Messiah: God preserved the population of Israel. After an entire generation of men died in the wilderness, the total number at the second census was nearly the same.[1] Moreover, the LORD prepared them for their possession of Canaan. He gave them an army (with a victory to boot!) for the conquest. Additionally, He showed them what to do in the future for their land allotment, Levitical cities (including the cities of refuge), offerings at their appointed times, and laws for vows made by women while the men were fighting in Canaan. God did this not merely for the benefit of that generation, but also for the greater purpose of sending the Messiah, the seed of the woman (Gen. 3:15), the seed of Abraham (Gen. 22:18), the seed in whom all the nations will find the blessing of salvation.[2] God orchestrated all things to make Christ come from the people of Israel and from their land, even from Bethlehem of Judah (Micah 5:2).
Mediator: Throughout their years in the wilderness, Moses prayed for Israel and that with faithfulness (12:7). Twice he offered to give up his own good for the sake of the people (14:12; Ex. 32:10). When they were under the judgment of God, he earnestly prayed for deliverance (11:2; 12:13; 14:12, 19; Ex. 32:11). Moses was a mediator of sorts for them, but he wasn’t their savior, for he dis-honored the LORD at Meribah and perished in the wilderness along with his own generation (Dt. 32:50-51). Unlike Jesus (Heb. 7:26), Moses was a sinner in need of the Savior himself. His intercession for the people was a dim reflect-ion of the true mediatorial works of Christ (Heb. 3:5-6). Jesus is the greater Moses, the true Savior and “mediator between God and men” (1 Tim. 2:5-6).