Who can we trust to bring us the Word of God? God has had his servants all through the ages who have proclaimed His message. As long as they remain faithful and true to Him and the Bible, their message could be trusted. Moses was just such a servant of the Lord, who faithfully brought God’s Word. In our brief Scripture from the Book of Deuteronomy, we read of Someone who Moses promised, who would also come to bring God’s Word to us. Let’s read who that Person is.
Most of us know of Moses, how he grew up in the royal courts of Egypt, and then spent years in the land of Midian. Later he returned to Egypt and led the people of Israel out of slavery, crossing the Red Sea, and on to Mt. Sinai where he received the Law from the hands of God. While at Mt Sinai the people feared hearing from God, and the display of His glory, and pleaded that God would speak only to Moses (vs. 16), and that he would transmit His messages (Exodus 20:18-21). Our Scripture passage relates how God, through Moses, promised the people that one day coming He would raise up a Prophet for the people, like Moses (vs. 15, 18). God told Moses that this coming Prophet would be from among the people, and he would be “like you”, like Moses.
The Bible clearly lets us know that this Prophet is the Lord Jesus Christ. There are several ways that Moses and Jesus were similar. Both Moses and Jesus were full of compassion and love for the people. Moses had compassion on the people of Israel, knowing that they were like sheep without a shepherd (Numbers 27:17). Jesus, also, looked out onto the multitudes, seeing their needs, both physical and spiritual, and saw that they were like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36).
Both were intercessors for the people. Throughout the years in the wilderness, the people of Israel continually fell into sin, and Moses continually prayed for them (Deuteronomy 9:18). The Lord Jesus is in heaven today, continually praying for us (Hebrews 7:25). Moses spoke with God, and his face reflected God’s glory (Exodus 34:29-30; II Corinthians 3:7). Jesus, the Son of God, came from His presence to earth, and returned there after His resurrection, and is seated at God’s right hand (Hebrews 10:12-13).
Jesus is a mighty Prophet in word and deed (Luke 24:19). He is a Revealer of God’s will and purpose (Ephesians 1:11). Jesus is a Mediator of the covenant (Hebrews 8:6-7). He is a Teacher of the people (Isaiah 55:4). Moses was all of these, as well, and Jesus fulfilled these positions even more.
Moses was rescued as a baby from death, when his mother made a basket and put him in the Nile to save him from Pharaoh's edict, where later a royal princess found him (Exodus 2:3-6). Jesus was also rescued as a baby when His family fled Bethlehem and Herod had all babies in Bethlehem killed (Matthew 2:13-16). Moses turned away from a royal throne to serve God (Hebrews 11:24-26). Jesus also turned away from His heavenly throne to redeem mankind (Philippians 2:5-8).
A true prophet, such as Moses, Isaiah, and Jeremiah, will faithfully bring God’s full message truthfully. Jesus is more than a mere prophet. He both gave God’s Word faithfully and truthfully, He also fulfilled all of the Messianic prophecies. Right prior to our Scripture passage God warned not to follow those who use the occult to find one’s future (Deuteronomy 18:9-14). The will of God is found through His messengers, the true prophets, not through fortune tellers, tarot cards, or horoscopes.
Today’s Scripture ends with two warnings - one for those who neglect the message of the true Prophet of God, and the other for those who give false messages from God (vs. 19-20). Every person who hears the Gospel and turns away from Jesus will one day answer at the Great White Throne for what they have heard. The Lord has also very strong judgment for false prophets who claim they have God’s message, but it is not His true Word, and who also mix the worship of God with those of false, pagan gods.
Let us look only to those who speak the true message of the Lord, through His Word, the Bible, and to His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
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