#DailyDevotion Jesus Is The Promised Prophet Foretold By Moses
Deu 34:5-12 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD, (6) and he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor; but no one knows the place of his burial to this day. (7) Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed, and his vigor unabated. (8) And the people of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. Then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended. (9) And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses. (10) And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, (11) none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, (12) and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.
Well no one knew where Moses was buried. This led to speculation among the Israelites that God had taken Moses’ body hence the reference in Jude. It’s very possible as Moses was with Elijah on the mount of Transfiguration. The Lord has sustained Moses all this time, even as he did the Israelites. But it was Moses’ time to depart this world. And Moses, as the text says, was a great prophet unlike all the other prophets, who did great signs and wonders. Now Moses had predicted that the Lord would provide another prophet like him. Joshua (which is the Hebrew form of Jesus) never did any miracles himself. Miracles were done for him, like the drying up of the Jordan river and the fall of Jericho. The Spirit of the Lord was with him and the people obeyed him. But the Lord did not talk with Joshua face to face as he did with Moses.
Not quite two thousand years later, the Lord would send a prophet, John the Baptist. The Spirit of the Lord was with him. Yet, we have no recorded signs and wonders done by John. But many of the Jews obeyed him. He called them to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins. There in the Jordan river he was preparing the people to enter into the eternal Promised Land. There in the Jordan River, Jesus (the Greek form of Joshua) and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him. Now Jesus did do many miraculous signs and wonders. Jesus taught the people directly from the Father what the Father wanted his people to know, believe and do. Jesus talked with the Father face to face. Since Jesus and the Father are one, the people he taught, though his glory was hidden talked with God face to face. Jesus is the prophet Moses has promised.
Unlike Moses who was unable to enter the Promised Land before his death, Jesus at his death, resurrection and ascension entered the eternal Promised Land to prepare a place for us. Jesus is going to lead all who trust in him into that New Heaven and New Earth and there we will live with the Lord forever. Rev 22:4 “[We] will see his face and his name will be on our foreheads.” John writes, 1 John 3:2 “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” We all like Moses shall behold the face of our Lord in all his glory and we shall like the risen Lord Jesus Christ.
Almighty God and Father, you have fulfilled your promise through your servant Moses and provided us with your own beloved Son Jesus Christ. Give us faith to hear and obey the voice of Jesus that we may enter with him into eternal Promised Land and share in his glory when he returns for us. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.