Deuteronomy 18:15-19 (NIV) 15The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. 16For this is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.” 17The LORD said to me: “What they say is good. 18I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. 19I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name.
Deuteronomy 34:10-12 (NIV) 10Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, 11who did all those signs and wonders the LORD sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. 12For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.
For many of us, the thought of someone telling the future or casting a spell seems like something out of a fairy tale or a circus sideshow. But the spiritual world, both good and bad, is real and has been throughout all of human history (see Wednesday’s study on Balaam). And while warning His people about pagan sorcerers and mediums, God foretells the coming of a great Prophet.
God explains that He will raise up a future prophet like Moses. The Jewish people took this promise seriously (see John 1:19- 28). What did it mean to be like Moses? Deut. 34:10-12 describes Moses’s unique characteristics: (1) he knew God face-to-face, speaking to Him as one speaks to a friend (Exodus 33:11); and (2) he performed unmatched signs and wonders both before the Egyptians (those who did not believe in God) as well as God’s people.
So how did Jesus fulfill this prophecy? Jesus spoke only the words His Father put in His mouth (John 5:19, 12:49, 14:10). He also performed many great signs and wonders. The most significant of Jesus’ prophecies was predicting his own death and resurrection (Matt. 16:21-23, 17:22-23, 20:17-19). By making this prediction, Jesus risked his legitimacy as a prophet. If it did not happen, His whole message could be disregarded (Deut. 18: 22). But this most exceptional prediction did come true; three days after He died, Jesus rose again, fulfilling all prior prophecies about Him (see Luke 24:44-49; Acts 3:22-23).
What relevance does Jesus, the ultimate Prophet, have for you? First, through Him, you can meet with God face-to-face, as Moses did. Second, just like Moses, Jesus delivers you from whatever opposition you may encounter. And third, because Jesus speaks the very words of God, God will hold you accountable if you do not listen to Him (Deut.18:19). Reflect on the gift of God’s word today. God does not hide His message from us; rather He speaks it clearly, leaving us to choose how we will respond.
Memory Verse: John 1:18 (NIV)
“No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.”