The Prophet Without Equal
"I will raise up for them a prophet like you
[Moses] from among their brothers" Deut. 18:18.

In Burkina Faso, West Africa, a man named Moussa went to visit his friend
Joseph. After Joseph offered his guest a mango to eat, Moussa said, "I have
now been in the kingdom of Jesus the Christ for two months. However, my crops
have begun to show signs of blight. So, tomorrow a juju priest will come to
deal with this matter. Tell me, Brother Joseph, is this all right?"

Trying not to look disappointed, Joseph said, "Long ago God freed the Hebrews
from slavery in Egypt. Before they returned to the land of their forefathers,
through the prophet Moses, God counseled them, 'do not learn to imitate the
detestable ways of the nations there' (Deut. 18:9). Moussa, do you know what
activities the Lord considered detestable?"

"No, tell me."

"Sacrificing to idols, practicing divination or sorcery, interpreting omens,
engaging in witchcraft, casting spells, visiting mediums or spiritists, and
consulting the dead. The Lord knew that if the Hebrews imitated the practices
of their neighbors, they would soon be enslaved to idols and evil spirits.
Therefore, He commanded them to refrain from such practices."

Moussa slowly chewed the mango and then objected, "But I cannot afford to
lose my crops! Juju spells and sacrifices are all I have to combat the
blight."

"Oh, you have much more, brother Moussa."

"What?"

Joseph answered, "The LORD followed up His command with a promise, a promise
of someone more powerful and compassionate than any juju priest."

"Tell me this promise."

"Moses told the people, 'The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet
like me from among your brothers. You must listen to Him.... I [the LORD]
will put my words in His mouth, and he will tell them everything I command
him' (Deut. 18:15, 18). Moussa, you already know this prophet and trust in
Him for salvation."

"You mean Jesus?"

"Yes. Not only here in West Africa but around the world people call on
priests and shamans to deliver them from daily problems like illness and crop
failure. How could the Christians of this community have dared to call you to
abandon your old practices and gods? We could only be so bold, because Jesus,
the great prophet foretold by Moses, is the Son of God and is therefore superior
to the idols of our neighbors. He grants us forgiveness and eternal life and also
heals our diseases and carries our burdens (Ps. 103:3; Matt. 6:25-34; 11:28-30)."

"Well then," said Moussa, "let us place my fields into His hands." He and
Joseph knelt and prayed. And that evening more brothers and sisters in the
faith came to help Moussa tend his crops and pray for their restoration.

1. In what ways do your neighbors who do not know God become enslaved to occult practices like those listed in Deut. 18:10-11?
2. Deut. 18:15 is a messianic promise. Study Deut. 18:9-22 to discern the mission elements in Deut. 18:15.
3. Read Acts 3:17-23 to see how Peter applied Deut. 18:15 as he witnessed to his audience.