Weekly Drash - Softim

Compliments of First Fruits of Zion
reprinted by permission of FFOZ

Shoftim – שפטים : “Judges”
Torah : Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9
Haftarah : Isaiah 51:12–52:12
Gospel : Acts 10-12 

The Prophet Like Moses

Thought for the Week:
 

Our sacred text is the record of revelation left to us by the prophets. The greatest of the prophets is Moses, therefore the Torah is the greatest source of revelation. Yet the Torah itself speaks of another prophet, a prophet equal to Moses…

Commentary:

Deuteronomy 18:15–19. In Deuteronomy 18 Moses told the Children of Israel that the LORD would one day raise a prophet “like me from among you, from your own countrymen.” (18:15)

Messiah is the prophet like unto Moses. Therefore the life and ministry of Moses serve as a Messianic prototype that the ultimate Messiah is expected to reflect. The Midrash often refers to Moses and Messiah, respectively, as the First Redeemer and the Ultimate Redeemer. As a prophet like Moses, the life and work of Messiah must reflect the pattern set by Moses.

Both Moses and Messiah are born in a time of national bondage. Both redeemers appear after Israel waits generations for redemption. Both redeemers are destined to break the bondage of Israel and lead her into the promised land. Both perform unparalleled signs and wonders to validate their ministry. Both act in the role of Law-giver and singular authority of Torah. Both fill the role of intercessor between God and the nation. Both do the work of reconciliation, renewing God’s covenant relationship with Israel when that covenant is compromised.

Through the course of His ministry, Moses filled all three of the ‘Messianic’ offices for which a person received anointing with oil: prophet, priest and king. He was the quintessential prophet, speaking on God’s behalf to the entire nation. He served in the priesthood, sacrificing and performing the rites of a priest before Aaron and his sons were ordained. As leader, judge and law-giver, Moses served as a sort of king over Israel. As with the First Redeemer, so too the Ultimate Redeemer. Yeshua is prophet, priest and king.

Moses was unlike all other prophets because God spoke directly to him: conversationally, without riddles or mysteries. Because of this unique level of revelation, when Moses spoke as a prophet, his voice was the equivalent of the voice of God. No other prophet attained the level of prophecy in which Moses operated. But the writer of the book of Hebrews demonstrates that Messiah’s revelation supersedes even that of Moses. Messiah is like unto Moses in that He alone speaks directly for the Father.

Therefore, it is a mitzvah to listen to and obey the words of Messiah as if they were the words of Moses—and even greater. By calling Him a prophet like unto Moses, and instructing us to heed Him, the Torah grants its own authority to Messiah.

Shavuah Tov!  Have a Good Week!

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