“Never again did there arise in Israel a prophet like Moses—whom Yehovah singled out, face to face, for the various signs and portents that Yehovah sent him to display in the land of Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his courtiers and his whole country, and for all the great might and awesome power that Moses displayed before all Israel.” —Deuteronomy 34:10-12 In Exodus 33:11, the Bible states that “Yehovah would speak to Moses face to face, as one man speaks to another.” Of all the prophets of Israel’s history, no one had been given such a privilege to speak with Yehovah face to face and with such frequency as the man Moses. It was an opportunity that was specifically tailored for Moses to serve the purposes of Yehovah in separating the sons of Israel unto Himself, singling them out from among the nations that surrounded them. It was unique in that never again would Israel experience such a phenomenal work that Yehovah accomplished through one man in all that He did by extracting the promised seed of Abraham from a nation mightier and more influential than Jacob. Thus the closing statements of the book of Deuteronomy proclaim, “Never again did there arise in Israel a prophet like Moses…” (Deuteronomy 34:10). Yes, Moses exhorted the people when he said, “Yehovah your God will rise up for you a prophet from among your people, like myself; him you shall heed” (Deuteronomy 18:15). Yes, Moses reaffirmed the very words of Yehovah by reiterating what the Almighty had decreed when He said, “I will raise up a prophet for them from among their own people, like yourself; I will put My words in his mouth and he will speak them to all that I command him…” (Deuteronomy 18:18). Yes, we see throughout Israel’s history prophets appointed by Yehovah who were sent to the sons of Israel. Yet, no one was used in such an awe inspiring capacity by God to affect such a prominent and significant change in a people group as Moses. Thus the book of Deuteronomy finishes by saying, “Never again did there arise in Israel a prophet like Moses…” (Deuteronomy 34:10). Of course, it should be mentioned that “Moses was a very humble man, more so than any other man on earth” (Numbers 12:3). Certainly not humble in the way that many of us think of humility—the passive attitude that sheepishly denies any form of flattery or recognition because that is simply what we are expected to do. No. Simply think of it in light of the text: Yehovah, the God of all creation, singles him out to accomplish His purposes in Jacob, speaks face to face with him with noticeable frequency, and tasks him with the responsibility of transcribing and conveying the terms and conditions of His covenant with His people to His people, instructing them in the way that they should go. Any individual given such privilege would need to maintain a sense of their unworthiness for such an opportunity, yet at the same time have the confidence to accept the responsibility, approaching both God and man with the very real and intimate knowledge that realizes that the glory of the Almighty is the only issue that is on the line that has any weight and significance in the lives of His people. Moses knew who he was (read Exodus 3 and 4), yet he understood what Yehovah required of him in leading the sons of Israel. And it is of Moses—and no one else—that the final words of Deuteronomy conclude saying, “Never again did there arise in Israel a prophet like Moses—whom Yehovah singled out, face to face, for the various signs and portents that Yehovah sent him to display in the land of Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his courtiers and his whole country, and for all the great might and awesome power that Moses displayed before all Israel” (Deuteronomy 34:10-12). In the end, the reason why the final passage of the book of Deuteronomy states, “Never again did there arise in Israel a prophet like Moses,” is because that is how Yehovah determined it to be. As Yehovah led Moses, so Moses led Israel. As Yehovah instructed Moses with His covenant, so Moses conveyed that covenant to Jacob. As Yehovah directed Moses toward His own glory, so Moses placed the people’s focus and perspective on the glory of their God. Ultimately, it was Yehovah who led and instructed and directed the sons of Israel to His way, His covenant, and His glory. Today, Moses is gone, yet Yehovah lives on. And He continues to lead and instruct and direct His sons and His daughters to His way, His covenant, and His glory. Moses…he simply receives a little bit of recognition that is washed out by the glory of the Most High God—Yehovah is His name!—yet, the Almighty still deems it significant to mention His servant. “Never again did there arise in Israel a prophet like Moses—whom Yehovah singled out…face…to…face…”
Posted on: Tue, 10 Sep 2013 09:00:06 +0000
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