Who Is The Prophet From Deuteronomy 18:18?

The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken. -Deuteronomy 18:15

Who is this mysterious individual, Eloheinu has commanded us to obey? Some believe it was a reference to Joshua, Moses' successor. While many believe it spoke of Yeshua. Then there are those who would argue that it could only mean Muhammad. The truth of the matter is, Elohim wasn't referring to one particular individual. But to all those who would take up the mantle of Prophet.

Those studying this passage usually begin from verse 15, when the Prophet is first mentioned. In doing so, you miss the context in which Elohim was speaking. Just before bringing up the topic of the Prophet, He had pointed out to the Israelites that the nations He was casting out before them consulted witches, necromancers and those with familiar spirits. An abomination He called it and charged them not to do likewise.

When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do. The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken. -Deuteronomy 18:9-15

Instead, they were to consult Him. However, after the terrifying scene He made descending upon Mount Sinai in lightning, fire and thunder, the people had grown afraid of having direct contact with Him. Desiring a mediator, someone who would stand before God on their behalf, they put forth their request to Moses and asked him to fulfill the role.

And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. -Exodus 20:18-19

Elohim agreed and Moses agreed. The problem was, Moses wasn't going to live forever. A time was going to come when he would no longer be among the people. Yes, he gave them all the commandments and ordinances of Elohim before his passing. But people require spiritual assistance in other areas of their lives.

During David's reign, there was a period of time when the land was languishing under the curse of famine. He needed insight into the situation from a higher source. When a certain woman's only son died, she needed a miracle. When Ahaziah injured himself, he too wanted answers from a supernatural source. At some point in our lives, we could all use some spiritual help. Elohim knows that. He wasn't going to ban His people from consulting witches and warlocks and leave them bereft of all spiritual contact after Moses passed on.

So He decided to establish the Office of the Prophet among them. Those who would act in the same capacity as Moses on behalf of the people. They would receive the word of Elohim and deliver it to the people and should they have any matters they believed required spiritual assistance, they would seek one of His prophets.

The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. -Deuteronomy 18:15-18

Nearly everyone who reads this passage overlook a simple but crucial detail. The purpose behind Deuteronomy chapters 17 and 18 is to provide instructions for those who will hold the most influencial seats within Elohim's government. The king, the priests and the prophets. Beginning at the end of chapter 17, He gave guidelines for those who would hold the office of King (Deu 17:14-20) and continued into chapter 18, where He discussed some of the rules pertaining to those who would serve as priests (Deu 18:1-8). If we keep it in context, Deuteronony 18:9-22 would be the ground rules for the third key position within His kingdom. Perhaps the most important seat. The house of the prophets.

Understandably, this might confuse some people. Afterall, Elohim used singular terms when addressing the Prophet. A prophet. Him ye shall hearken. He shall speak unto them. Giving the impression He is referring to a specific person. But God is well known for referring to groups of people as a single entity. Numerous times throughout the scriptures, He referred to the Israelites collectively as Israel. Declaring them to be His servant. Not servants, but servant. Singular. No s.

Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid. -Jeremiah 30:10

Likewise, He addresses the prophets collectively as the Prophet. He did the same thing only a few verses before. When laying down the guidelines for those who would reign as king over His people at the end of chapter 17, Elohim addressed them as a single entity, under the office they would occupy. King.

When thou art come unto the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me; Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother. But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way. Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them: That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel. -Deuteronomy 17:14-20

Singular pronouns were used here as well. He, him, his. Just as they were in the passage about the prophet. Yet I have never met anyone who disputed the fact that these were the guidelines given to all those who would be anointed as king over Israel. Or believed this passage to be a prophecy about a particular king. So why the double standard when interpreting Deuteronomy 18:15-22, only a few verses after?

To further prove that He wasn't speaking about a specific person, but about the Office of the Prophets, don't stop reading at verse 19. Read the next verse, which addresses corruption within the ranks.

But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. -Deuteronomy 18:20

This ties in perfectly with Deuteronomy 13, which deals with any false prophet who would attempt to lead Elohim's people astray. After this warning, the next natural question would be, How will we know who is a true prophet and who isn't? Elohim anticipated this and ended the chapter and all talk of prophets on this note.

And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him. -Deuteronomy 18:21-22

Throughout this entire passage, Elohim was establishing the Office of the Prophets among His people. He is the true King of Israel and like any king, He wants a say in the affairs of the nation. So He decided that He would choose men from among them, who would carry His messages and make His decisions known to the people. Collectively, He called them the Prophet (v15). Those who like Moses would stand before Him on behalf of the people (v16-18). Who we are to obey (v 19). Knowing many false prophets would arise, He warned the people about those who speak falsely in his name or the names of other gods (v20) and gave them a method of separating the true messengers from the liars (v21-22). That is all this passage is about. It isn't singling out Joshua, Yeshua, Muhammad or anyone else as the greatest prophet of all time. But encompasses all prophets. Past and future.

Needless to say, Elohim used some prophets more mightily than some. But whether small or great, all of His prophets are to be obeyed equally. One might come flying on the back of a seraphim with a flaming two edged sword in his hand and all the hosts of heaven behind him. Another might come covered in dust and wearing a pair of worn out shoes. But we shouldn't make distinctions between them. Elohim expected His people to listen to Joel, just as he expected their fathers to listen to Moses. And just as they were to obey Ezekiel, they were to obey Malachi. Because a prophet is merely a messenger. The messages they bring isn't theirs, but the One who sent them. Yeshua admitted this.

Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. -John 7:16

As well as Muhammad.

Muhammad is not but a messenger. [Other] messengers have passed on before him. - Surah Ali 'Imran 3:144

Does this negate the idea of a great prophet who was or still is to come? No. The prophets spoke of one of their brothers who is to come shortly before the Day of the Lord. The one who will unite the hearts of Israel and prepare the way before Him. From what we have read in the prophecies, we can expect great things from this individual. But to say that Deuteronomy 18:18 is all about him is going too far.

Christians would like it to be a prophecy about Yeshua, because they think it would justify their aversion towards the Law. Muslims would like it to be about Muhammad because that would make Islam the superior religion. Both groups cling to this passage, because they think it gives credibility to their doctrine. A doctrine that usurps the very foundation Elohim Himself laid. The Torah.

But even if Deuteronomy 18:18 was a prophecy about a special prophet as many believe, that Prophet would still be bound by the rules. Either he speaks in accordance with the words of the Torah, proving himself to be a true prophet. Or he speaks contrary to Moses, revealing himself to be a false prophet. This is the only way Elohim would have it.

If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. -Deuteronomy 13:1-4

Until next time, Shalom!