This great purpose had been shadowed forth in types and symbols. The burning bush, in which Christ appeared to Moses, revealed God. The symbol chosen for the representation of the Deity was a lowly shrub, that seemingly had no attractions. This enshrined the Infinite. The all-merciful God shrouded His glory in a most humble type, that Moses could look upon it and live. So in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, God communicated with Israel, revealing to men His will, and imparting to them His grace. God's glory was subdued, and His majesty veiled, that the weak vision of finite men might behold it. So Christ was to come in "the body of our humiliation" (Phil. 3:21, R. V.), "in the likeness of men." In the eyes of the world He possessed no beauty that they should desire Him; yet He was the incarnate God, the light of heaven and earth. His glory was veiled, His greatness and majesty were hidden, that He might draw near to sorrowful, tempted men.

Dette store formål var der blevet varslet om gennem forbilleder og symboler. Den brændende busk, hvori Kristus viste sig for Moses, åbenbarede Gud. Det symbol, der var udvalgt til at fremstille guddommen, var en ringe busk, der tilsyneladende ikke havde nogen tiltrækkende egenskaber. Men den gemte den Almægtige. Den store, barmhjertige Gud skjulte sin herlighed i det ringeste, for at Moses skulle kunne se den og dog leve. På samme måde meddelte Gud sig til Israel i en skystøtte om dagen og en ildstøtte om natten for at åbenbare mennesker sin vilje og tildele dem sin nåde. Guds herlighed var skjult og hans majestæt tilsløret, for at dødelige menneskers svage syn skulle kunne tåle at se den. Således skulle Kristus komme i "vort fornedrelseslegeme" (Fil. 3,21) og blive "mennesker lig". I verdens øjne ejede han ingen skønhed, så de syntes om ham; men alligevel var han Gud i menneskeskikkelse, Himmelens og jordens lys. Hans herlighed var tildækket, hans storhed og majestæt var skjult, så han kunne komme i nær forbindelse med sorgfulde, fristede mennesker.