From Pisgah's Glimpse to Eternal Glory: Christ Our Complete Access

The sacred narrative presents two pivotal prayers, separated by millennia, that brilliantly illuminate the journey of faith and the progression of God's redemptive plan. One is the earnest plea of Moses, the faithful servant, on the plains of Moab; the other, the high priestly declaration of Jesus, the beloved Son, in the Upper Room. Together, these prayers paint a majestic picture of longing and fulfillment, of temporal promise and eternal glory, offering profound insights for every believer.

Moses, standing at the threshold of the Promised Land he was forbidden to enter, reflected on God’s awe-inspiring power. He had witnessed the defeat of mighty kings and colossal giants, clear evidence of the divine "greatness" and "strong hand" at work. For Moses, these miraculous deeds were merely the "beginning" of God's self-disclosure, prompting his heartfelt petition to see the land's completion. His address to God was reverent, acknowledging his status as a "servant" before his "Master." Yet, despite his faithful service and the undeniable display of God's power, Moses' specific request was denied. This denial, however, was not a rejection of Moses or the relationship, but a profound typological necessity. It revealed that the Old Covenant, embodied by the Law and its mediator, could lead humanity to the brink of God's promises but could not ultimately usher them into the full inheritance due to its inherent limitations and human failure. Moses’ exclusion underscored the need for a perfect mediator.

Fast forward over a thousand years, and we find Jesus, the Son of God, uttering a prayer marked not by a plea but by an authoritative "I will." Unlike Moses, who saw only the "beginning," Jesus confidently declared that He had "finished" the work given to Him. His address to God as "Father" signals a transformative shift from a judicial, master-servant dynamic to an intimate, familial relationship. Jesus' desire was that His followers would be "with Him where He is" to "behold His glory." This moves beyond the earthly, geographical promise Moses sought, revealing the true inheritance to be an eternal, relational presence with God Himself. The "glory" Jesus spoke of transcends mere outward power; it is the radiant essence of God's eternal love, a love shared between Father and Son "before the foundation of the world."

The profound connection between these two prayers is vividly depicted at the Transfiguration. There, Moses, who had been denied entry into the earthly land, finally stood within it, conversing with Jesus about His "departure"—His new Exodus. Crucially, Moses beheld Jesus' glory, the very vision Jesus prayed for His disciples to experience. This moment served as a tangible bridge, fulfilling Moses' denied petition in an infinitely greater way and offering the disciples a foretaste of the beatific vision promised in Jesus' High Priestly Prayer.

The journey from Moses' prayer to Jesus' prayer offers believers several edifying messages:

1. Trust God's Sovereign "No": Moses' experience teaches us that a denial of a specific, even righteous, earthly request is often God's way of preparing us for a far greater, eternal fulfillment. When our immediate desires are unmet, it is an invitation to trust that God's plan is always grander, leading us beyond the temporal to the eternal.
2. Embrace Holy Dissatisfaction: Our experience of God in this life is always a "beginning." Like Moses, we glimpse God's mighty hand and discern His greatness, but we have not yet fully comprehended or seen Him as He is. This "holy dissatisfaction" should fuel our spiritual growth, driving us to seek more of God and anticipate with hope the full revelation of His glory.
3. Rest in Christ's Assurance: Our ultimate destiny is secured by the unwavering "will" of Jesus, not by our own petitions or merit. He has willed that we be with Him to behold His glory. This truth provides unshakeable confidence in facing life's uncertainties and death itself, transforming our perspective from a tragic end to a triumphant entry into His eternal presence.
4. From Power to Intimacy: The progression from God's "mighty hand" (demonstrating power and protection) to His "loving heart" (revealing eternal, relational glory) teaches us that all of God's historical works are purposed to draw us into deeper intimacy with Him. His power creates the space for His love to be fully known and experienced.
5. Our Unfathomable Privilege: Through Christ, we are elevated from subjects and servants to beloved children, invited into the very communion of the Father and the Son. Our inheritance is not merely a promised land but the beatific vision—an eternal, ever-unfolding discovery of God's infinite love and glory.

In essence, Moses' question "Who is this God?" finds its ultimate and glorious answer in the person of Jesus Christ. The "unfinished" gaze of Moses from Mount Pisgah culminates in the eternal, uninterrupted beholding of Christ's glory, where every believer is welcomed into the Father's presence forever.