‘A prophet like me’

Let’s now examine the connection between Yeshua and a key character from the Hebrew Scriptures. The link is a prophecy in Deuteronomy.

“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him. For 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.” The LORD said to me: “What they say is good. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account”. (Deuteronomy 18:15-19)

Who is God speaking to? None other than Moses himself. Let’s hear what Stephen had to say just before his stoning:

“For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from among his people.’ “Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days. (Acts 3:22-24)

Who is Stephen speaking about? None other than Jesus, the second Moses.

 In the religious Jewish community there is none more revered than Moses. The giver of the Torah, the deliverer from Egyptian bondage, the leader through the wilderness, the Miracle Maker of the Old Covenant. When we look at the life and ministry of Jesus, we see astonishing parallels.

• Both were born into a Hebrew world under Gentile domination (Egyptian and Roman).
• Both had unusual cots at birth (basket and manger).
• Both were saved from death at the King’s order (Pharaoh, Herod)
• Both were raised in the home of one who was not their father (Pharaoh, Joseph)
• Both had to put up with criticism and persecution from their own people
• Both appointed 70 chosen helpers (Numbers 11:16, Luke 10:1)
• Both sent out 12 men on special missions (Numbers 13:1-2, Matthew 10:1,5)
• Both experienced 40 day fasts (Exodus 34:38, Matthew 4:1-2)
• Both fed multitudes through miraculous means (manna and quails, bread and fish)
• Both were touched by God so that their faces shone (Exodus 34:29-30, Matthew 17:1-2)
• Both heard God as an audible voice (Exodus 19:9,19, John 12:23,27-28)
• Both acted as mediators of a covenant that was sealed by blood (Exodus 24:7-8, Matthew 26:26-28)
• Both interceded for their people with God (Numbers 11:1-2, Luke 23:33-34)
• Both delivered their people from bondage (Exodus 3:9-10, Acts 7:25)
• Both performed miracles (Exodus 3:20, John 5:19-20)
• Both appeared after death (transfiguration, resurrection)

This surely is enough to demonstrate the continuity between the Old and New covenants, through comparing the dominant characters in each. But we need to return to the prophecy given to Moses and decide whether Yeshua, indeed, did fulfil it.

“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers …”

We will discuss this next week …

What is the connection between Moses and Jesus?