ADULT STS LESSON 136 THE PROMISED PROPHET
MEMORY VERSE: “The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken” (DEUTERONOMY 18:15).
TEXT: DEUTERONOMY 18:1-22
Moses towers in the Scripture as a revered lawgiver and legislator. He received from the Lord precepts and statutes for Israel, which have become beacons of legislation for the whole world. However, his ministry transcended his day as he prophesied of the coming Prophet. The uniqueness of the promised Prophet was such that no other prophet would be like Him. Thus, only Christ fitted into the picture. His teachings are infallible, authentic, authoritative and final. God spoke concerning Him and reiterated the importance of obedience to Christ saying, “him shall ye hear” (Acts 7:37). All men are to receive Him wholeheartedly in order to escape God’s wrath and judgment (Psalm 2:12). This study encompasses precepts for the priests, the Levites and the people and the promised Prophet, the Messiah and Saviour of mankind, our Lord Jesus Christ.
1.COMMANDMENT CONCERNING THE INHERITANCE OF THE PRIESTS AND LEVITES (Deuteronomy 18:1- 8; Numbers 18:8,12,20,21; 26:62; Exodus 22:29; Leviticus 7:30-34; Deuteronomy 18:4; Malachi 3:10; 1 Corinthians 9:7-14; Matthew 19:28,29)
The offices of the priests and Levites were ordained of God and so required absolute consecration and commitment. This is to enable them to remain faithfully employed in the work of the sanctuary and not be entangled with other secular engagements. As compensation for their wholesome commitment to their God-appointed duties, their share of inheritance came from the Lord Himself. The Lord, therefore, commanded the rest of Israel to make adequate provisions for their sustenance. However, God did not separate the benefits from the responsibilities of the priests and the Levites. The reason is that there cannot be benefits without obligations. Christian workers can benefit from God’s riches while serving Him faithfully (Colossians 3:23,24). The Priests and Levites were to enjoy the best from the people while being engaged in the service of God. “The firstfruit also of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him. For the LORD thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand to minister in the name of the LORD, him and his sons for ever” (verses 4,5). Neither the priests nor the Levites were to be neglected in terms of daily provisions. The instruction given to Israel concerning the welfare of these ministers was amplified in the New Testament. “Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? Or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? And they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?” (1 Corinthians 9:7,13).
2.COMMAND TO ABHOR CONDEMNABLE PRACTICES OF THE HEATHEN (Deuteronomy 18:9-14; 12:29-31; Leviticus 18:21-24; 19:26; Isaiah 8:19; 1 Samuel 28:7; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18)
“When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations” (verse 9). As the Israelites prepared to enter the Promised Land, God warned them against learning the abominable practices of the heathen nations. These practices include sorcery, witchcraft, divination, necromancy, magic, soothsaying, observing of times and dealing with familiar spirits. God hates these practices and punishes the Canaanites for indulging in them. Speaking through Moses, God commanded Israel not to consult with familiar spirits and soothsayers. Such practices defile, pollute and turn the hearts of people away from God to Satan. Agents of Satan and occultists do not know God’s mind and can never be His mouthpiece. God appoints His ministers to speak to His people. All spiritual knowledge and assistance should be sought through Him and not through any other secret means. In the Ephesian church, many who practised such abominable things repented of them and made restitutions. No true believer will keep those occultic materials after conversion (Acts 17:30,31). They must come out from among occultic associations and be separate (2 Corinthians 6:17). God demands that every Christian should be holy in thought, words and actions without fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness.
3.CHRIST, THE PROMISED PROPHET (Deuteronomy 18:15-22; Exodus 20:18,19; Genesis 3:15; John 1:21,25,45; 6:14; Acts 3:22-26; 7:37)
God promised to raise a Prophet in the likeness of Moses who will declare the word of God to His people. Interestingly, the promise became fulfilled in Christ as confirmed by the Scriptures. The Lord Jesus Christ confirmed what Moses declared about Him (Luke 24:44); John the Baptist said he was not the Prophet but only came as a forerunner to Him (John 1:19-23); Apostle Peter quoted Moses in connection with Christ as the promised Prophet (Acts 3:22,23); Stephen boldly confirmed the same testimony before the Sanhedrin (Acts 7:37). The testimony of the men that saw the miraculous multiplication of five barley loaves and two small fishes was that: “…This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world” (John 6:14). The writer of the book of Hebrews also testified of Christ’s prophetic ministry (Hebrews 1:1). The inhabitants of Jerusalem at Christ’s Triumphal entry, cried: “…This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee” (Matthew 21:11). After raising to life, the only son of a widow in Nain, “…there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, that a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people” (Luke 7:16).
The huge impact of His ministry on the lives of the people proved that: “this is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world” (John 6:14). When the Pharisees threatened that He should flee from town to avoid being killed by Herod, Christ affirmed that He was a Prophet; and that He would continue His ministry, “…for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem” (Luke 13:33). The impact of Christ’s miracles, His personal testimony, supernatural knowledge and revelation, the truth and power of His doctrines cleared whatever lingering doubt that existed in the minds of some skeptics about His identity as the expected Prophet. It is important to note that obedience to the promised Prophet in our text was also reiterated in the New Testament (Acts 3:22,23). Christ’s words are infallible, and His teachings are authoritative and final; and as such, must be received and obeyed to avoid God’s displeasure and condemnation. “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him” (Deuteronomy 18:19). Many aspects of the life and ministry of Moses can be likened to that of Christ.
One, both Moses and Christ have mediatory, intercessory, leadership and prophetic ministries.
Two, a record of faithfulness and peculiar excellence in ministry (Hebrews 3:1-4);
Three, variety of unprecedented miracles; they were acknowledged as prophets mighty indeed and words before God and all the people (Luke 24:19; Acts 7:22);
Four, close and intimate communion with God (Deuteronomy 34:10,11); both spent forty days and forty nights in communion with God (Exodus 24:18; 31:18; Matthew 4:1,2);
Five, a threatened infanthood under cruel rulers (Pharaoh and Herod); and
Six, a demonstration of power over the sea (Exodus 14:21; Matthew 14:25). However, there abound clear scriptural evidence of Christ’s superiority over Moses.
One, though Moses fulfilled the ministry of mediation between God and His people (Deuteronomy 5:5; Exodus 20:18-20; 33:1-23), Jesus Christ, by all standards, is greater than Moses (Hebrews 1:1-4; 3:3; 8:6). He is not only the Mediator of a better covenant established on better promises, but also died to save humanity and became the Saviour of the entire human race (Matthew 1:21):
Two, Moses was said to have exceeded other prophets in speaking to God mouth to mouth (Numbers 12:6-8), but Christ surpassed him in being from the bosom of the Father (John 1:18; 3:13).
Three, while Moses was a faithful servant in God’s house, Christ is a faithful Son over His own house (Hebrews 3:2,5,6).
Four, in terms of the magnitude of miracles, Christ excelled Moses as He raised the dead to life and also resurrected from the dead.
Five, Moses spoke the word of God, but Christ is the eternal Word personified (John 1:14).
Six, while the conception and birth of Moses was natural, that of Christ was supernatural, having been conceived and born of a virgin by the power of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 1:23).
Seven, Moses was a creature who inherited the nature of sin, but Christ is the sinless, impeccable Creator of all things (Colossians 1:15,16). Jesus Christ is, therefore, the eternal word of God, and the promised Prophet.
The implication of all these is that the words, teachings and commandments of Christ are immutable and superior to any human opinion or ideology. God requires absolute obedience to all the teachings of Christ. If those who disobeyed and rebelled against Moses were severely punished, how much more those who neglected the- offer of salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ (Numbers 16:1-31; 12:1-10)? Rejecting Christ and His words is rejecting the only divinely approved way to the Father (John 14:6). Christ is the only Deliverer from the bondage of sin. His words would be the yardstick and instrument of judgment for backsliders, skeptics, atheists, false prophets and teachers (John 5:22; Acts 17:30,31).
The promise of a Prophet like unto Moses undoubtedly implied the institution of the ministry of prophecy and the order of prophets who would speak the word of God to the people. This institution obligates the nation of Israel to obey the word of Jehovah. Thus, any counterfeit prophecy was to be adjudged the highest treason against the crown and dignity of the King of kings and would be punishable by death. “But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die” (Deuteronomy 18:20). In the same vein, the issue of false prophets should not be taken lightly in the church of Christ. We must beware of self-appointed prophets who parade themselves as ministers of God. They are characteristically hypocrites, liars, deceivers, pretenders, peddlers of false doctrines using the Bible and religion as cover up.
Their aim is to sway people from serving the true God. It is instructive to note that the assessment of true servants of God was not to be based on titles, ability to perform miracles or one’s eloquence, but simply on faithfulness in declaring God’s word. Any ministry or minister whose teachings and doctrines are not based on the undiluted word of God should be regarded as false. Whatever teaching, practice or conduct that encourages sin and opposes holy living should be considered false. Likewise, the following should be seen as false:
One, any knowledge or revelation, visions or dreams that contradicts the inspired word (Isaiah 8:20);
Two, any form of worship that is aimed at turning the people of God away from the truth (Isaiah 8:19);
Three, counsel, guidance or ministration done under the influence of familiar spirits (1 John 4:1); and
Four, giving of false hope and security to sinners and backsliders.
Christ warned that many false prophets would arise as part of the evils that will characterize the end of time. As forerunners of the antichrist, false prophets would seek to deceive believers and turn them away from the faith. Believers’ attitude to false prophets and teachings, therefore, is to avoid them, reject their teaching and resist them through preaching of the truth of the gospel. The saints must remain under the anointed teaching of God-appointed ministers of the gospel and be faithful to God. They must earnestly contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints till the end.
QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW:
- How can Christian workers fully benefit from God’s inheritance?
- Why was Israel commanded to make adequate provision for the sustenance of the priests and Levites?
- Why did God forewarn Israel against getting involved in the abominable practices of the heathen?
- Who is the promised Prophet and what should be the attitude of humanity towards Him?
- What are the similarities between the life and ministry of Moses and Christ?
- What should be a believer’s attitude towards false prophets and prophecies?
- What are the criteria for assessing genuine ministries and ministers?
