God is holy. Throughout Scripture he manifests his holy presence as a fire. God affirms the Israelites request for Moses to serve as their spokesman. This was in reference to the events on Mt. Sinai (a.k.a. Mt. Horeb) when God gave them the law.  (See Exodus 19:16-20). 

In today’s text, Moses is giving his final elaboration of the law for Israel who will settle in Canaan without him. How will they seek divine guidance?  They must not seek it using any of the methods described in the Deuteronomy 18:9-14, which include spirit mediums and divination, etc. Moses states that God will “raise up for you a prophet like me from among you” (verse 15).  

Jesus is the promised Prophet to whom we must listen.

He is “like” Moses in many ways. Both were threatened by a political leader (Pharaoh and Herod) and were called out of Egypt. Both were transfigured on a mountain. Both initiated a covenant between God and man. Both served as intercessors and mediators between God and man.

In Exodus 23:23, Moses offers himself as an atoning sacrifice for the sins of Israel, but God does not accept this. Later we will learn that only the perfect and spotless Lamb of God, Jesus, could pay for our sins. Jesus is like Moses in many ways, but is so much more! Hebrews tells us that Jesus is far greater than Moses, just as a Son is far greater than a servant in a Father’s house (see Hebrews 3:1-6). We must look to him for how to live.

Taking It Home: Use the Stop, Look, Listen tool to evaluate your life. STOP for a minute to consider how you are living. LOOK at Jesus and all the marvelous ways he loves and provides for us. LISTEN to his teachings and live accordingly.