Got Truth? Deuteronomy 18
What do you do if you want to know the truth?
"Google it", of course. If you are not sure if something is true...Google it,If you need to know how to build a shelf out of an old picture frame....Google it,
If you want to know what gnocchi is...Google it.
Google has become the source for all truth in our times. I have to admit I use it myself hundreds of times a day. When someone tells me something that makes me go, WHAAAT?
I pick up my phone and_______(you guessed it).
The Israelites didn't have Google, so they needed other methods to find out if someone was telling them the truth.
In Deuteronomy 18,
Moses explains to the Israelites that they can expect a prophets, one they MUST listen to, and others they should definitely not listen to. They are concerned how they will know one from the other. Moses states. If what they say comes true, than this prophet is from God, and vice versa.Moses tells the Israelites something he may have not even understood fully himself. He gives a prophecy that will be fulfilled over 400 later. This prophecy will be fulfilled without any fanfare, in a small stable, in the town of Bethlehem.
Moses states that God will later raise up a prophet "like me" from among you. A prophet that will speak the very words of God to you.
Did Moses know that he was talking about he son of God, who would pay for the sins of the world?
Did Moses realize that Jesus would fulfill these words so completely?
- A prophet that will be saved from death as a baby (YES, Matthew 2:16-18)
- Rejected by his people (YES Luke 4:14-30)
- Be an Israelite (YES, Luke 2)
- lead his people to freedom (YES Luke 4:1818 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,) - perform miracles from God (YES John 5:19)
- be full of compassion and mercy (YES Matthew 9:35-38)
- advocate and mediate for his people (YES)
Jesus was "like" Moses , yet also very different from Moses.
God clears this up for everyone on the mount of transfiguration.
In Matthew 17:1-5
“And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, (2) And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. (3) And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. (4) Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. (5) While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him."
God repeats the words of Moses "LISTEN TO HIM!"
This is the reason we can place our faith fully in Jesus, who is so much more than a prophet, and fulfilled every word the prophets of Israel prophesied about Him.
Luke 24:44 He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."
It's amazing how easily we as people will believe everything we read on the internet, but struggle with a truth so evident. (you can "Google it" if you don't believe me)
In Acts 3:17-26 Peter speaks of the Risen Jesus referencing Deuteronomy 18;
17 “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. 19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. 21 Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. 22 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. 23 Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.’[a]24 “Indeed, beginning with Samuel, all the prophets who have spoken have foretold these days. 25 And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’[b] 26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.”
So, in the words of Peter, LISTEN TO HIM!
Here are just a few of the prophecies that Jesus will fulfill.
Thank you for joining me on this journey through the Bible,
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