Among the illustrious roles filled by the great Lawgiver, Moses, was that of the prophet. A prophet is a man who speaks to men and women in behalf of God. Sometimes called a “seer” (1 Sam. 9: 9), he is someone who has seen God and His Word clearly and dedicates himself to insuring that others see it just as clearly. The Bible affirms the superlative effectiveness of Moses’ prophetic office with these words in his obituary: No prophet has arisen again in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face (34: 10). Yet this very prophet said, “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him…. 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 (18: 15, 18).
We know the Hebrew people looked longingly for this prophet. The Baptizer was asked, “Are you the Prophet?” (Jhn. 1: 21). John, of course, answered in the negative because it was our Lord Jesus Who fulfilled this prophecy. Jesus not only spoke for God with His lips; His very life was the enunciation of God’s saving Word. John declares that He was the Word of God living among the men and women of the world (Jhn. 1: 1, 14).
Jesus was the ever trustworthy prophet. He sometimes began His statements with the double “amen” to affirm the accuracy of what He was about to say. Paul avowed that every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in Him. Therefore the “Amen” is also through Him for God’s glory (2 Cor. 1: 20). Paul also encouraged Timothy to faithfulness citing the example of Christ Jesus, who gave a good confession before Pontius Pilate (1 Tim. 6: 13). Christ was equally truthful throughout His ministry even terming Himself the Truth (Jhn. 14: 6). The prophecy of Jesus was unqualified truth.
If I want to know how to live my life today I turn to The Prophet. If I want to know how to accumulate wealth and distribute it properly today I turn to The Prophet. If I want to know how to relate to others today I turn to The Prophet. If I want to know how to make wise decisions today I turn to The Prophet. And most importantly, if I want to know how to get to God’s heaven when I die I turn to The Prophet. “You must listen to him” (18: 15).