Episode Overview

Podcast: Renewing Your Mind
Episode: A Shadow of Christ
Date: September 27, 2025
Host: Ligonier Ministries

This episode, featuring Dr. R.C. Sproul (archival teaching), concludes the series Moses and the Burning Bush. It explores the Exodus account as both a historical event and a profound theological foreshadowing of Christ’s redemptive work. Dr. Sproul unpacks how Moses is presented as a "shadow of Christ", emphasizing the ultimate purpose of redemption: not just deliverance from slavery, but liberation for worship. Miracles in the biblical narrative, particularly those through Moses and Christ, are examined for their role in authenticating God’s messengers and revealing divine truth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Exodus: Redemption from Slavery to Worship

• Dr. Sproul begins by clarifying that the Exodus was not just about redemption from oppression, but about being redeemed for worship (00:00–00:43).

  • “The point of the Exodus was not simply to redeem people from oppression, but to redeem them…from slavery to worship. And that's true in an even higher manner in the redemptive work of Christ in the New Testament…The point of your salvation is to worship the Lord your God.” — Dr. Sproul (00:00)

• The New Testament deepens this purpose—believers are "called ones to worship Him," not merely saved out of need.

2. Moses as a Foreshadowing of Christ

• The writer of Hebrews identifies Jesus as "the greater Moses" (00:43–02:08), highlighting the typological connection between Moses’ mission and Christ’s greater work.
• Dr. Sproul suggests Moses’ task—delivering Israel—was the most significant redemptive mission in human history after Christ’s (02:08).
  • “The second most important act of redemption ever accomplished in history…is the mission God gave to Moses to perform.” — Dr. Sproul (02:08)
• Moses’ journey was marked by existential agony and doubt, mirroring human reluctance and inadequacy in the face of God’s calling.

3. Obstacles, Doubt, and God’s Assurance to Moses

• Moses’ hesitance ("Suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice…") reflects relatable concerns about credibility and faith (02:08–07:00).
• God equips Moses with miraculous signs to establish credibility before the Hebrews and Pharaoh:
  • Rod into serpent (07:00+)
  • Leprous hand restored
  • Water turned to blood

4. The Role and Purpose of Miracles

• Miracles are not about proving God’s existence; rather, their primary function is to validate God’s chosen messengers (13:50).
  • “Miracles in the Bible are not given to persuade people of the existence of God…The purpose of the miracle in the Bible is to prove the legitimacy and the validity of an agent of revelation.” — Dr. Sproul (13:50)
• Miraculous events are historically clustered during significant revelatory periods (Moses, Elijah/Elisha, Jesus).

5. True Miracles vs. Counterfeits

• Miracles by God are distinguished from tricks or “lying signs and wonders” attributed to Satan (18:50–20:50).
  • “Satan never performed a miracle in his life…Satan cannot do the things that God can do. A real miracle that God uses to authenticate his messengers…are acts that only God can do.” — Dr. Sproul (19:40)
• The confrontation with Pharaoh’s magicians: their illusion was no match for Moses’ actual divine demonstration (21:10).
  • Moses’ serpent consumes theirs, signaling superiority and authenticity.

6. Miracles as Authentication of Christ & the Gospel

• Jesus’ miracles reach an unprecedented scale, their purpose: to vindicate Him as God’s true messenger and the incarnate Word (22:30).
  • “In the final analysis, those miracles authenticate and vindicate that Jesus is the Word of God, that Jesus speaks the truth that no demon can possibly duplicate.” — Dr. Sproul (22:30)
• Nicodemus’ insight: “We know that you are a teacher sent from God; or else you would not be able to do these things” illustrates the connection between miracles and divine mission.

7. The Multifaceted Revelation at the Burning Bush

• The burning bush narrative encapsulates multiple revelations:
  • God’s person
  • God’s power
  • God’s eternality
  • God’s compassion
  • God’s redemption
  • God’s truth (final point emphasized in this episode)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The point of your salvation is to worship the Lord your God.” — Dr. Sproul (00:30)
• “The purpose of the miracle in the Bible is not to prove the existence of God, but…to verify the messenger…” — Dr. Sproul (13:50)
• “Miracles cluster in redemptive periods: Moses, Elijah, and Christ. This highlights when God is speaking decisively.” — Dr. Sproul (15:10)
• “Satan is not God…He’s just a magician, a good one, but a wicked one. He’s good at his craft, but his craft is altogether evil.” — Dr. Sproul (20:00)
• “In the final analysis, those miracles authenticate and vindicate that Jesus is the Word of God, that Jesus speaks the truth that no demon can possibly duplicate.” — Dr. Sproul (22:30)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:00–00:43 — Introduction: Redemption’s purpose is worship
• 02:08–08:00 — Moses’ calling, fears, and God's assurances
• 10:00–13:50 — The purpose and function of biblical miracles
• 15:10–18:00 — Miracle ‘clusters’ and their meaning in redemptive history
• 18:50–21:10 — Confronting the magicians of Pharaoh
• 22:30–23:08 — Miracles in the ministry of Jesus and their authenticating role

Conclusion

Dr. Sproul’s teaching emphasizes that the Exodus, culminating in Israel's freedom, is a "shadow" pointing to Christ’s redemptive work—a transition not just from bondage but to worship. Miracles, both in Moses' era and Christ’s, primarily serve to certify the messenger and the message of God, rather than merely astonish or prove God's existence. The burning bush thus stands as a symbol of God’s revealing power, compassion, and the ultimate call to worship Him in spirit and truth.