Bible Pathways 3/7/2001
March 7
Read Deuteronomy 17 -- 20
Moses spoke to God face to face (Exodus 33:11), and there arose not aprophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face (Deuteronomy 34:10). Moses foretold: The Lord your God will raise up to you a Prophet (Jesus) from the midst of . . . your brethren, like to me; to Him you shall harken. . . . The Lord said to me. . . . I (God) will put My words in His mouth; and He shall speak to them all that I shall command Him. . . . Whoever will not harken to My words which He shall speak in My Name, I will require it of him (18:15-19).
The prophet Jeremiah foretold that, in the end times, God would make a New Covenant with His people (Jeremiah 31:31-34).
Centuries later, in response to the questions of the Jewish leaders, John the Baptist confessed . . . I am not the Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah). And they asked him, What then? . . . Are you that Prophet? And he answered, No (John 1:20-21). Philip, whose home was in Bethsaida (1:44), was possibly a follower of John the Baptist; but, after meeting Jesus, Philip realized that Jesus was the long-expected Messiah. Philip went to Nathanael, who lived in Cana, a short distance from Nazareth, and said: We have found Him, of whom Moses in the Law, and the Prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of Joseph (1:45). Nathanael, knowing that Jesus grew up in Nazareth; but, knowing the prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (1:46; 7:42; Micah 5:2), at first doubted Philip. However, he later said to Jesus: You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel (John 1:49).
In conversing with His critics, Jesus said that Moses and the Scriptures bore witness of Him: Had you believed Moses, you would have believed Me: for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how shall you believe My words? (5:46-47).
Jesus declared to Pilate: My Kingdom is not of this world, meaning it has no earthly origin, but is a spiritual Kingdom without end (18:36).
On the Day of Pentecost, Peter boldly proclaimed that Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Moses, saying: Moses truly said to the fathers, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up to you of your brethren, like to me; Him shall you hear in all things whatsoever He shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that Prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. Yes, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days (Acts 3:22-24; Deuteronomy 18:19). The Prophet whom Moses foretold is Jesus, who said: He that follows Me shall not walk in darkness (John 8:12).
The writer of the Book of Hebrews wrote: He that despised (disobeyed) Moses' Law died without mercy . . . How much worse punishment, do you suppose, shall he be thought worthy to deserve, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant, by which he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and has done despite to (insulted) the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:28-29).
Christ Revealed: Through the Old Testament sacrifices which were without blemish or defect (Deuteronomy 17:1). Christ was perfectly pure from all sin and all appearance of evil (I Pet. 1:19).
Word Studies: 17:1 evilfavoredness means any serious defect; 18:8 sale of his patrimony means sale of his family property; 18:10 pass through the fire means burning children alive as a sacrifice to the god Molech; 20:11 be tributaries unto means be subject to.
Prayer:
Government Officials: Rep. Brian Baird (WA) and Rep. Elton Gallegly (CA) · Pray for Bible Pathway Faith Promise Supporters · Pray for the Bible Pathway International Radio broadcast in honor of Dorothy Thornburg · Country: Angola (11 million) in west-central Africa · Major languages: Portuguese and Bantu dialects · Christianity is gradually being driven underground by communism · 60% Roman Catholic; 20% Protestant; 5% belief in ancestor spirits, witches, and medicine men · Prayer Suggestion: Trust the Lord for deliverance in times of trouble (Psalms 50:15).
Optional Reading: Luke 22
Memory Verse for the Week: Colossians 1:19
