Moses here typifies Christ. At this critical time Moses manifested the True Shepherd’s interest for the flock of His care. He pleaded that the wrath of an offended God might not utterly destroy the people of His choice. And by his intercession he held back the arm of vengeance, that a full end was not made of disobedient, rebellious Israel. He directed Aaron what course to pursue in that terrible crisis when the wrath of God had gone forth and the plague had begun. Aaron stood with his censer, waving it before the Lord, while the intercessions of Moses ascended with the smoke of the incense. Moses dared not cease his entreaties. He took hold of the strength of the Angel, as did Jacob in his wrestling, and like Jacob he prevailed. Aaron was standing between the living and the dead when the gracious answer came: I have heard thy prayer, I will not consume utterly. The very men whom the congregation despised and would have put to death were the ones to plead in their behalf that the avenging sword of God might be sheathed and sinful Israel spared. {3T 358.1}

Her symboliserer Moses, Kristus. På dette kritiske tidspunkt viste Moses den Sande Hyrdes interesse for sin hjord. Han bad om at en krænket Guds vrede ikke måtte helt ødelægge hans udvalgte folk. Og ved hans mellemkomst holdt han hævnens arm tilbage, så den endelige afslutning ikke blev gjort af et ulydigt oprørsk Israel. Han anviste Aron hvilken kurs han skulle lægge under den frygtelige krise når Guds vrede var vækket og plagerne var begyndt. Aron stod med sit røgelseskar, vejede det for Herren, medens Moses forbøn steg op sammen med røgelsesrøgen. Moses turde ikke stanse sine bønner. Han gjorde styrkeprøve med Englen, som Jakob i sin brydekamp og ligesom Jakob sejrede han. Aron stod mellem det levende og det døde da det nådige svar kom: Jeg har hørt jeres bønner. jeg vil ikke fortære jer helt. De mennesker som menigheden foragtede og gerne ville lægge til døde var dem som bad for deres bedste så Guds hævnende sværd kunne stikkes i skede og det syndige Israels kunne spares.