“When Moses entered the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant law. In this way the Lord spoke to him.”-Numbers 7:89
The long Numbers Chapter 7 ends by telling us that Moses entered the tent of meeting where the Lord spoke to him from above the atonement cover between the two cherubim.
Do you recall what this “atonement cover” (the lid of the Ark of the Covenant) is called in Hebrew?
It is called the KAPPORET.
In English, it is also sometimes referred to as the “mercy seat“.
Now notice where it says “the Lord spoke to Him“.
That’s not really correct because the Hebrew word being used here is DIBBER and DIBBER means to converse WITH somebody, in other words, one party says something and the other party responds back.
So Moses is not simply receiving instructions from God here.
He was actually having a 2-way conversation with the Almighty!
This is awesome!
There have been precious few men in history who have had the incredible privilege and honor to be able to engage in a two-way dialogue with the Creator of the Universe.
I don’t know how many times when I was feeling down or despondent or not exactly sure what next step I should take in my life that I thought to myself if only I could hear the unmistakable voice of the Lord.
Wouldn’t it be awesome to just be able to ask HASHEM a question and right there on the spot receive a clear answer?
Next, notice where it says “Moses entered the Tent of Meeting“.
This brings us to another area often misunderstood by gentile Christians.
Even though Moses was standing before the Ark of the Covenant, he was NOT inside the Holy of Holies.
Nowhere in the Torah does it explicitly state that Moses was standing inside the Holy of Holies.
To think so is an assumption and a FALSE ONE at that.
This misunderstanding arises from misinterpreting the Biblical phrase “Moses stood before the Lord“.
The phrase “to stand before the Lord” does seem to give the impression that Moses was inside the Holy of Holies standing right smack dab in front of the ark but it’s not true.
The truth is that Moses was standing in the Holy Place next to the inner curtain (PAROKHET in Hebrew) that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies.
Here’s the thing.
The expression “to stand before the Lord” is another one of those classic Hebraic idioms that simply means to approach and draw near to God’s sanctuary.
It most certainly does NOT mean that somebody jumps inside the Holy of Holies which is a very dangerous proposition.
The Rabbis have always understood that Moses was standing OUTSIDE of the Holy of Holies in front of the the inner curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies.
And by the way, this reminds me that the Yeshua believer does NOT, and I repeat does NOT have access to and enter inside of the Holy of Holies and I don’t care what that maple syrupy sentimental Christian song says.
Theologically and scripturally, it’s just NOT true.
There is only one type of person who is allowed to enter the Holy of Holies.
And that person is God’s anointed High Priest and Mediator who is now Yeshua of Nazareth.
That is why we are to pray to the Father in Yeshua’s Name.
Another point to think about is if Moses really did enter the Holy of Holies regularly, why are we told later on that Moses begged to get a glimpse of His Presence?
I’m referring to a story we’ll read later on where Moses hides himself in the cleft of a rock while the Lord passes by and Moses gets a quick glimpse of the Lord’s backside.
My whole point is if there is any one thing that is crystal clear in the Torah, it is that absolutely no one is permitted to enter the Holy of Holies except God’s anointed High Priest and even he can only go in once a year during Yom Kippur.
And even when the High Priest entered, he had to carry burning incense with him so that the cloudy smoke served as a sort of protective barrier that protected the High Priest from the danger of death since he was so close to the PURE HOLINESS of the Most High.
NEXT TIME WE BEGIN NUMBERS CHAPTER EIGHT
Thank you for your teachings. One question, What is the significance of the curtain being torn from top to bottom in the new testament if not for access to the Father? By the way, the teaching that only Jesus can actually go into the Holy of Holies rings more authentic with me and does not diminish the great privilege we have to be reconciled to God through Him. In fact it seems to give to Jesus a more permanent place of significance in the whole biblical narrative.
Hi Daniel, To answer your question, the significance of the curtain being torn from top to bottom is I believe what has always been taught, that through Messiah we gain access to the Father. However, it is through the Father. Thanks for reading!
Believers explicitly have a way into the holiest by the blood of Jesus by New and Living Way which is consecrated for us through the Veil, that is to say his flesh. Please see Hebrews 10 19 and 20.
Now as for Moses? I have actually been studying on this just this morning. Exodus 25:22 says and I quote, and there I will meet with thee. God is talking about The Mercy Seat, and he is speaking to the man Moses. It seems pretty forthright to me unless we complicate it with our own conjecture. we know Aaron went in there once a year. My dear brother, Moses had a face-to-face access we know. Whether this was definitively into the most holy place or not, well, I’m going to ask the Lord about that.
It is difficult for me to tell whether Moses stood outside the Most Holy place or within it. I don’t have any problem with the great prophet Moses standing outside the Most Holy place as the LORD spoke His Word to him.
But Hebrews 10:19-25 – from my perspective – clearly teaches that born again believers in Jesus Christ *are* in the new covenant in this present age incredibly blessed with access to enter the Most Holy Place in the heavenly realms. This access is only granted to those who are “in Christ” – which is true of all true born again Christians. This is not a location in a physical tabernacle or temple. It is not a “most holy place” which is or was a physical replica of the genuine one in heaven. In the person of JESUS, Christians are actually granted spiritual access to the genuine “Most Holy Place” in the heavenly realm!
Hebrews 10:19-25 (New International Version)
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Shalom Everyone,
The tearing of the curtain is certainly not to indicate access to everyone as being taught by some. The tearing of the curtain ignifies something elese. firstly, the Bible and the Torah is very delibrate. Everytime it states an avent or a speeech is for a purpose.
In Matthew 27 where this event was recorded:
51At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and e went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
54When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
note that when the centurion who is accustomed to the tradition of the Jews saw what has happened he exclaimed – Truly, this man is the Son of God!
In Job 1:20 after the death of his sons Job tore his robe.
In 2 Sam 1:11 David tore his cloth and the men with him after he learns of the death of King Saul and Jonathan his son.
in 2 Sam 13:13 David, tore his robe, and threw himself on the ground. His advisers also tore their clothes in horror and sorrow after he learns of the death of his son Absalom.
The tearing of one’s clothes is an ancient tradition among the Jews, and it is associated with mourning, grief, and loss especially when a father loses his son. so the centurion exclaimed – Truly, Yeshua is the son of God when God ‘Tore’ His own robe.
Kol Tov
Your explanation has two problems: God does not rent clothes for death. Even the priest were instructed not to rent their clothes for the dead once they’ve been consecrated, secondly and more importantly, the veil isn’t God’s clothes. It doesn’t signify covering, it signifies access/way. And Jesus’ body is described as a veil. Hebrews 10:19-20 “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body” BSB.
So the renting of the veil from top to bottom signifies that access had been granted to us into the holy of Hokies through the blood and body of Christ.
Hebrews 4:16 wraps it up: “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” In the Old Testament the priest entered to obtain mercy for them once a year, in the new we can boldly enter and obtain mercy ourselves.
Hebrews 10:19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Matthew 27:51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split
Hebrews 9:8 8 The Holy Spirit was showing by this that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning.
Yes, the way is now open to the Holy of Holies and we can enter by the blood of Jesus Christ.