Who was Moses in the Bible?
Answer Moses is considered to be one of the most important people in the Bible’s Old Testament. However, while Abraham is referred to be the “Father of the Faithful” and was the receiver of God’s unconditional covenant of love with His people, Moses was the man selected by the Almighty to bring about their salvation. God expressly picked Moses to lead the Israelites out of captivity in Egypt and into the Promised Land, where they would find redemption. Moses is also known as the Mediator of the Old Covenant, and he is often referred to as the Giver of the Law in biblical literature.
Moses’ function in the Old Testament is a type and shadow of the role that Jesus performs in the New Testament, and the two are interconnected.
Moses appears for the first time in the book of Exodus, in the first few chapters.
This pharaoh enslaved the Hebrew people and forced them to work as slaves on his huge construction projects during his reign.
- Consequently, Pharaoh decreed that all male offspring born to Hebrew mothers would be put to death (Exodus 1:22).
- Eventually, the basket was discovered by the Pharaoh’s daughter, who adopted him as her own and brought him up in the palace of the pharaoh himself.
- Moses attempted to intercede in an argument between two Hebrews in another occurrence, but one of the Hebrews scolded Moses and sarcastically remarked, “Are you going to murder me like you killed the Egyptian?” in another incident.
- As soon as he realized that his illegal deed had been exposed, Moses hurried to the region of Midian, where he intervened once more, this time rescuing the daughters of Jethro from the clutches of some robbers.
- Moses resided in Midian for nearly forty years, according to legend.
- Although Moses made a number of reasons and even requested that God send someone else, he ultimately consented to obey God.
- The remainder of the narrative is very widely known as a result of this.
Pharaoh persistently refuses, and 10 plagues of God’s punishment are unleashed upon the people and the country, with the last plague being the murder of the firstborn as the culmination of God’s judgment.
Following the departure, Moses led the Israelites to the margin of the Red Sea, where God performed yet another miraculous rescue by splitting the waters and allowed the Hebrews to pass to the other side while drowning the Egyptian army in the process (Exodus 14).
The remainder of the book of Exodus, as well as the entirety of the book of Leviticus, take place while the Israelites are camped at the foot of Mount Sinai.
God also provides Moses with specific instructions on how God is to be worshipped, as well as recommendations for keeping purity and cleanliness among the people of Israel.
This is described in detail in the book of Numbers.
By the end of the book of Numbers, the next generation of Israelites has returned to the borders of the Promised Land and is ready to put their confidence in God and enter the land of their own will.
Moses reads the second reading of the Law (Deuteronomy 5) and prepares this generation of Israelites to be the first to accept God’s promises.
Moses died at the conclusion of the book of Deuteronomy, which is recounted in the Bible (Deuteronomy 34).
Moses died when he was 120 years old, and the Bible states that his “eye was undimmed and his strength unabated” at the time of his death (Deuteronomy 34:7).
According to Deuteronomy 34:10–12, “Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel who compares to Moses, whom the Lord personally knew and who performed all of the signs and wonders that the Lord had commissioned him to perform in Egypt—for Pharaoh and all of his officials, as well as for the entire nation.
- However, it does provide us with a general outline of the character.
- Moses’ life is usually divided into three 40-year periods, each of which lasts 40 years.
- As the adoptive son of Pharaoh’s daughter, Moses would have had all of the benefits and pleasures that come with being an Egyptian royal.
- The predicament of the Hebrews became so distressing to Moses that he decided to step up and become their rescuer on his own initiative.
- Based on this episode, we may infer that Moses was a guy who took decisive action, as well as a man who had a strong temper and was susceptible to reckless actions.
- Yes.
- Yes.
He attempted to accomplish in his own time what God desired to be accomplished in God’s time.
When we try to do God’s will in our own time, as we have done in so many other biblical situations, we end up creating a worse mess than we started with.
The basic life of a shepherd, a spouse, and a parent were all taught to Moses during this time period.
What lessons can we draw from this period of his life?
While the Bible doesn’t spend much time on the specifics of this period of Moses’ life, it’s clear that Moses was not just sitting about doing nothing while waiting for God to call.
These are not insignificant matters!
We must first demonstrate our commitment to God by living “in the valley” before He will enlist us in the war.
Another thing we learn about Moses during his stay in Midian is that, when God eventually called him into duty, he was recalcitrant and refused to go.
He is now 80 years old.
The possibility that Moses had a speech impediment has been raised by some commentators.
Perhaps Moses simply did not want to return to Egypt and experience failure once more.
How many of us have attempted something (whether or not it was for God) and failed, only to be unwilling to do it again because of our failure?
In the first place, there was the evident transformation that had occurred in his own life during the previous 40 years.
At first, Moses failed not so much because he behaved hastily as he failed because he acted without the guidance of God.
Do not be afraid; instead, put your trust in the Lord and in the strength of his might (Ephesians 6:10).
There are also some lessons to be learned from this particular episode of Moses’ life.
Moses was effectively in charge of two million Hebrew refugees throughout his lifetime.
We also saw a guy who was completely reliant on the grace of God in order to do his mission.
It would be wonderful if everyone in power would beseech God on behalf of those who are under their authority!
Moses was well aware that the exodus would be pointless if it were not for the presence of God.
A lesson we may learn from Moses’ life is that there are some sins that will follow us throughout the rest of our lives.
In the aforementioned episode at Meribah, Moses struck a rock out of frustration in order to provide water for the community.
God forbade him from entering the Promised Land as a result of his transgression.
A small selection of practical lessons from Moses’ life are listed above.
When we examine Moses’ life in the context of the entire canon of Scripture, we discover greater theological truths that are integral to the story of redemption.
We learn that it was only through faith that Moses refused to be distracted by the splendors of Pharaoh’s palace and instead chose to identify with the plight of his people.
Moses’ life was marked by faith, and we all know that it is impossible to satisfy God if one does not have faith (Hebrews 11:6).
As previously stated, we also know that Moses’ life served as a type for the life of Jesus Christ in many ways.
According to Hebrews 3:8—10, the author of Hebrews goes to considerable efforts to establish this point once more.
The distinction is that the covenant mediated by Moses was temporal and conditional, whereas the covenant mediated by Christ is eternal and unconditional in nature.
Moses freed the people of Israel from slavery and bondage in Egypt and led them to the Promised Land of Canaan, where they were welcomed with open arms.
Moses, like Christ, was a prophet to the people of Israel.
Moses foretold that the Lord will bring up another prophet like him from among the people, which happened (Deuteronomy 18:15).
John 5:46, Acts 3:22, 7:37).
It is through the lives of faithful people throughout human history that we can see how God was bringing about His purpose of salvation in their lives.
To conclude, it’s worth noting that, despite the fact that Moses never stepped foot in the Promised Land during his lifetime, he was granted the opportunity to do so after he passed away.
Moses is currently enjoying the actual Sabbath rest in Christ that all Christians will one day be able to enjoy together (Hebrews 4:9).
Who Was Moses in the Bible?
Moses, maybe more than any other character in the Bible, is perhaps the most well-known. Throughout his life, he took on a variety of responsibilities, which I will discuss briefly. It’s easy to romanticize Biblical heroes who do great things, yet they were real people who had real problems, just like us. Let’s take a look at eight facts about Moses — who he was according to the Bible, as well as some specifics about his life.
1. Moses was a Hebrew.
Moses, maybe more than any other character in the Bible, is the most well-known. Throughout his life, he performed a variety of roles, which I will discuss briefly. Biblical individuals who achieve great things are often romanticized, yet they were also ordinary people like us. Look at eight facts about Moses, including his biblical identity as well as some specifics about his life.
2. Moses was a special baby.
Because there were so many Israelite slaves, the Pharaoh was terrified of them, and he ordered that all of the boy newborns be slaughtered as a result. Moses’ mother shielded him from harm. For three months, she kept him concealed since she realized he was an unique baby (Exodus 2:2). Then, when she realized she couldn’t keep him hidden any longer, she built a small boat, sailed it down the Nile River, and concealed baby Moses in the reeds along its banks. He didn’t last long in the tomb before being rescued by the daughter of the Pharaoh.
It just so happened that this woman happened to be Moses’ mother.
3. Moses was raised as royalty.
After Moses was weaned, the Pharaoh’s daughter took care of him in the palace, where he was surrounded by all of Egypt’s riches.
4. Moses was a murderer.
He grew raised in the palace, yet he was well aware that he was a Hebrew. “Looking this way and that and finding no one, he murdered the Egyptian and hid him in the sand,” the Bible tells of Moses’ reaction when he witnessed an Egyptian assaulting a Hebrew slave (Exodus 2:12). Because a Hebrew slave called him out on it the next day, it wasn’t the best coverup.
5. Moses was afraid.
We are all familiar with dealing with fear, but Moses was not. When Pharaoh discovered what Moses had done, he attempted to assassinate him. Moses was on the run for his life. He spent 40 years in the desert of Midian, where he met and married Tharbis and Zipporah, and raised their sons Gershom and Eliezer. When God “.came to him in flames of fire from behind a bush,” fear arose once again in his mind. Moses saw that, despite the fact that the bush was on fire, it did not burn” (Exodus 3:2).
Moses was terrified and made excuse after excuse, the most notable of which was that he stammered.
God was displeased with Moses and became enraged with him for refusing to send someone else.
6. Moses was a courageous leader.
Fear is something we all experience, but Moses was no stranger to the phenomenon. Following the discovery of Moses’ actions, Pharaoh attempted to have Moses killed. Moses took to the streets in a desperate bid for survival. He spent 40 years in the desert of Midian, where he married Tharbis and Zipporah and raised their sons Gershom and Eliezer as their father. When God “.came to him in flames of fire from within a bush,” fear arose once more in his heart. Even when the bush was engulfed in flames, Moses saw that it did not completely burn” (Exodus 3:2).
When Moses was terrified, he lied and made up excuse after excuse, the most notable of which was that he stammered. “Please send someone else,” Moses pleaded with the Almighty God (Exodus 4:13). As a result, God became enraged with Moses and refused to send anybody else.
7. Moses was close with God.
We all deal with dread, and Moses was no exception. When Pharaoh discovered what Moses had done, he attempted to have him killed. Moses took to the streets in fear for his life. He spent 40 years in the desert of Midian, where he married Tharbis and Zipporah and raised their children, Gershom and Eliezer. When God “.came to him in flames of fire from within a bush,” fear arose once more. Moses saw that, despite the fact that the bush was on fire, it did not burn” (Exodus 3:2). God desired that Moses lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
“Please send someone else,” Moses requested of God (Exodus 4:13).
8. Moses was buried by God.
We are all familiar with dealing with fear, but Moses was no exception. When Pharaoh learned what Moses had done, he attempted to have him killed. Moses fled for his life. He spent 40 years in the Midian desert, where he married Tharbis and Zipporah and raised their children, Gershom and Eliezer. Fear arose once more as God “.came to him in flames of fire from within a bush.” Moses saw that, despite the fact that the bush was on fire, it did not burn up” (Exodus 3:2). God desired Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.
Moses pleaded with God, “Please send someone else” (Exodus 4:13).
Who was Moses and what is his importance for Christians?
In the Old Testament, Moses is known as “Da Man!” because he is one of the most prominent figures. Who is it that says this? Start with the Bible itself, which describes Moses at the time of his death as follows: “Since then, no prophet has emerged in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD personally knew.” All of the signs and wonders that the LORD commanded Moses to accomplish in Egypt against Pharaoh and all of his servants, as well as against all of Egypt’s land, and the strength and terrible might that Moses displayed in the face of all Israel were unparalleled.” (Deuteronomy 34:10-12) There’s a fitting tombstone for this character!
- So, what is it about Moses that makes him such a revered character in the Old Testament?
- The Exodus – the experience of the Jewish people as they are brought from slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land – is considered to be the apex of the Old Testament’s narrative.
- It goes without saying that Moses is the one in charge of God’s mission, standing up to Pharaoh and demanding that he release God’s people from slavery.
- It is Moses, after all, who receives the Ten Commandments from God in order to shape his people into a nation.
- It is the Gospel of Matthew, more than any other Gospel, that emphasizes that Jesus taught his new commandments of love in his Sermon on the Mount, repeating Moses’ receiving the Law on Mount Sinai, and that this is the focus of the Gospel of Matthew.
- No doubt it is no coincidence that Moses and Elijah appear alongside Jesus on the mountaintop as he undergoes his transformation.
Similarly, Moses symbolizes the Law, while Elijah represents the prophets. The Transfiguration demonstrates without a doubt that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets in the New Testament.
In what ways was Moses similar to Jesus?
The life of Moses is strikingly similar to the life of Jesus in many respects. This foreshadows the role that Jesus will play in bringing redemption to humanity by his deliverance of the Israelites from the Egyptians and his guiding them to the Promised Land that God had prepared for them. As a matter of fact, Moses informed the Israelites, “The LORD your God will rise up for you a prophet like me out of among you, from among your brothers—it is to him that you must pay attention” (Deuteronomy 18:15).
- Here are some of the parallels between their respective tales.
- In the time of Moses, the Hebrews were slaves in Egypt, and in the time of Jesus, Israel was under the dominion of the Romans.
- Pharaoh ordered the slaughter of all Hebrew men in order to keep the population from growing too large.
- He was later discovered and adopted by a daughter of Pharaoh, who raised him as her own (Exodus 2).
- The parents of Jesus fled to Egypt until Herod was killed (Matthew 2).
- In the book of Luke, Jesus is identified as the Son of the Most High (Luke 1:32); He is also known as the King of kings and the Lord of lords (Matthew 28:18-20).
- Although He took on human flesh, He was adopted by Joseph and became known as the Son of Joseph (Philippians 2:5–11).
- The burning bush was Moses’ first encounter with God, and after some persuading, he was filled with God’s Word and the ability to perform miracles (Exodus 3—4).
In Matthew 3:16–17, the Bible says that when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, “the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him,” and that “a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.'” 40 years in the land of Midian, where he learned the Law and fasted, followed by another 40 days and 40 nights of fasting and intercession for the Israelites at various periods (Deuteronomy 9), and another 40 years in the desert, waiting for the Israelites to be allowed to enter the Promised Land.
- During his forty-day and forty-night fast in the wilderness, Jesus was able to successfully reject the Devil’s temptation (Matthew 4:1–11).
- Both Moses and Jesus served as leaders throughout their respective missions.
- He served as a mediator in the establishment of the old covenant between God and the nation of Israel (Deuteronomy 30:15–18), and he was a prophet who delivered God’s Word to the people and performed miracles to demonstrate his authority.
- He instructed them in the law and served as a judge for them.
- Moses directed the construction of the tabernacle, which served as a dwelling place for God among His people and a place of worship for them.
- Jesus came to earth in order to redeem humanity from sin and to bring people into a relationship with God that would remain for all eternity.
- Jesus performed miracles in order to fulfill the prophecies of the prophets.
Matthew 5:17 says that Jesus fulfilled the Law, and Matthew 25:31–46 says that Jesus will be the Judge on the last judgment day.
Hebrews 4:14–16; 10:19–23; Matthew 27:50–51 are examples of how Jesus provides us with direct access to God.
He was authoritative in His teaching, and he was strong in the miracles that He performed.
Jesus accepted young children and outcasts into his home.
Similarly, Moses divided the Red Sea (Exodus 14), and Jesus calmed the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:35–41) and even walked on it (Mark 6:45–52) during his ministry.
(John 4).
God handed Moses the Law on Mount Sinai, and Jesus vowed to carry out the provisions of that Law (Matthew 5:17).
‘For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ,’ says the Bible in John 1:17.
Just as I have loved you, you are to love one another as I have loved you.
Moses had a face-to-face conversation with God and had to hide his face thereafter because it had been lighted (Exodus 33:7–11; 34:29).
His face shined brightly during His earthly ministry (Luke 9:28–36).
Moses made his appearance at the transfiguration as well.
Jesus introduced communion over a Passover dinner in order for His people to recall how His sacrifice had freed them from their sins (Matthew 17:26–29).
Multiple times throughout the desert, the Israelites expressed their dissatisfaction with Moses (Exodus 15, 22, 25, 16, 2–12, 17:2–7).
As recorded in Luke 4:16–30, Jesus was rejected by the majority of religious authorities as well as certain people from His hometown.
Judas, one of Jesus’ twelve followers, betrayed Him (Mark 14:10–11), and Jesus was executed.
When Jesus was jailed before his crucifixion, all of his followers deserted him (Mark 14:50).
Moses was a savior of the Israelites, and his role was to foreshadow the one genuine Savior—Jesus Christ—who would come later on.
Moses himself was denied entry into the Promised Land because of his sin, despite the fact that God showed him the land and buried Moses Himself there (Deuteronomy 34).
He will return one day to take us to be with Him for all eternity (John 14:1–3; Acts 1:6–11; Philippians 3:20; Revelation 21:4).
While there are many parallels between Moses and Jesus, there is one significant difference: Moses was a mere mortal.
Jesus, on the other hand, is both a human being and a divine being.
We can only be forgiven and achieve salvation if we place our trust in Him and His promises.
Truths that are related: What is the identity of Jesus Christ?
Was Moses a historical figure in the Bible? What is the Mosaic Covenant and what does it entail? The titles “prophet,” “priest,” and “king” refer to three distinct roles held by Jesus. In accordance with the new covenant What exactly is it? Return to: The Bible’s Statements on Individuals
Moses to Jesus to us
“Whatever you tie on earth will be bound in heaven,” the Bible states (Matthew 18:18). Deuteronomy 34:1-12 and Matthew 18:15-20 It is the feast day of St. Clare of Assisi. Throughout Jewish history, the figure of Moses emerges as the creator of Israel and the originator of the Law of Moses. As a result of the Exodus, he is credited with leading the Hebrews out of slavery in Egypt, and he is also credited with mediating the Covenant with God, which establishes Israel as God’s chosen nation. Intimacy with God that began at the Burning Bush and was validated on Mount Sinai when he talks with Yahweh face to face are the source of his holiness and power as a result of his unique relationship with God.
- Considering that Moses is cited more than 80 times in the New Testament, he is considered to be the interpretative key, which is fulfilled and superseded by Jesus’ role as the Son of God.
- Jesus’ death and resurrection represent the true Exodus from sin and death and the entrance into the freedom of God’s children.
- It may be argued that the convergence of all the themes surrounding Moses in the Old Testament finally concentrates salvation history on the gift of reconciliation, which unites all of God’s people in a single covenant of love, as revealed in today’s Gospel.
- Love is the only thing that can bring human history to a close and return mankind to its original image and likeness in the eyes of God.
- Every time sinners seek and receive forgiveness, every time communities are reconciled through compassion, and every time divides are mended through prayer, the day-to-day reality of this hope is realized.
- What we bind on earth is also binded in the kingdom of heaven.
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Answer to Question 38: What Does Everyone Need to Know About Jesus? A prophet is a representative of God, one who communicates the message of God to the general public. In most cases, they were unpopular at the time they were delivering the message. God raised up a large number of prophets, according to the Old Testament.
They are known by the names Elijah, Jeremiah, and Isaiah. In contrast, the Old Testament foretold that God would rise forth a single exceptional Prophet who would be comparable to Moses. The evidence in support of this is as follows.
The Old Testament Predicted a Special Prophet Would Appear
Moses spoke in his book about a particular prophet who would appear at some point in the future. This prophet would have features that were comparable to Moses’s attributes. “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites, and you must pay attention to that prophet,” we read in the Book of Deuteronomy. It is my intention to bring up a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites. The prophet will be given instructions, and he will communicate to the people what I direct him to say.'” (Deuteronomy 18:15,18 New International Version) There would be certain parallels between this next prophet and Moses.
The following words are found at the end of the Book of Deuteronomy: “It is written in the Book of Deuteronomy: Since that time, no prophet has appeared in Israel who compares to Moses, whom the LORD personally knew.
That Particular Prophet Never Appeared
Furthermore, there is no evidence in the Old Testament that this particular prophet actually appeared. The people were still on the lookout for “the Prophet” at the time of Jesus’ death and resurrection. The religious authorities approached John the Baptist and inquired as to whether he was the “prophet.” This is what we learn from John’s gospel: “What are you going to do now?” they inquired. “Do you identify as Elijah?” “I’m not,” he clarified. “Do you claim to be the Prophet?” “No,” he said emphatically.
In his statement, John stated that he was not the coming prophet.
Jesus Was Recognized as the Prophet
When Jesus of Nazareth appeared on the scene and began performing miracles, he was immediately recognized by many as the long-awaited Prophet who was about to be welcomed into the world by God. We can read about Jesus’ response to Him in the Gospel of John, which is as follows: It was only after seeing His sign that the people realized He was the Prophet who had been waiting to come into the world. (Holy Bible Study Bible) John 6:14 HCSB The people realized that the prophecy of Moses about a coming Prophet had been fulfilled in Jesus, and they rejoiced.
Jesus’ Testimony That He Was “the” Prophet
Jesus Himself declared that He was the fulfillment of the prophecy. Indeed, He was the one who received the words from God the Father and communicated them to the world. In the gospel of John, we find the following: “My doctrine is not mine, but His who sent Me,” Jesus said, referring to the Father. (John 7:16 New King James Version) We have the assertion of Jesus that He was sent by God in this passage. Furthermore, His teaching was based on the teachings of God the Father as well. In other terms, He served as a representative of God, a Prophet.
In the gospel of John, the author makes the following claim: In response, Jesus stated, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, you will recognize that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own initiative, but that I speak these things as the Father has directed me.
When it comes to His own authority, we may read the following passage from Jesus: “For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me has given Me a mandate, as to what I should say and what should not be spoken.” And I am aware that His mandate is life for all eternity.
Jesus was God’s representative to the people, also known as the Prophet.
In the Gospel of John, we learn that “anyone does not love me does not keep my words,” and that “the word that you hear is not mine, but comes from the Father who sent me.” (John 14:24, New Revised Standard Version) He was, in fact, the long-awaited Prophet of God.
The Testimony of His Disciples: Jesus Was the Prophet
Following the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, His followers made it plain that Jesus was a Prophet in the same way that Moses had been before them. a large audience had assembled, Peter addressed them as follows: “Moses said: The Lord your God would rise up for you a Prophet like me from among your brethren,” Peter said. You must pay attention to whatever He will say to you in the future. And the result will be that anyone who refuses to listen to the Prophet will be utterly shut off from the rest of the community.
Jesus Was Greater than Moses
There is one additional aspect that should be mentioned. Jesus Christ was superior to Moses in every way. According to the Bible, Jesus, God the Son, has been with the Father since the beginning of time. No one has ever seen God, according to John. He has shown Himself to be the One and Only Son—the One who is at the Father’s right hand. (18:18 HCSB) (John 1:18 HCSB). There is no legitimate connection to be made between Jesus and Moshe. For all of eternity, Jesus has been in direct communication with God the Father.
Summary – Question 38Was Jesus the Prophet That Moses Predicted Would Come into the World?
The Old Testament said that God would bring up a Prophet like Moses, a man who would be able to converse with God face to face on a regular basis. There was no appearance of this specific Prophet during the entire period of the Old Testament. The people were still waiting for Him in the first century A.D., according to the Bible. John the Baptist admitted that he was not the prophet he claimed to be. However, it is the unifying claim of the New Testament that Jesus Christ was “the Prophet” as foretold in the Old Testament that has gained widespread acceptance.
Jesus Himself declared that He had come to the earth in order to serve as the particular representative of God the Father, the Prophet.
Despite the fact that the Prophet who would come was to be like Moses, there is no similarity between Jesus and Moses in reality.
As a result, Jesus was more important than Moses because He was the one and only God who had ever existed in direct communication with God the Father.
Typology of Moses and Jesus
| MOSES | JESUS |
| An evil king/Pharaoh tried to kill him as a baby:Exodus 1:22 | King Herod tried to kill baby Jesus:Matthew 2:16 |
| He was hidden from the evil king/Pharaoh:Exodus 2:2 | An angel said to hide the child from the evil King Herod:Matthew 2:13 |
| Moses was sent into Egypt to preserve his life:Exodus 2:3-4 | Jesus was taken into Egypt to preserve His life:Matthew 2:13-15 |
| He was saved by women: his mother:Exodus 2:3; MiriamExodus 2:4; Pharaoh’s daughterExodus 2:5-10 | Saved and helped by His mother, Mary:Matthew 2:14 |
| Pharaoh’s daughter adopted Moses:Exodus 2:10 | Joseph adopted Jesus: Matthew 1:25 |
| Moses became a prince of Egypt:Exodus 2:10 | Jesus is the Prince of Peace:Isaiah 9:5;Matthew 28:18;Luke 2:14 |
| Long period of silence from childhood to adulthood | Long period of silence from childhood to adulthood |
| Moses had a secret identity | Messianic secret = Jesus the Son of God |
| He tried to save a Hebrew kinsman:Exodus 2:11-12 | Jesus came to save His Hebrew kinsman first:Mark 7:26-28 |
| Went from being a prince to a pauper:Exodus 2:15-19 | Went from being God to being man:John 1:1-3;Mark 6:3 |
| Saved women at a well: Exodus 2:15-19 | Saved a woman at a well: John chapter 4 |
| Became a shepherd:Exodus 3:1 | He is the Good Shepherd: John 10:11 |
| Moses’ mission was to redeem Israel from slavery to Egypt | Jesus’ mission is to redeem mankind from slavery to sin |
| Moses was loved and supported in his ministry by his sister Miriam | Jesus was loved and supported in his ministry by His mother Mary |
| He was often rejected by his own people | Jesus was often rejected by His own people |
| Moses will give God’s law on the mountain of Sinai:Exodus 20:1-31:18;34:1-35 | Jesus will give the new law from the Mt. of Beatitudes:Matthew chapter 5 |
| Moses spent 40 days fasting on the mountain:Exodus24:18;34:28 | Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert wilderness:Matthew 4:2 |
| Moses performs signs/ miracles | Jesus performs signs/miracles |
| Moses offered his life for the salvation of his people after the sin of the Golden Calf:Exodus 32:32-33 | Jesus offered His life for the salvation of the world:Isaiah 53:12;Romans 5:12;6:10;2 Corinthians 5:15-21;Colossians 1:19-20;2:14-15;1 John 1:7;2:2; etc. |
| Moses is the prophet of the Old Covenant Church | Jesus is the prophet, priest, and King of a New and everlasting Covenant = the universal Catholic Church |
How Is Jesus a Prophet Like Moses?
Jesus is a prophet who came to fulfill prophecy. This reality is acknowledged in varied ways by liberal thinkers, Muslim clergy, and evangelical Christians, among others. So, what exactly is the difference between the two? Those who believe that Jesus is God manifested and the only route to eternal life, as taught by the New Testament, would see that Jesus’ role as prophet is fundamentally different from that of prophets from other religions. But how can we define the difference between the two?
Another approach is to examine how the Bible refers to Jesus as a prophet in various passages.
18:15–22). But what does it mean to be a prophet like Moses, and what does it imply? In order to respond, we must start with Deuteronomy 18 and examine how Christ carries out the instructions of Moses.
Prophet Like Moses
At the end of Deuteronomy 18, Moses delivers a prophecy: “The LORD your God will raise for you a prophet like me who will come from among you, among your brothers—it is to him that you shall listen” (Deut. 18:15). When Moses died, he left behind a collection of writings that we now refer to as the Pentateuch. Later, an editor added these moving lines at the end of Deuteronomy, which were inspired by the book of Isaiah: And in Israel since Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, there has not arisen a prophet like him, nor has there been another prophet like him for all the signs and wonders that the LORD sent him to perform in the land of Egypt, before Pharaoh and all his servants and in all his land, nor for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.
- (Deuteronomy 34:10–12) The anticipation for a prophet like Moses only rose as a result of this historical perspective.
- God provided Moses a vision of heaven that served as a model for the tabernacle (see Exodus 25:9, 40), and he also gave Moses a vision of the Prophet who would lead Israel on a fresh exodus (see Exodus 25:9, 40).
- He is not just a representative of God, as Aaron was for Moses (Ex.
- 12:6–8).
- 7:1).
- 34:12; cf.
- 12:8).
- God created Moses’ prophetic stature to be larger-than-life in order to serve as a paradigm against which all other prophets would be assessed in the future.
- He would bring God to his people, and his people would bring God to their people.
Looking for and Listening to the Prophet
The rest of the Old Testament describes the prophets’ involvement in the history of Israel. For example, the Lord declares in Jeremiah 7:25, “From the day your forefathers came out of Egypt until this day, I have continually sent all of my servants the prophets to your forefathers, and I have visited them day after day.” Despite their continued ministry, none of them is ever referred to as a Prophet—at least not until we come to John the Baptist and Jesus. The fact that John is the first prophet since Malachi generates a number of issues for the Pharisees, including: “Are you Elijah?
- Do you claim to be the Prophet?
- His disciples quickly acknowledge that he is “a prophet” (John 4:19), and the crowds soon agree that he is “the Prophet who is to be born into this world” (John 1:14).
- Though the many aspects of Jesus’ identity remained a mystery until his death and resurrection (John 7:40–41), it wasn’t long before his supporters recognized him as a Prophet in the same way that Moses had.
- You are required to pay attention to everything he has to say.
- Those who pay attention to him will be rescued, while those who do not will be utterly annihilated.
- Those who pay attention to Jesus will be saved, while those who do not will be condemned to death.
- As part of this same conversation, the Father tells Peter, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; pay attention to him” (Luke 9:35).
This last imperative establishes Jesus as a prophet, similar to Moses, whose instructions must be heard, believed, and obeyed if one wishes to enter the kingdom of God (Deut. 18:15).
What It Means
This is the message for today: Jesus’ prophetic words provide forgiveness, redemption, and eternal life to those who believe in them. Because his words are the complete and ultimate revelation from God (Heb. 1:1–2:4), we must pay attention to what he has to say. Jesus, on the other hand, does more than merely disclose God’s realities. God became human (John 1:1–5), the Word became flesh (John 1:14), and his message of grace is much greater than Moses’ message (John 1:14–18). Jesus does more than only expose God’s realities to those who believe in him.
Jesus is a prophet who asks us to follow him from death to life, just as Israel followed Moses across the Red Sea and was baptized into his name.
10:2).
According to Jesus’ words in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me.” His teachings continue to provide life to anyone who would listen today (Eph.
Consequently, when we evaluate the meaning of the word “prophet” in the context of Jesus, we must consider how the entire Bible portrays him as a prophet alongside Moses.
Because it is only when we hear Christ’s voice as the incarnate Lord that we are able to identify who he is and how his words provide life to those who hear them.
He is, without a doubt, the greatest prophet of all time.