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Dec 27, 2025 06:00am

Moses Was Faithful, But Jesus Is Better

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Recently, I started a study on Hebrews. The book centers around the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ.

The author builds his argument by placing Jesus side by side with several different people and things, and then demonstrating how Jesus is either their fulfillment or superior to them.

Over the past week, I’ve spent time in chapter three. The header in my Bible reads: Jesus Greater Than Moses.

As a Gentile Christian in 2025, I can easily affirm this statement.

However, when studying the Word, I must remember what a good friend of mine often says: “The Bible was written for us, but it was not written to us.”

The author, divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit, writes to a group of formerly religious Jews who had become Christian converts seeking to follow Jesus as the Way.

The weight of the argument becomes clearer when I consider the book’s original audience.

To them, Moses was…

Deliverer — the one who brought their ancestors out of slavery in Egypt.
Intercessor — the one God appointed to plead for the people during the Exodus.
Lawgiver — the writer of the first five books of the Law, given directly by God.
Leader — the one chosen to guide Israel as God’s set-apart people.

As far as leaders go, Moses was the example for the Israelites.

With these truths in mind, it becomes clear why this comparison needed to be addressed as formerly Jewish, now Christian converts sought to follow after Jesus, the Way. It’s also clear why this argument may have felt offensive to its original hearers.

The author drives home the point in Hebrews 3:5–6 when he concludes that Moses was faithful over God’s house as a servant, while Jesus, the builder of the house, is faithful as the Son.

The Bible study I’m doing comes with weekly video teachings.

In the video on this passage, Jen Wilkin boldly stated, “Biblically, leaders are to be held to a higher standard—but they’re not Christ. We have to stop expecting them to be Christ and allow them to be human, because the Lord does.”

Ouch.

This is where I realized this passage was written for me—for my instruction.

How often, when hearing of a biblical leader sinning, have I reacted with offense or harsh judgment?

It still amazes me that Moses disobeyed God by striking the rock instead of speaking to it, resulting in his inability to enter the Promised Land.

Jesus, as God’s perfect Son, was obedient to the point of death. Moses was obedient until his frustration overcame him.

It’s important we remember that people—including godly leaders—will always fail because they are sinners saved and being perfected daily by grace.

Jesus is the substance.

If we make anyone but Christ the substance of our faith, we will fall short in becoming holy as God is holy and will be tempted to fall when our earthly leaders do.

As I thought and prayed more about what Jen said, conviction came.

Not only do I expect Christlikeness from godly leaders, but I often expect it from those dearest to me.

Recently, I’ve been in a lonely season. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had thoughts like, “I really wish so-and-so were here or would call right now. Don’t they know I’m struggling?”

As I prayed and opened this up before God, the Holy Spirit brought to mind Psalm 46:1: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

He used this verse to remind me that He is always present as Helper, Comforter, and the One who meets the needs of my soul.

He also used it to convict me of the expectation I place on those who love me to be not only present—but ever-present.

A role they cannot fill for me.
A role I cannot fill for them.
A role only God can fill because He alone is an ever-present help.

The latter part of my thought—“Don’t they know I’m struggling?”—reveals another impossible standard: the expectation that those dear to me be all-knowing.

Only God is all-knowing.

I know this to be true. Yet in moments of pain, how quickly I forget.

When it comes to my husband or a close friend, I often think, “They know me so well—they should just know what I need without me even having to say it.”

But if the expectation is that they are all-knowing, I will continually drift further from grace when they offer support, because I’ll become frustrated by their limited knowledge and limited ability to meet my needs.

God is infinite, limitless, endless.

Those who love me are finite and limited—limited in knowledge, limited by time, and limited in their ability to meet my needs.

And when it comes to me supporting those I love, I want to be treated with that same grace of being limited. I want understanding for the things that limit my time, my capacity, and my ability to help.

I must give those who love me that same grace and lean into the One who is limitless and ever-present in my time of need.

When I release the expectation for those who love me to fulfill what only God can fulfill and be only who God is, it allows me to…

experience and be fully satisfied in the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ,
have grace for those who love me,
release offense and find joy in the people God has given to love, support, and pray for me in addition to His Son, Jesus.