Deuteronomy 18:15 (ESV) — The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen.

The first great prophet in the Bible is Moses. He is an unlikely prophet because of his own self-professed lack of eloquence and not being an excellent speaker (Exodus 4:10). Moses spent his upbringing and developmental years in Egypt. He was a descendent of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but as Jacob’s family found refuge from famine in Egypt, many generations of Hebrews (Israelites/Jews) grew up there. God called to Moses (Exodus 3) and raised him up to serve as a mouthpiece for God to Pharaoh. Moses’ role included warning of the coming plagues and as the one who spoke God’s Word to the Israelites as they roamed the desert after the exodus from Egypt.

In our passage today, Moses speaks from the Spirit of God concerning a prophet God will raise up. The people of Israel have only known Moses as their leader. He has stood as a Mediator between the LORD and the people. God has used him to communicate directly with His people. Through Moses, God revealed His character to the people (Exodus 34:6). He directed them on how to live according to His commands and laws (Exodus 20). God spoke through Moses.

The promise of a prophet like Moses would not be fulfilled in Joshua, Samuel, Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, or any of the other prophets of the Old Testament. The one foretold by Moses is none other than the Messiah. How do we know that? One reason is the LORD tells of one prophet, not many. Israel would have many future prophets, but Moses is promising something different. This prophet would be one like Moses. This also sets apart the Messiah alone above all the other prophets. The LORD spoke with Moses face-to-face, as a man speaks with a friend (Exodus 33:11). The future prophets would receive visions and dreams, but not have a unique relationship with the LORD like Moses. But the Messiah, the prophet to come, would be a prophet like Moses. 

Jesus is the prophet foretold in this passage. He spoke the words of God. In fact, all His words were from God (John 12:49). The Hebrew writer tells us that God spoke through the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken by His Son (Hebrews 1:1-2). Jesus fulfills God’s promise through Moses to raise up a prophet, and it is to Him we are all to listen. He alone speaks the words of life (John 6:68). The Word made flesh speaks the words of God to us as our Great Prophet. In Him, we come to know God, we know God’s will and commands, we know ourselves, we know His promises, and we know the way of salvation.

Questions for Reflection:

• What was the role of the prophet in the Bible?
• What set Moses apart from every other prophet who would follow him? Why is it significant that Deuteronomy 18:15 points to a coming prophet like Moses?
• How does Jesus fulfill the promise of the coming prophet like Moses?

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