promises. Yet that’s what Scripture declares. We look at Moses and marvel, but God has offered us more. Jesus did not come simply to turn us back to the law; He came to put God’s own Spirit and righteousness and desires and dreams within us. We dare not neglect what He has made available.

Lord, Moses experienced You in unimaginable ways, but You offer us an even deeper relationship with You. Let me experience more than Your written words; I want every benefit of the better covenant.

From the book