The theme and office of the prophet stands as a very important part of the Scripture portrait. While the Old Testament contains three different words translated, “prophet,” there is one that stands out as being the most significant of the three. That words is, “nābhīʾ.”[1] According AMG’s Complete Word Study Dictionary the word is, “A masculine noun meaning a prophet, a spokesman. The meaning is consistently one of prophet and inspired spokesman” [emphasis added].[2] Scripture sets forth Moses as the greatest example of the Old Testament prophet. Scripture states, “But since then there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face” (Deut. 34:10).[3] Abraham is the only person to merit the title of “prophet” before Moses though it does seem to be somewhat less formal usage (Gen. 20:7).
Moses exemplified numerous characteristics that became the foundation of what a prophet is recognized to be. The first characteristic typified by Moses is that he was specifically called by God in the Arabian wilderness (Ex 3). Second, God promised that He would enable Moses to fulfill the things which God had called him to and God demonstrated Himself faithful to those things (Ex 3, 4, 14–16, 40:34-38). Most significantly, Moses was God’s mouthpiece to the people about the past present and future of Israel (Deut 1-3, 4:1, 26:18, 31:20-22). While there is certainly a little bit of latitude in this progression, the three major points establish a pattern that is followed by all subsequent prophets of God.[4]
The final section of the Old Testament Scriptures has come to be known as the “prophetic books.”While prophets are seen throughout the Scriptures, the latter part of the Old Testament is dedicated specifically to the messages of these great men. Furthermore, those books are divided into two sections which are commonly known as the “major prophets” and “minor prophets.” Such titles do not differentiate the importance of the messages that the prophets carried but rather the number of pages they occupy within the pages of Scripture.
While there is a great deal more that could be said about the office of prophet, it is time to turn to just one main point of application. The amount of Scripture dedicated to prophetic writings demonstrates the importance of their writings. The fact that God commissioned so many men to the office of prophet underscores the importance of their respective messages. Though Kent Hughes quotes one of Alistair Begg’s common sayings in a different context, it aptly applies. Begg states, “The plain things are the main things and the main things are the plain things.”[5] In short, the prophet’s call is often God’s calling His people back to the “main things.”
[1] Brand, Chad Owen, Charles W. Draper, and Archie W. England Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Electronically Published: Bible Explorer 4), 2003, [Prophets].
[2] Baker, Warren, and Eugene E. Carpenter, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: Old Testament, (Electronically Published: Bible Explorer 4, 2003) [nāb̠iy’].
[3] Scripture references in this study are taken from the New King James Version,© 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
[4] Baker, “The Complete Word Study Dictionary: Old Testament,” [nāb̠iy’].
[5] Hughes, R. Kent Hebrews: An Anchor for the Soul, (Wheaton, Ill: Crossway Books, 1993), 147.
I appreciate your thoughts on Moses. He does indeed occupy a unique place in Israel's religious economy. The prophets who follow him are dependent upon what God did through Moses. I like what Encyclopedia Judaica (v.14 p.522) writes:
ReplyDelete"The individual accounts of Moses combine to make him the most important biblical figure after God. As a prophet he is incomparable (Num. 12:6–8; Deut. 34:10). In the Bible, he is not only a national leader; it is he who fashions the nation of Israel, transforming a horde of slaves into a people potentially capable of becoming "a treasured possession" and "a kingdom of priests" (Ex. 19:5–6). He is portrayed as Israel's first religious teacher; he gave Israel the Torah – a law of justice, holiness, and loving-kindness. Nevertheless, Scripture portrays Moses as human (Ex. 33:21ff.) and mortal (Deut. 34:5). He had faults as well as virtues, and was punished by the very God whom he taught Israel to worship. Not till the advent of Hellenism was the lawgiver described as theos aner ("a divine man"). In the Bible he is only the "human rod" with which God performs wonders."
Mr. Harper,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your input. I found the quote you shared to be quite inciteful yet balanced with regard to its perspective of Moses. While we have a great esteem for many of the men we see in Scripture, we can all to easily create an idol (i.e. calling Moses the "divine man").