A PROPHET LIKE YOU

As early as Eden, God had promised a Redeemer. Speaking to the serpent in the Garden, God said, “I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel” (Genesis 3:15). The Great Redeemer, Jesus, though stricken at Calvary, crushed the head of the evil enemy!

God promised a Redeemer!

God made a similar promise to Moses and the Children of Israel.

Deuteronomy is the final installment in the five books dictated by God and scribed by Moses. This fifth book recaps the historic exodus from Egypt and calls the Chosen People to a life of holiness and obedience. They had wandered the Wilderness for four decades but soon would cross the Jordan River and enter the land flowing with milk and honey, the land promised to their ancient ancestor, Abraham.

Moses had been their faithful leader for all of the forty years, but before they crossed into Canaan, Moses would die and be buried on Mt. Nebo. Indeed, Moses had been more than just a logistical director, more than the general of the vast army, more than a governor. He was their intercessor before the throne of God. He was the law-giver. He was God’s man! No mortal man could take his place.

So, nestled into Moses’ swan song, Deuteronomy, is a promise. Similar to God’s promise of a Redeemer, God promised to “raise up for you a Prophet like (Moses) from among your own brothers” (Deuteronomy 18:15, 18). God promised!

Many years later, as John the Baptist was preaching in the Jordan River valley, many thought that he was the promised Messiah. “Nope! I’m not the Messiah.” “Are you the Prophet?” (John 1:21).

The Jews were waiting for God to fulfill the promise made centuries before. “Are you the fulfilment of the promise made in Deuteronomy?” “Are you the Prophet?”

“No,” John proclaimed. The Prophet ‘is the one coming after me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to untie’ ” (John 1:27).

Jesus is “the Prophet!” Moses was the law-giver. Jesus is the Grace-Giver. No mere mortal, Jesus came to lead another exodus! We were enslaved to a foreign king, but Jesus, our Redeemer and “the Prophet” has come to set us free.

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).