[2] The implications of all this are that the children of Israel were accepted because among them it was possible for a Word to be written whose outward or literal sense consists of merely outward things to which inward realities correspond. Everything representative among the Israelite nation was of this nature; and because this nation was in that way involved in outward things it was possible for a Word to be written among them. From this it is evident that when the Word is meant by 'Moses' and it is said of the Israelite nation that they would be consumed or destroyed, Jehovah's declaration then that He would make Moses into a great nation means that a Word might be written somewhere else that was good and perfect.

[3] It is not apparent in the literal statement that this is the meaning of these words; nevertheless it may be recognized from the consideration that the names of persons do not pass into heaven but are converted there into the realities meant by them. When for example Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, David, and others are mentioned by name those in heaven are completely unconscious of the fact that those persons are understood by man. There they instantly cease to be seen as those actual persons and take on a spiritual meaning, namely the realities they stand for. From this it is evident what kind of meaning those in heaven see in these words regarding Moses, that he will become a great nation.