Looking across the landscape of churches in Nigeria, excluding the relatively new churches that have sprung up in the last decade or so, the vast majority of these churches, which are mostly denominational, have something of a common denominator. The common denominator is what I would refer to as an excessive fixation on the Old Testament, with wrong intent.
What I mean is this: the reason for this fixation on the Old Testament, and this is evident in the focus of the teachings in these denominations, is that it most appeals to the underlying cultural beliefs here especially around generational curses, enemies and spiritual warfare. And I think that the Old Testament appeals more because it speaks in a similar way to many African folklores that have been taught over many generations.
To what end did God perform these wonderful, powerful acts?
Consider a few examples. The Old Testament is crammed full of dramatic stories depicting God’s power, or his presence with the people of Israel; there’s the Mount Sinai, the burning bush, Elijah and the prophets of Baal, along with many other stories of God defeating his people’s enemies.
Of course, I believe and affirm that God performed all these wonderful acts. However, the question is: to what end did he do them? What do these miracles and signs tell us? What do they point to? These are important questions. Because if we don’t know what God’s ultimate intent was in writing the Old Testament, we’ll fail to see how it culminates in the person and work of Jesus Christ (John 5:39). So my simple purpose for this article, is to work through some examples of these glorious Old Testament events and show how they point us to salvation in Christ.
The Passover Lamb That Dies (Exodus)
In Exodus 12, we pick up the narrative of the Passover. The Lord God Almighty is about to exact judgment on the land of Egypt, his most intense judgment yet: the tenth plague. This plague will take away all the first borns in the land of Egypt, from cattle to king. As a way of escape for his people, the Lord commanded them through Moses to prepare a Passover lamb, eat it and then use its blood to cover the doorposts and lintel of the houses where they are. And God says, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12:13).
Christ died so that we may live.
Thousands of years later, when John the Baptist sees Jesus Christ he exclaims, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). The Passover Lamb was said to be without blemish; no deceit was found in the mouth of Christ (1 Peter 2:22), even though he was tempted in every way (Hebrews 4:15). So it is through his blood that God’s judgment will not fall on us on the last day. For through his blood we have forgiveness of sins (Romans 3:25; 1 John 2:2). Indeed, Christ is our Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7). He died so that we may live.
The Bronze Serpent That’s Lifted Up (Numbers)
If we teach the Old Testament without landing on Christ, we’ve missed the point.
In Numbers 21, journeying through the desert, the children of Israel offended God for the umpteenth time. This time, God sent snakes to bite them as judgment for their sin against God. Realising that they have sinned against God, they petitioned Moses to help them please God, so that he may take away this judgment. God then instructs Moses to make a serpent (or snake) from bronze and hang it on a pole. The promise of God to the Israelites is that anyone who looks at the bronze serpent will be saved from the snake bites’ ultimate consequence: death.
Jesus Christ references this text as a picture of what he came to do (John 3:14-15). He hung on a tree to obtain salvation to those who believe in him (John 3:16).
The Old Testament Bears Witness to Me (John 5:39)
To borrow a phrase from Hebrews 11:32, “what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of”:
- Rahab’s scarf, through which she and her family were saved when the people of Israel took Jericho
- Noah’s Ark, picturing the salvation those in Christ will receive and the judgment the rest of the world outside of Christ would be in
- The Exodus itself, an event that shows God’s salvation of His people; God released them from slavery into freedom (Colossians 1:13)
- Adam, tempted in the garden of Eden and succumbed to the temptation to bring all human beings into this sinful estate; but Christ, the second Adam, overcame temptation in the garden of Gethsemane to bring us back to God
- The sacrifices made in the temple for sins were not sufficient; but Christ’s sacrifice is once for all (Hebrews 10:12).
The Old Testament portrays the power, justice, holiness, mercy, and provision of God, along with so much more of his character and acts. These are to be helpful to us, in our Christian lives. To quote Paul, “these things took place as examples for us” (1 Corinthians 10:6).
Get the Messiah Over Models
It will be unfruitful in the end if we miss him, Jesus Christ.
However, there is a focal point. A centre and culmination. All of the above will be unfruitful in the end, if we miss that; if we miss him, Jesus Christ. By powerfully saving Israel from danger and their enemies, God points us his greatest work of salvation (Luke 24:27; see John 1:19-27). Israel were waiting, expecting a Messiah to save them. But what many of them missed was that he came to deliver us from our sins (Matthew 1:21). Many make a similar mistake today. If we read or teach the Old Testament without landing on Christ, we’ve missed the point.
