6.16.2011

A Prophet like Moshe

"The L-RD your G-d will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you,
from your brothers – it is to him you shall listen."
~ Deuteronomy 18:15

The only verse in Torah where Moshe refers to himself as a prophet has long intrigued many. It's an interesting verse, to be sure. Islam, for example, claims it as a prophecy of their "prophet", Muhammad - though it clearly says that this coming prophet will be from Yisrael. We're only able to glean a few things from this passage. This coming prophet will be Hebrew, he'll be "like" Moshe, and we should listen to him, apparently. That doesn't tell us very much. Or does it? Let's take a look at a few of the characteristics that set the life of Moshe apart.

A quick overview of Moshe's life reveals that he was, in fact, a Hebrew (Exodus 2:1) and was sent by G-d to redeem Yisrael (Exodus 3:10). That, already, is a pretty tough act to follow. He was born to faithful Jewish parents while they were under foreign rule (Exodus 1:8). While he was an infant, his life was threatened by an evil king (Exodus 1:16) and, because of this, he was supernaturally protected by G-d in Mitzrayim (Exodus 2:10). Later, as an adult, Moshe turned down power and the opportunity to rule an earthly kingdom (Exodus 2:15). Instead, he chose to remain a humble servant of G-d (Numbers 12:3) and became a shepherd (Exodus 3:1). He was rejected (at first) by his own people (Exodus 2:14 & 32:1), but later accepted by Gentiles (Exodus 2:21). He was a teacher (Deuteronomy 4:1) who revealed the name of G-d, but was criticized by his own family (Numbers 12:1). Moshe performed miracles and gave people bread from Heaven (Exodus 16:12), but at one point, he, himself fasted forty days in the wilderness (Exodus 34:28). He bravely offered his own life to G-d for the remission of the sins of Yisrael (Exodus 32:32) and he was a mediator between man and G-d in a covenant of blood (Exodus 24:8). His face shone with the glory of Heaven (Exodus 34:35) and He saw G-d face to face, unlike the other prophets (Numbers 12:8). Moshe sent 12 spies into the land (Numbers 13:3) and later appointed 70 elders (Numbers 11:16). Moshe lifted a serpent in the wilderness to bring G-d's healing to the people (Numbers 21:9). Because of his obedience, the Torah was given 50 days after Pesach. Strangely, there were 400 years of silence before G-d sent Moshe to redeem his people. Moshe conquered the Amalekites, the greatest enemy of Yisrael, by raising his arms, which held a piece of wood, over his head (Exodus 17:11).

Even for an overview, that's quite a list of unusual and incredible attributes for one man's life. How could anyone possibly be like Moshe? I mean, one could try to be like him, but how could they control what happened to them as an infant, or arrange such amazing interactions with G-d Almighty? Most of us would be doing something spectacular if we could achieve any of these things, besides being "criticized by our family". Was there ever a person with a life even close to that of Moshe?

How about Yeshua of Nazareth? Many consider him a prophet, a miracle-worker. What was his life like?

A quick overview of Yeshua's life reveals that he was, in fact, a Hebrew (Matthew 1:1) and was sent by G-d to redeem Yisrael (John 8:42, Matthew 15:24). That, already, is a striking similarity to Moshe, but let's look further. He was born to faithful Jewish parents (Luke 2:22-24) while they were under foreign rule (Luke 2:1). While he was an infant, his life was threatened by an evil king (Matthew 2:16) and, because of this, he was supernaturally protected by G-d in Mitzrayim (Matthew 2:13). Later, as an adult, Yeshua turned down power and the opportunity to rule an earthly kingdom (Matthew 4:8-10). Instead, he chose to remain a humble servant of G-d (Philippians 2:8) and became a shepherd (John 10:11-16). He was rejected (at first) by his own people (Isaiah 53:3 & Matthew 27:21, 22), but later accepted by Gentiles (1 Timothy 3:16). He was a teacher (John 3:2) who revealed the name of G-d (John 17:6), but was criticized by his own family (Matthew 3:31). Yeshua performed miracles (John 5:36) and gave people bread from Heaven (Matthew 14:19-21), but at one point, he, himself fasted forty days in the wilderness (Matthew 4:2). He bravely offered his own life to G-d for the remission of the sins of Yisrael (John 10:18) and he was a mediator between man and G-d in a covenant of blood (Matthew 26:28). His face shone with the glory of Heaven (Matthew 17:2) and He saw G-d face to face (Luke 9:34), unlike the other prophets, except for Moshe, of course. Yeshua sent 12 disciples into the land (Matthew 10:5) and later appointed 70 teachers to the nations (Luke 10:1). Yeshua was lifted up to bring G-d's healing to the people (John 12:32). Because of his obedience, the Ruach Ha Kodesh was given 50 days after Pesach. Strangely, there were 400 years of silence before G-d sent Yeshua to redeem his people. Yeshua conquered Death, the greatest enemy of man, by raising his arms, which were nailed to a piece of wood, over his head (John 19:18).

I'd say we've found our "prophet like Moshe". Wouldn't you?

"If you believed Moshe, you would believe Me as well, for he wrote of Me. but if you don't believe his writings, how will you believe My words?" ~ John 5:46-47

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