One Greater Than Moses

Deuteronomy 18:15-20

Our passage today contains a message that Moses brought to the people of Israel shortly before he would die and they would enter the Promised Land. When God had spoken to the people on Mt. Horeb, (also known as Mt. Sinai), and the people heard His voice, they were terrified, and begged Moses that they did not want to directly hear His voice again (vs. 16).  God agreed with them, and directed Moses to tell the people that He would send them a special prophet or spokesman from Himself to speak to them (vs 15, 18).

Who was this Prophet that Moses spoke of?  Many prophets were sent to the people of Israel, bringing messages from God to try and lead them back to God, away from the false idols they were so prone to follow.  In this passage we read that there were three requirements this prophet would have - he would come from among the people, he would be like Moses, and he would speak only the words God gave him.  Throughout the centuries following Moses, the people always held that this prophet would be a special one, connecting him with the promised Messiah (John 1:21-25; John 6:14).

The Lord Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of this prophecy.  He, alone, is the Prophet that Moses predicted God would send.  Let’s look at some of the ways that He fulfilled this prophecy.  First Jesus only spoke the words that God, His Father, gave Him.   The Scriptures testify that in John 8:28; 12:49-50; and 17:8.   So many people, both in the past and today, speak their own words and philosophies. Jesus’s words, though, were the words of God Himself.

Jesus was also one who was from among His brethren.  Though He was conceived by the Holy Spirit to the Virgin Mary, and God was His real Father, both Mary and His step-father, Joseph, were descendants of David and of the tribe of Judah (see Matthew 1:1-17, and Luke 3:23-38).  He was born in Bethlehem (Luke 2:4-7) and raised in Nazareth (Matthew 2:22-23), both Jewish communities.

Then there were several similarities between Jesus and Moses. Both of them spoke the words that were given them by God.  Moses was spared death as a baby from Pharaoh’s order (Exodus 1:15-16, 2:1-9). Jesus was also spared death as a baby from King Herod’s order (Matthew 2:13-18).  They both also renounced a royal court. Moses was raised in the court of Pharaoh, but renounced that for God (Hebrews 11:24-27). Jesus, as the second person of the Trinity had the throne and glory of heaven as His.  Because of His great love for us, though, He left that throne to come to earth to die for our sins (Philippians 2:5-8).

Both Jesus and Moses had compassion and interceded for the people.  Many times Moses interceded on behalf of the people when they had sinned, and turned away the just wrath of God (Exodus 32:32-38; Deuteronomy 9:18).  It was Jesus’s love and compassion for us that brought Him to earth, and initiated His healing and preaching ministry (Matthew 9:36).   The whole of John Chapter 17 records a prayer that Jesus made, both for His disciples at that time, and for all believers in any time.  Jesus’s intercession didn’t end when He left the earth at the Ascension.  Right at this moment He is interceding for us in heaven (Hebrews 7:25).

Lastly, both Jesus and Moses spoke face to face with God.  Because of his close communion with God, Moses’s face shone with His glory (Exodus 34:29-30). Jesus was God, the second Person of the Trinity. While on earth, though, in addition to the times when He was in close, frequent, personal prayer with the Father, Jesus was in direct communion with Him at the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8). Despite these similarities, Jesus was infinitely more superior to Moses, and was the Mediator of a much better covenant than that of Moses (Hebrews 8:6-7).

It is important to receive God’s invitation to us (vs. 19).  It’s not good enough to just hear it.  Nor is it good enough to just study His Word, or even to acknowledge it.  We have to receive it.  Many learn a lot about God, but have never responded to His call personally.  That is really the most important decision we will ever make.  Be sure you make the right decision before you pass from this life.