Deuteronomy 18:15 “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…”
These are the words Moses spoke to Israel that planted in their hearts the expectation that God would send them another prophet like him. To be like Moses, this prophet would have to be many things - but importantly, he would have to deliver God’s people from bondage to their enemies (as Moses did) and he would also have to be the mediator of a covenant between them and God, just as Moses was. There were many great prophets in the Old Testament, and Jesus acknowledges that John the Baptist holds a very high place among them (Matthew 11:11) - but even he was not a prophet “like Moses.”
So from the time Moses said the words above, God’s people were on the lookout for “The Prophet” like Moses. But he seemed to be a long time coming. Indeed, the Old Testament closed over 1000 years after the time of Moses, and then the prophetic voice was silent for over 400 additional years before John the Baptist and Jesus appeared. Yet during that time, the people never stopped looking and hoping for “The Prophet” like Moses. When John the Baptist came, he was specifically asked whether he might be this person, but he denied it (John 1:19-25).
And during the life of Jesus, people asked themselves on at least 2 occasions whether He might be “The Prophet.” The first was just after He had fed the five thousand and the disciples had picked up 12 baskets full of leftovers:
John 6:14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”
The second followed soon after, when Jesus had gone to the Feast of Booths in Jerusalem:
John 7:37–40 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ ” 39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. 40 When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.”
In both of these episodes, the people saw that Jesus was “like Moses” - through whom the people ate manna in the wilderness and by whom fresh water surged out from a rock. And Jesus did indeed tell them (and us) that both the manna (the bread from heaven) and the water (that slaked the thirst of the Israelites in the wilderness) were intended to point to Him - the Bread of Heaven and the source of living water, Who both nourishes and refreshes the souls of His people. It was God who had given them manna and water from the rock, not Moses by his own power.
So at last “The Prophet” came into the world but for those with eyes to see, although He was certainly “like Moses”, He was far, far greater. This is what the writer to the Hebrews says:
Hebrews 3:1–6 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. [that is to say, He is like Moses] 3 For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. 4 (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) 5 Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6 but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. [that is to say, He is greater than Moses] And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
Jesus came as the mediator of a better covenant than the one Moses mediated. Jesus delivered His people from slavery to sin and death - from captivity to Satan, whereas Moses delivered Israel from slavery and captivity in Egypt. So Jesus is “The Prophet” like Moses but greater than Moses. When He comes, God said through Moses in the passage above, God’s people will listen to Him. He goes on later in the same passage to say this:
Deuteronomy 18:18–19 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 19 And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him.
Jesus came and He spoke God’s words to us. He commanded that we should turn from our slavery to sin, be delivered by Him from the power of death, feed on the Bread of Heaven, drink of the Living Water and have eternal life in Him.
Those of us who have tasted of this Bread and have drunk this Water know that it is good! We know that every word Jesus spoke to us from God is true. We have come to know Him and His Father and to be certain of eternal life.
Is Jesus your Prophet? Is He your Bread of Heaven and your Living Water? Is your soul nourished and refreshed in Him, even when things are so hard in this world? He still receives all who will turn to Him. He still feeds and waters their souls. Why not come yourself, taste, and see that He is good?
