Regarding the relationship of Moses to Joshua, Elijah and Elisha, and etc., I submit the following two points for consideration:
1.) We are not in the same covenant.
The promises are different. The priesthood is different. The way the covenant works is different. The mediator of the covenant is different. The experiences are different. The kingdom is different. The rituals are different. The laws are different. The expected conduct is different. The ethnic groups are different. Salvation is different. The stories are different.
The way God operates is different.
The idea that any New Covenant individual should, to one man, that is, a pastor, do for him as Joshua did for Moses, and etc., isn't the testimony of New Covenant teachings (and Old Covenant Messianic Prophecies).
The testimony of New Covenant teachings is:
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And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more (Jeremiah 31:34 with Hebrews 8:11).
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And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children (Isaiah 54:13 with John 6:45).
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For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus... (1 Timothy 2:5).
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But ye [all] are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light... (1 Peter 2:9; [all] inserted for clarity, as the "ye" is plural)
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There is no way that any of us can be for a pastor what Joshua was for Moses, Elisha for Elijah, and etc. They made themselves slaves to these individual men. We are not slaves to a pastor. And there is no way a pastor can be for a man what Moses was for Joshua, or Elijah was for Elisha. And on down the list it goes, wherever we see that one to one relationship in the Old Testament.
At some point it has to be admitted, the comparisons very quickly breakdown, which leads to:
2.) Those Old Covenant relationships do serve as a typology, but not as a typology between a New Covenant pastor and a sheep, but rather, as a typology of Christ and a saint.
All those Old Covenant men (Moses, Elijah, etc.) were hand-selected by God, and had His Spirit put upon them with power. They represent the Christ-type. Additionally, their servants (Joshua, Elisha) were handpicked by God, too. They also had God's Spirit put upon them with power. This is the saint-type.
But note: They acted as replacements of and for their masters, i.e. they assumed the Christ-type, when the time came. Joshua replaced Moses when Moses died. Elisha replaced Elijah when he died. They transitioned between types.
If Moses, et al, are merely representative of a New Covenant "pastor", he, the pastor is fulfilling the Christ-type. But guess what? Since Christ has come, no more Old Covenant types are needed. The real deal has arrived, and no one but the entire Body of Christ can be His type, on earth (
1 John 4:17).
Additionally, since many saints in today's world, and in times past, have all their life been "under a pastor", they never once get to transition into the Christ-type, the way Joshua, et al, did, EVEN THOUGH THE SPIRIT OF GOD HAS COME UPON THEM WITH POWER. This means regarding typology, there's always someone in the Body of Christ that doesn't get to do their part to fully represent Christ in typology, since their "pastor" is always doing it instead.
This is where the common model breaks down. Are there pastors in the church? Yes, as much as any of the other gifts of grace according to
Ephesians 4:11. But does that mean that a pastor has authority over anyone or even in the church?
Where are the words pastor/s and power/authority linked in the New Covenant teachings (Note that
1 Timothy 5:17 doesn't count since the Greek word for "rule" is
proestōtes, which means "to take the lead")?
Authority (usually power in the KJV) is always only linked to Jesus and the Apostles (Paul makes reference to his authority in the Gospel).
Bishops and elders are called to be leaders, to stand out in front as examples--as they model their life correctly, their life (more than their words or what they teach) preaches a message to the saints. A pastor/shepherd is called to do what? Feed God's sheep. But how?
We think it means weekly sermons or teaching Bible studies. Nope. Experience is the best teacher, not listening to a lecture. The five grace gifts, pastors included, are given by the Lord to the church, to do what?
EQUIP the saints so they can themselves learn how to minister and edify the Body. Modern pastors usually don't, and often, can't do that, especially when someone in the assembly isn't called a to pastoral calling, but rather, to be an evangelist or prophet, or etc. Pastors train pastors, prophets train prophets, etc.
Sitting someone (or a bunch of someones) down and telling them a bunch of Bible facts can be interesting. Things can be learned, intellectually speaking. Sure, that's a given, but only in much the same way sitting in a math or health class. Until the student is at the board or in the gym, all the theoretical learning doesn't accomplish much.
The saints need to be shown (not just told) how to live for God effectively. They need to be the ones doing the majority of the ministering. Maybe I know how to effectively prepare a sermon or pray with someone to receive the Holy Spirit. Great! But am I showing anyone how? Who am I teaching these skills to? Unless and until I as the pastor/minister/leader/etc. get out of the way, no one I am disciplining will ever grow.
Jesus said "I have meat to eat you know not of...My meat is to do the will of the Father..."
That's how sheep ought to be fed, by actually and literally doing the will of the Father! Let them put their own hands on their own life, their own calling, their own ministry, and get to work. Sitting down for several hours a week while someone else does all the "feeding" so-called, doesn't allow for that.
There needs to be a paradigm shift. Consider your own assembly. How many people are effectively serving in the five gifts of grace? How many, even after years, continue to go to the "pastor" for everything? How many "pastors" are worn out, not spending enough time with their families, stressed about all the "sheep under their care", worried about how they can reach their community better, wondering if a new program is going to be successful, hoping enough money comes in this month to pay the bills, and etc.?
Friends, that's not pastoring. That's management. You're in the wrong line of work (lol)!
A pastor is called to the following: tend to God's people with loving, nurturing care while sharing the "sincere milk of the Word". This, more than a sermon, more than Bible study, more than a vision service, more than a building fund, more than a marriage counseling session, more than just about every single thing a modern day "pastor" does, looks like this:
Open you home to the saints. Cook them a meal. Befriend them in your living room. Insist they call you and your wife by your first names. Let them do most of the talking (i.e LISTEN INSTEAD OF PREACH), let their kids play with your kids, show them what a Godly marriage looks like, let them see the joy and bounty of God upon your life, discuss the Word together and openly without dominating the discussion, pray with and not for them, worship with them instead of directing them how to, and etc.
But you might say: that's just fellowship between saints!
Exactly! If the Lord has called you to be a pastor (or anything else), the grace He has given you for such a gifting will manifest everywhere. You won't have to do-do-do-do for the church just to keep the doors open. It will become evident in your loving concern and good treatment of the folks you have over to your house that you are
a (not their) pastor. When it comes time for them to listen, they will, but not because you're "the pastor" and that's just what sheep do. But because they know you love them like their Chief Shepherd does, and would lay down your life for them, even if something you might have to say will be difficult for them to hear. They will joyfully yield (as opposed to submit; see the Greek word for submit) because they will see how much you, as a friend and fellow saint, are passionate about THEIR well being.
And I assure you, the saints will appreciate it and you a whole lot more. You won't be so burnt out, so desperate to get a "Word" from the Lord for next Sunday's sermon (Lord, what if there are are visitors?!), so removed from your wife and kids because duty calls (late night board meetings, or whatever), and etc.
You can actually get down to the business of nurturing God's flock the way you were intended to, by the Lord.
I've lived this life, the very one I just described, for the better part of 10 years. It works. It really does. And if you're a pastor, and what I've written speaks to your heart, seek the Lord and find our for yourself.
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