But the prophet who shall speak a word presumptuously in my Name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he shall speak in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die . (Dt. 18:20)
False Prophets
It does not matter if people predict something in the Name of the Lord because they are inspired by a demon, or if they do it by the futility of their own mind. Either way, a false prophet is a false prophet.
And you may say in your heart, “How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?” When a prophet speaks in the Name of the Lord, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing, which the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.(Dt 18:21-22)
Then Jeremiah the prophet said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen now, Hananiah, the Lord has not sent you, and you have made this people trust in a lie. Therefore thus says theLord, ‘Behold, I am about to remove you from the face of the earth…’” (Jer 28:15-16)
Hananiah predicted things that did not happen.
Then the Lord said to me, “The prophets are prophesying falsehood in my Name. I have neither sent them nor commanded them nor spoken to them; they are prophesying to you a false vision, divination, futility and the deception of their own minds.” (Jer 14:14)
These false prophets were deceived by what was in their own mind.
There were a lot of false prophets running around in Jeremiah's day, but even after their prophecies were proven to be false, people continued to follow them:
The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule on their own authority; and my people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it? (Jer 5:31)
It does not say they are not His people, nor that they are not prophets, but He does say that they prophesy falsely and the people love it so.
Now, when Jesus warned about false prophets in the Last Days, many people think He was talking about the Jehovah Witnesses, the Mormons, the Hare Krishnas, etc. There is no doubt in my mind that the proliferation of these cults is of some prophetic significance, and they are certainly false prophets. But those are not the false prophets Jesus was warning about. He said:
For false christs and false prophets will be raised, and they will give signs and wonders in order to lead astray, if possible even the elect. (Mark 13:22)
A Prophet Like Moses
The Talmud says that Deut 18:18 is about the Messiah:
I shall raise up a Prophet to them from among their brothers, like you; and I will put My words in His mouth; and He shall speak to them all that I shall command Him.
We know that it is about Jesus, who was a prophet like Moses.
Born Under an Oppressive Foreign Rule
Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of the sons of Israel are more and mightier than we. Come let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply and in the event of war, they also join themselves to those who hate us, and fight against us, and depart from the land.” So they appointed taskmasters over them to afflict them with hard labor. And they built for Pharaoh, storage cities, Pithom and Raamses. (Ex 1:8-11)
Moses was born under an oppressive, foreign rule.
Now it came about in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. (Lk 2:1-2)
Jesus was born under an oppressive, foreign rule
Threatened by a Wicked King
Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other was named Puah; and he said, “When you are helping the Hebrew women to give birth and see them upon the birthstool, if it is a son, then you shall put him to death; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.” (Ex 1:15-16)
A wicked king decreed that Moses and the male Jewish children be killed.
Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its environs, from two years old and under. (Mt 2:16)
A wicked king decreed that Jesus and the male Jewish children be killed.
The Faith of the Parents
And the woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was beautiful, she hid him for three months.(Ex 2:2)
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's edict. (Heb 11:23)
Moses' life was saved and preserved through the faith of his parents.
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise and take the Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy him.” So he got up, took the Child and His mother during the night and left for Egypt. (Mt 2:13-14)
Jesus' life was saved and preserved through the faith of His parents.
Protected in Egypt
And the child grew, and she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she named him Moses, and said, "Because I drew him out of the water." (Ex 2:10)
Moses received protection in Egypt for a time.
And he arose and took the Child and His mother by night, and departed for Egypt; and was there until the death of Herod, that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying "Out of Egypt did I call My Son." (Mt 2:14-15)
Jesus received protection in Egypt for a time.
His Wisdom Not Surpassed
Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses… "Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us as well?" Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man that was on the face of the earth. (Numbers 12:1-3)
There were people trying to compete with Moses because of his wisdom.
And it came about that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and answers. (Lk 2:46-47)
ed to compete with Him, but they could not do it.
Rejected by the Jews
Now when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people assembled about Aaron, and said to him, "Come, make us a god who will go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” (Ex 32:1)
Moses was rejected for a time by the people of Israel.
But the governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barabbas." And Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?" They all said, "Let Him be crucified!" (Mt 27:21-22)
Toward the end of His life, Jesus told the Jews: "You shall not see Me until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!'" (Matthew 23:29)
For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery, lest you be wise in your own estimation, that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. (Rom 22:25)
Jesus was rejected for a time by the people of Israel.
Accepted by the Gentiles
And he (Moses) went out the next day, and behold, two Hebrews were fighting with each other; and he said to the offender, "Why are you striking your companion?" But he said, "Who made you a prince or judge over us?" When Pharaoh heard of this matter, he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from the presence of Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian. And Moses was willing to dwell with the man, and he gave his daughter Zipporah to Moses . (Ex 2:13, 134, 15, 21)
Moses was rejected by the Jews, but accepted by the Gentiles.
Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear. (Rom 11:20)
I permitted myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me; I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek me. Therefore, thus says the Lord God, "Behold, My servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry. Behold, My servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty. Behold, My servants shall rejoice, but you shall be put to shame. Behold, My servants shall shout joyfully with a glad heart, but you shall cry out with a heavy heart, and you shall wail with a broken spirit. And you will leave your name for a curse to My chosen ones, and the Lord God will slay you. But My servants will be called by another name.” (Is 65:1, 13-15)
Jesus was rejected by the Jews, but accepted by the Gentiles.
Criticized by His Family
Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman. (Num 12:1)
Moses married a Cushite - a black African woman.
Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind." (Mk 3:20:21)
Moses was criticized by his family because he took a Gentile wife. Jewish people criticize Jesus because, in figure or in type, He took a mainly Gentile wife, the church. The book of Ruth is read in the synagogues on the day of Pentecost – the story of a Jewish man taking a Gentile wife and a baby who was called “the redeemer” in Bethlehem being born.
Willing to Bear Their Sin
Then Moses returned to the Lord, and said, "Alas, this people has committed a great sin, and they have made a god of gold for themselves. But now, if Thou wilt, forgive their sin and if not, please blot me out from Thy book which Thou hast written!” (Ex 32:31-21)
Moses prayed to God to forgive the sins of his people and Moses was willing to bear the consequences of their sin and their guilt.
But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." (Lk 23:34)
For you have been called to this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. (1 Pet 2:21-24)
Jesus prayed to God to forgive the sins of His people and He was willing to receive the consequences of their sin and their guilt.
Fasted Forty Days and Nights
So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread or drink water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments. (Ex 34:28)
Moses fasted for forty days and forty nights to bring a covenant to God's people.
And after he had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry . (Mt 4:2)
Face to Face with God
Since then no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. (Dt 34:10)
Moses had a face to face relationship with God.
No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him. (Jn 1:18)
Jesus had a face to face relationship with God.
His Face Shone
.Whenever Moses came out and spoke the sons of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone. So Moses would replace the veil over his face until he went in to speak with Him. (Ex 34:34,35)
When Moses met God face to face, he glowed supernaturally.
And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light. (Mt 17:2)
Jesus glowed supernaturally like Moses.
A Voice Was Heard
In Exodus we read that God spoke to Moses directly from heaven and a voice was heard.
And Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” "Father, glorify Thy name." There came therefore a voice out of heaven: "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again." (Jn 12:23, 28)
God spoke to Jesus directly from heaven.
Tomb Guarded by an Angel
In the epistle of Jude, verse 9, we read that an angel guarded the tomb of Moses.
And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. And his appearance was like lightning, and his garment as white as snow; and the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. The angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen." (Mt 28:2-6)
An angel guarded Jesus' tomb.
Revealed God's Name
Then Moses said to God, "Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I shall say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you.' Now they may say to me, 'What is His name?' What shall I say to them?" And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM"; And He said, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, "I AM has sent me to you." (Ex 3:13-14)
Moses revealed God's name to God's people.
I manifested Thy name to the men whom Thou gavest Me out of the world. And I am no more in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to Thee. Holy Father, keep them in Thy name, the name which Thou hast given Me, that they may be one even as we are. While I was with them, I was keeping them in Thy name which Thou hast given Me. (Jn 17:6, 11, 12)
Jesus revealed God's name to God's people.
Fed the People
When the layer of dew evaporated, behold, on the surface of the wilderness there was a fine flake-like thing, as frost on the ground. When the sons of Israel saw it, they said to one another, "What is it?" for they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, "It is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat.” (Ex 16:14-15)
Moses fed God's people in large numbers, supernaturally.
And ordering the multitudes to recline on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up towards heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitude, and they all ate and were satisfied. (Mt 14: 19-20)
Jesus fed God's people in large numbers, supernaturally.
Showed Signs and Wonders
Since then no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, for all the signs and wonders which the Lord sent him to per-form in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh, all his servants, and all his land, and for all the mighty power and for all the great terror which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel. (Dt 34:10-12)
Moses did miracles, signs and wonders as no other man before him had ever done.
But the witness which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish, the very works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me. (Jn 5:36)
The Lord Jesus did works, did signs and wonders, and did miracles, as no one else has ever done
Made a Covenant with Blood
Then he took the book of the covenant and he read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, "All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!" So Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, "Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words." (Ex 24:7-8)
Moses went to a mountain, made a covenant with blood and covered God's people with that blood.
And while they were eating Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” And, when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins." (Mt 2:26-28)
But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place, once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. (Heb 9:11-12)
The Lord Jesus went to a mountain, made a covenant with blood and covered His people with that blood.
There were many great men of God in the Old Testament – Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Samuel, David - just to name a few. But there was only one prophet like Moses, the Lord Jesus Christ, the true Messiah of Israel.