Deuteronomy 18:15-22 • The Priest, The Pagan, The Prophet Pt. 2

HOOK

If God spoke to you tonight, would you listen?

Not read a verse. Not hear a sermon. But God Himself spoke directly to you.

At Mount Sinai, that actually happened. God spoke, and the people were terrified. They said, “Moses, you speak to us… but don’t let God speak to us, lest we die.”

They realized something in that moment: a holy God and sinful people cannot come together without a mediator.

Review & Overview

1. The Theme & Purpose

“Beware lest you forget” is a key theme in Deuteronomy.

Moses emphasizes the danger of forgetfulness because it leads to arrogance and disobedience. Israel needs remember two things:

(1) when they prosper, it is God who has caused it, and

(2) If and when they disobey God, He will discipline them as He did when the previous generation failed to believe Him.

Deuteronomy is a call to obedience as a condition to blessing.

God has always been faithful to His covenant and He now extends it to the new generation.

So what we have here is a contract between God and His people.

2. Previous Study’s Review

Last week, we looked at the first two sections of Deuteronomy 18.

First, we saw The Priestly Portion (vs. 1–8).

The Levites did not receive land like the other tribes because the Lord Himself was their inheritance. Their security was not in property but in God.

They were supported by the people’s offerings, which showed that ministry depends on God working through His people.

We also saw that if a Levite’s heart was stirred to serve, he could step in and serve the Lord, reminding us that God is gracious and works through different seasons in our lives.

Second, we saw The Pagan Practices (vs. 9–14).

God warned Israel not to copy the spiritual practices of the nations around them, like witchcraft, mediums, and sorcery.

These were all counterfeit forms of spirituality that tried to gain guidance apart from God.

Instead, Israel was called to be set apart and live differently because they belonged to the Lord.

Tonight, we’ll finish the chapter by looking at The Promised Prophet (vs. 15–22), where Moses points forward to Jesus Christ.

3. Current Study’s Overview

Now as we come to verses 15–22, Moses shifts from warning the people about counterfeit spirituality to showing them how God would truly speak to them.

The nations around Israel used mediums, sorcerers, and spiritists to try to hear from the spiritual world.

But God did not want His people seeking guidance from demonic sources.

Instead, God promised that He would raise up a Prophet from among their own brethren.

This Prophet would not be like the false voices of the world. He would speak with God’s authority, reveal God’s truth, and serve as the mediator between God and His people.

If your taking notes, this section, Moses shows us three important truths:

the need for the Prophet,

the nature of the Prophet,

and the neglect of the Prophet.

3. The Promised Prophet Vs. 15-22

1. The Need for the Prophet Vs. 15-17

So this takes us back to Exodus 20:19. When God spoke to Israel at Mount Sinai, and the people were afraid.

Exodus 20:19 NKJV

19 Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.”

They didn’t want God speaking to them directly. They asked Moses to speak to God for them instead.

So God agreed. He said He would speak through Moses. After that, He continued to speak to His people through prophets.

So here’s the question is: why did God say their request was “good”? Vs. 17b

I don’t think it was because God was happy that they feared Him. But if you are taking notes I think their response shows us three things that were right.

1. First, it showed they understood God’s holiness.

They realized they were standing before a holy, powerful, transcendent God.

They weren’t casual. They weren’t flippant. They weren’t treating Him like a good ole buddy. The Bible says:

Hebrews 12:29 “…our God is a consuming fire.”

Their fear was appropriate because it matched the truth about who God is.

God is not harmless, predictable, or something we can control.

Listen! He is holy, powerful, and completely set apart from us.

At Sinai, they weren’t overreacting, they were seeing clearly who God is.

2. Second, it showed they understood their own sinfulness and limitation.

They knew they could not stand before God in their sinful state without a mediator.

Their request revealed awareness of the gap between sinful man and holy God.

And this BTW is the central problem of the entire Bible: How can sinful humans hear from a holy God and live?

3. Third, and this is the main point: their request pointed forward to the need for a mediator.

God said it was good because it sets up His promise in Deuteronomy 18:18a Look…

And That Prophet is Jesus.

This moment at Sinai exposed a very important truth: fallen humans cannot safely approach God without a mediator.

A mediator is someone who stands between two parties to bridge the gap and communicate on their behalf so they can have a relationship.

And Moses served as a temporary mediator and the prophets after him continued that role.

But Jesus became the final and perfect mediator.

1 Timothy 2:5 NKJV

5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

So God called their request “good” because it aligned with His redemptive plan.

Their fear wasn’t rejection of God, it was recognition that they needed someone to stand between them and God.

And here’s the beautiful part: in Christ, this dynamic reverses.

At Sinai, the people said, “Don’t let God speak to us.”

In Christ, God comes near and speaks in human flesh.

Hebrews 1:1–2 NKJV

1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

Their fear created distance. Christ’s mediation creates access.

Hebrews 4:16 NKJV

16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

2. The Nature of the Prophet Vs. 18-19

God says that one day He will raise up a Prophet like Moses.

Not just another prophet, but thee Prophet. This would be someone unique.

Peter said…

Acts 3:22–23 NKJV

22 For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’

Stephen said…

Acts 7:37 NKJV

37 “This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear.’

Even the Phairasees expected this prophet to come…

John 1:21 NKJV

21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”

This portion of scripture is also important because it explains why many Jews today believe the Messiah will simply be a man like Moses.

They expect him to come and restore Jerusalem, rebuild the Temple, and bring peace to Israel.

But according to Daniel 9:27 and 2 Thessalonians 2:4, those are actually things the antichrist will do.

Daniel 9:27 NKJV

27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”

2 Thessalonians 2:3–4 NKJV

3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

That is why the antichrist will be able to deceive many people. He will appear to fulfill those expectations.

But the true Prophet that Moses spoke about is Jesus Christ.

So Moses saying a prophet like me wasn’t random language because Moses was very unique in Israel’s history. Deuteronomy itself tells us this at the end:

Deuteronomy 34:10 NKJV

10 But since then there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face,

Moses was different because he was:

A deliverer (he led Israel out of slavery)

A mediator (he stood between God and the people)

A lawgiver (he delivered God’s Word)

A covenant representative

Someone who spoke with God “face to face”

So when Moses says, “God will raise up a Prophet like me,” Israel knew this would not be an ordinary prophet.

This would be someone with Moses-level authority or greater.

Both were born during a time when a ruler ordered baby boys to be killed (Pharaoh and Herod).

Both were miraculously preserved by God from death as infants.

Both came out of Egypt according to God’s plan.

Both were chosen by God to deliver His people from slavery.

Both rejected worldly power and privilege to fulfill God’s mission.

Both served as mediators between God and the people.

Both spoke God’s words with divine authority.

Both confirmed their calling through powerful miracles.

Both fasted for 40 days in preparation for their ministry.

Both delivered God’s teaching from a mountain.

Both led people from bondage into freedom.

Both established a covenant between God and His people.

Both were initially rejected by the very people they came to save.

Both interceded before God on behalf of the people.

Both reflected the glory of God visibly.

Both were faithful in fulfilling the mission God gave them.

Both provided bread for the people in the wilderness (manna and the Bread of Life).

Both shepherded God’s people through a wilderness journey.

Both performed signs that demonstrated God’s power over nature.

Both were sent specifically by God to reveal Him to His people.

Both required the people to listen to and obey their words.

Both pointed forward to a greater deliverance for God’s people.

APPLICATION: So Israel waited 1,400 years between Moses and Jesus, and no one fully matched Moses, until Jesus came.

Jesus didn’t just resemble Moses. He surpassed him.

Moses delivered Israel from Egypt — Jesus delivers us from sin.

Moses gave the Law — Jesus fulfills the Law.

Moses spoke God’s words — Jesus is the Word (John 1:1).

3. The Neglect of the Prophet Vs. 20-22

Moses talks about the false prophet. God warns Israel that when they enter the Promised Land, they need to be on guard.

There will be people who claim to speak for the Lord but actually do not.

They may say, “This is what God says,” but they are not sent by Him.

APPLICATION: This is a strong word for us today too.

We also need to be on guard against false prophets. There are people who claim to represent Jesus Christ but end up teaching a different gospel.

Just because someone uses the name of Jesus does not mean they are speaking the truth.

God gave Israel a clear test. If a prophet made a prediction and it did not come to pass, that person was not from the Lord.

We can still apply that principle today. We also have something even more solid, we have the full Word of God.

Everything must be checked against Scripture. God will never contradict Himself.

Acts 17:11 talks about the Bereans, who searched the Scriptures daily to see if what Paul said was true.

Acts 17:11 NKJV

11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

1 Thessalonians 5:21 NKJV

21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.

That is our responsibility. We do not blindly accept teaching. We test it by the Word.

ENDING…