You probably know most of the prophets in the Bible like Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Daniel, Jonah, and the others with Old Testament books named for them, but the bible identifies many more prophets. In this blog series we will get to know most of the prophets of the Bible, the ones with books named after them, and those whose names you may not know at all.
The English word prophet in the Old Testament comes from the Hebrew word “nabiy” which means “spokesman” or “speaker”. The Greek word for prophet is “prophētēs”, which can mean “one who speaks forth” or “advocate.” Prophets are also called “seers,” because of their spiritual insight or their ability to “see” the future, as directed by God.
Moses
Last week's post was about Moses' sister, Miriam.
Moses is most known and famous for being the person who was God’s representative in demanding that Pharaoh the ruler of Egypt release the Israelites and free them from slavery. After their release Moses led the freed people on a 40 year trip from Egypt to Canaan, the land that God promised Abraham.
As the leader of the Israelites Moses perfectly fit the definition of a prophet. A “spokesperson”, “one who speaks forth”, “advocate”. He also spoke of a coming prophet like him.
Deuteronomy 18:15, 19 (NLT2) Moses continued, “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.19 I will personally deal with anyone who will not listen to the messages the prophet proclaims on my behalf.
That prophet was Jesus Christ.
Acts 3:17-23 (NLT2)17 “Friends, I realize that what you and your leaders did to Jesus was done in ignorance.18 But God was fulfilling what all the prophets had foretold about the Messiah—that he must suffer these things.19 Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.20 Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah.21 For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets.22 Moses said, ‘The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your own people. Listen carefully to everything he tells you.’23 Then Moses said, ‘Anyone who will not listen to that Prophet will be completely cut off from God’s people.’
The English word prophet in the Old Testament comes from the Hebrew word “nabiy” which means “spokesman” or “speaker”. The Greek word for prophet is “prophētēs”, which can mean “one who speaks forth” or “advocate.” Prophets are also called “seers,” because of their spiritual insight or their ability to “see” the future, as directed by God.
Moses
Last week's post was about Moses' sister, Miriam.
Moses is most known and famous for being the person who was God’s representative in demanding that Pharaoh the ruler of Egypt release the Israelites and free them from slavery. After their release Moses led the freed people on a 40 year trip from Egypt to Canaan, the land that God promised Abraham.
As the leader of the Israelites Moses perfectly fit the definition of a prophet. A “spokesperson”, “one who speaks forth”, “advocate”. He also spoke of a coming prophet like him.
Deuteronomy 18:15, 19 (NLT2) Moses continued, “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.19 I will personally deal with anyone who will not listen to the messages the prophet proclaims on my behalf.
That prophet was Jesus Christ.
Acts 3:17-23 (NLT2)17 “Friends, I realize that what you and your leaders did to Jesus was done in ignorance.18 But God was fulfilling what all the prophets had foretold about the Messiah—that he must suffer these things.19 Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.20 Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah.21 For he must remain in heaven until the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long ago through his holy prophets.22 Moses said, ‘The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your own people. Listen carefully to everything he tells you.’23 Then Moses said, ‘Anyone who will not listen to that Prophet will be completely cut off from God’s people.’
Who Was Moses?
Just prior to Moses' birth, the ruler Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt at that time, had decreed that all Israelite male children should be drowned. However, after Moses was born, his mother and sister put him in a basket and put him in the Nile River. Pharaoh's daughter found him. Without revealing her relationship to the child, Moses' sister asked Pharaoh's daughter if she should go get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for her. When Pharaoh's daughter agreed, Moses' sister got his own mother.
Exodus 2:9 (NLT2) “Take this baby and nurse him for me,” the princess told the baby’s mother. “I will pay you for your help.” So the woman took her baby home and nursed him.
Moses grew up with did Egyptian royalty.
Acts 7:22 (NLT2) Moses was taught all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was powerful in both speech and action.
When he became an adult Moses fled Egypt after killing an Egyptian. After 40 years he returned, being commissioned by God, to confront Pharaoh and demand that he release the Israelites.
Acts 7:23-34 (NLT2)23 “One day when Moses was forty years old, he decided to visit his relatives, the people of Israel.24 He saw an Egyptian mistreating an Israelite. So Moses came to the man’s defense and avenged him, killing the Egyptian.25 Moses assumed his fellow Israelites would realize that God had sent him to rescue them, but they didn’t.26 “The next day he visited them again and saw two men of Israel fighting. He tried to be a peacemaker. ‘Men,’ he said, ‘you are brothers. Why are you fighting each other?’27 “But the man in the wrong pushed Moses aside. ‘Who made you a ruler and judge over us?’ he asked.28 ‘Are you going to kill me as you killed that Egyptian yesterday?’29 When Moses heard that, he fled the country and lived as a foreigner in the land of Midian. There his two sons were born.30 “Forty years later, in the desert near Mount Sinai, an angel appeared to Moses in the flame of a burning bush.31 When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight. As he went to take a closer look, the voice of the LORD called out to him,32 ‘I am the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.’ Moses shook with terror and did not dare to look. 33 “Then the LORD said to him, ‘Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.34 I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groans and have come down to rescue them. Now go, for I am sending you back to Egypt.’
At first Pharaoh refused to release the Israelites but after a series of plagues, he reluctantly, released them. Moses and the Israelites left on a journey that would take them in circles and last forty years.
In spite of Moses' leadership, the Israelites frequently disobeyed God and He disciplined them. Moses interceded for them every time and God relented. On one occasion because of his frustration with the people Moses didn't do exactly what God told him to do and because of it he was not allowed to go into Canaan, the Promised Land.
Numbers 20:9-12 (NLT2)9 So Moses did as he was told. He took the staff from the place where it was kept before the LORD.10 Then he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at the rock. “Listen, you rebels!” he shouted. “Must we bring you water from this rock?”11 Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill.12 But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them!”
Moses was a man of faith; he served the Lord, and he served the Lord's people. He is believed by scholars to have written the first five books of the Old Testament, known as the Pentateuch
Moses was a leader, a mediator, and a deliverer. He was God's representative in establishing the Ten Commandments and the Law. Moses was not perfect.
He wrestled with his emotions, struggled with his calling, killed a man, and disobeyed the Lord. Yet God used him.
Moses is an example of a man who was committed to the Lord. God used him to point the way to Christ.
Deuteronomy 18:15, 19 (NLT2) Moses continued, “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.19 I will personally deal with anyone who will not listen to the messages the prophet proclaims on my behalf.
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