Standing Strong |
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Shoftim—Judges
Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9 Isaiah 51:12-52:12 John 1:19-27 Acts 3:22-23 |
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Isaiah 11:6 2 Thessalonians 2:15 |
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Parasha Shoftim begins with the command to appoint judges to ensure justice and correct interpretation of the Law throughout all the land of Israel. The Law of G-d as given in the Torah is so important that when speaking of the future time when Israel was to seek a king the command was given to have him handwrite a copy of the Torah so that he would have the Torah with him always. I do not think this refers to the written copy that the king was to write but the knowledge that would become so much more ingrained by hand writing a copy of the full Torah. While many a person will complain about the written assignments they had as a student, most clearly admit that the writing of the items to be learned did ingrain the knowledge deeply. Most of us even remember such lessons many years later. But what impressed me the most about this week’s reading is the prophecy of Moses about the coming Messiah.
Most people seem to never go to Moses to find prophecies of the Messiah-to-come. Yet in Deut 18:15 it is clearly stated, “The L-rd your G-d will raise up for you a prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren, Him shall you hear, according to all you desire of the L-rd your G-d in Horeb in the day of the assembly saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the L-rd my G-d, nor let me see this great fire anymore lest I die.’”
G-d knew He was not done with expounding on His commandments to His people. He was not done speaking. He spoke through Moses and came as Messiah to speak further with His people and to all who would hear Him.
This prophet, and much more than just a prophet, was the One looked for. In the New Testament we read of the scribes sending a delegation to John the immerser with the questions, (John 1:21)’Are you Elijah?” and “Are you the Prophet?” The reference to a singular and specific prophet as “the Prophet” refers back to the prophet foretold by Moses. We also find Philip telling Nathaniel, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph” (John 1:45). After Jesus fed the 5,000 the people began to say Jesus was “the Prophet who is to come into the world.”(John 6:14). Peter refers to Jesus as The Prophet in Acts 3:22-23 and Stephen declared before the Sanhedrin that Jesus was the Messiah. “This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, ‘The L-rd your G-d will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear.’” (Acts 7:37-38) Stephen clearly referred to Jesus as “This Moses.”
How were Moses and the Messiah alike? Lets look as just some of the resemblances.
There were 400 years of waiting prior to G-d sending Moses to deliver His people from the Pharaoh of Egypt. There were 400 years of waiting before G-d sent Jesus to deliver His people from sin and death.
Both Moses and Jesus are Jewish. This is important. (Muslims claim Mohammed is the prophet referred to here but for that to be correct, Mohammed must be a Jew.)
Both were born under foreign rule.
Both were threatened by wicked kings.
Both spent their early years in Egypt as miraculous protection from those who sought their lives.
Both were initially rejected by the Jews.
Both were accepted by Gentiles. Moses by the Midianites (ex 2:14-22); Jesus by many Gentiles throughout the world.
Both were criticized by their families.
Both were teachers.
Both were humble servants to G-d.
Both fasted for 40 days in the wilderness (Ex 34:28 Matt 4:2).
Moses sent 12 spies into Canaan; Jesus sent 12 apostles to reach the world.
Moses appointed 70 rulers over Israel (Num 11:16-17); Jesus anointed 70 disciples to teach the nations (Luke 10:1)
Both were mediators of a covenant in blood (Ex 24:7-8; Mark 14:24 (and other references)).
Just as the Torah was given 50 days after the Exodus from Egypt, the Holy Spirit was given 50 days after Jesus’ resurrection.
The foretelling of Jesus by Moses and these and other similarities shows prophecy fulfilled.
Selah.
References: www.hebrew4christians.com; Chumash, Stone Edition; the New King James Bible; Everyman’s Talmud. |