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To be a Prophet, January 15
The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of
thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken.
Deuteronomy 18:15
.
The hope of Israel was embodied in the promise made at the time of the call
of Abraham, and afterward repeated again and again to his posterity, “In thee shall
all families of the earth be blessed” (
Genesis 12:3
). As the purpose of God for
the redemption of the race was unfolded to Abraham, the Sun of Righteousness
shone upon his heart, and his darkness was scattered. And when, at last, the Saviour
Himself walked and talked among the sons of men, He bore witness to the Jews of
the patriarch’s bright hope of deliverance through the coming of a Redeemer. “Your
father Abraham rejoiced to see my day,” Christ declared; “and he saw it, and was
glad” (
John 8:56
).
The same blessed hope was foreshadowed in the benediction pronounced by the
dying patriarch Jacob upon his son Judah....
Through Moses, God’s purpose to send His Son as the Redeemer of the fallen
race was kept before Israel. On one occasion, shortly before his death, Moses
declared, “The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of
thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken.” Plainly had Moses
been instructed for Israel concerning the work of the Messiah to come. “I will raise
them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee,” was the word of
Jehovah to His servant; “and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak
unto them all that I shall command him” (
Deuteronomy 18:15, 18
) (
Prophets and
Kings, 683, 684
).
About 40 days after the birth of Christ, Joseph and Mary took Him to Jerusalem,
to present Him to the Lord, and to offer sacrifice....
The priest went through the ceremony of his official work. He took the child
in his arms, and held it up before the altar. After handing it back to its mother, he
inscribed the name “Jesus” on the roll of the firstborn. Little did he think, as the
babe lay in his arms, that it was the Majesty of heaven, the King of glory. The priest
did not think that this babe was the One of whom Moses had written, “A Prophet
shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall
ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you” (
Acts 3:22
). He did not
think that this babe was He whose glory Moses had asked to see. But One greater
than Moses lay in the priest’s arms; and when he enrolled the child’s name, he was
enrolling the name of One who was the foundation of the whole Jewish economy
(
The Desire of Ages, 50-52
).
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