One of our favorite songs to sing in worship in recent months is “Christ the True and Better.” In this piece, we see that Christ is the true and better Adam, Isaac, Moses, and David. As the second Adam, Jesus lived the perfection that Adam failed to achieve and thus brings salvation to his people. As the true and better Isaac, Jesus offered up his life as a sacrifice to save ours. As the true and better Moses, Christ leads his people home by himself parting the waters of judgment. And as the true and better David, Christ is the promised King of all kings who will be enthroned eternally over the entire universe.
This song came to my mind as I read through a section of Numbers that is often quite easy to skip over.
Numbers 34:1-2 – 1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Command the people of Israel, and say to them, When you enter the land of Canaan (this is the land that shall fall to you for an inheritance, the land of Canaan as defined by its borders),
For many of us who are not map enthusiasts, a description of the borders of the land of Israel, however that land is allotted, is just not that interesting. But a thought grabbed my mind this time through. Are we seeing what could be another verse to “Christ the True and Better?” Israel had borders, simple and clearly defined borders, limits to the reach of the nation.
Isaiah 9:7
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Isaiah 45:21–23
21 Declare and present your case;
let them take counsel together!
Who told this long ago?
Who declared it of old?
Was it not I, the Lord?
And there is no other god besides me,
a righteous God and a Savior;
there is none besides me.
22 “Turn to me and be saved,
all the ends of the earth!
For I am God, and there is no other.
23 By myself I have sworn;
from my mouth has gone out in righteousness
a word that shall not return:
‘To me every knee shall bow,
every tongue shall swear allegiance.’
Matthew 28:18–20
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Philippians 2:9–11
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
While god gave Israel defined borders, distinct places where the authority and power of the nation would stop, he promised Israel a King who is far greater than those borders. Isaiah 9 tells us of this King over Israel, the King on David’s throne, who would have no end to the increase of his kingdom. Isaiah 45 shows us the kingdom reaching the ends of the earth. In Matthew 28:18-20, the Great Commission, Jesus claimed to have authority over all the heavens and the earth. And In Philippians 2:9-11, the Lord declares that Jesus has the name above all names, the name before which every knee will bow, the name worshipped by all peoples everywhere just as Isaiah 45 predicted.
Israel would have a land, borders, and even kings like David. Christ rules a kingdom just as David ruled the kingdom, but unlike David, there are no longer any boundaries or borders. There is no authority to oppose our King. Christ, fulfilling God’s promises, with no borders, including all people groups in his grace, is the true and better King over the true and better nation.
Pastor Travis Peterson 