A Prophet Like Moses

Bible Passage:  Deuteronomy 18

“Moses [was] one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished … But since then there has not arisen in Israel a prophet like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face.”

~ Deut 34:7, 10

Moses is reckoned as one of God’s greatest prophets.

What made him so great in the eyes of God?

If we look at Moses’ life, we discover that he had four very distinct characteristics: He was patient, humble, selfless and faithful.

When the Israelites kept complaining and blaming him for lack of water and food, he was patient with them.

When his siblings Aaron and Miriam spoke against him out of jealousy, he did not quarrel with them. This incident showed that he was indeed “very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth” (Num 12:3).

When the Israelites angered God so much that He wanted to kill all of them, Moses stepped in to intercede for them; not only did he pray for them but he even asked God to blot out his name from the book of life, if He would not forgive the sins of Israel (Ex 32:32).

When Moses reminded the Israelites about God’s commandments before they entered the promised land (cf. Deuteronomy), he knew that he could not enter Canaan. God did not allow him to enter as a punishment for disobeying His words at Meribah (Num 20:7-13). Yet Moses faithfully carried out his task – his faithfulness towards God never changed.

Whatever God told him to do or say, he would do it according to God’s wish.

What strikes me most about Moses’ virtues is his faithfulness. The dictionary defines “faithful” as steadfast in affection or allegiance or firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty.

Moses indeed had both the affection for God as well as the sense of responsibility that characterizes a faithful person.

In our modern society, faithfulness or loyalty seem to lose importance.

People hop from one job to another in regular intervals and from one girl/ boyfriend to the next; the focus is on individual fulfillment and happiness – faithfulness seems almost archaic.

As modern-day Christians we may be easily tempted to follow this kind of attitude. Even if we don’t do the same things as the people in this world do, we may still lack that spirit of loyalty to God, which Moses had. In our weakness, we often put our own interests before God’s; when one of our church duties or “not so important services” overlaps with a personal agenda, we may choose to do our own thing without any second thoughts.

When we are assigned to do certain church work, we may just want to get it done. But faithfulness encompasses more than just being dutiful. It also means that we put our whole heart into what we do; so whenever we do something for God, we should have the desire to do it well – not for our own glory, not to receive praise or keep face in church, but to please our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.

So let’s reflect upon our attitude towards God and our service to Him, and let us strive to be faithful servants of God.

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 

Blessed [is] that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.”

~ Mt 24:45-46