Page 146 - World Religions I - Islam

A Prophet Like unto Moses...Clarified
The contextualization in Deuteronomy and found elsewhere throughout the Bible seem to conclude that the
features of the prophet sent by God to follow Moses must be unique and clear, a sure sign from God.

• The last words of the Book of Deuteronomy help conclude the distinguishing features of the prophet to
follow Moses:
o "And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face,
none like him for all the signs and wonders which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to
Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, and for all the mighty power and all the great
and terrible deeds which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel." -Deuteronomy 4:10-12
 Three distinguishing features of Moses as a prophet are mentioned: he was the
mediator between God and Israel, he knew the Lord face to face, and he did great signs
and wonders.
o Therefore the distinguishing features of the prophet to follow Moses:
 The prophet would be the direct mediator of a covenant between God and his people.
 He would know God face to face.
 His office would be confirmed by great signs and wonders which he would do by the
power of God in the sight of all the nation of Israel.

A New Comparison
Considering the above criteria, we can make a comparison between Muhammad and Jesus to see which passes
the test.
• The prophet would be the direct mediator of a covenant between God and his people.
o Muhammad offered up no new covenant.
 The message he presented was intended to confirm and clarify what came before.
 In actuality, Muhammad's message contradicted the covenant relationship with God as
established in both the Torah and the Gospel.
o Jesus came to establish a new covenant between God and man. God revealed the promise of
the new covenant to the - one based on his own sacrifice. prophet Jeremiah in the Old
Testament.
• "Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I
made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the
land of Egypt, my covenant which they broke, though I was their husband, says
the Lord. But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after
those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon
their hearts; and I will be
 their God and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each man teach his neighbor
and each his brother, saying 'Know the Lord', for they shall all know me, from the least of
them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember
their sin no more." - Jeremiah 31:31-34
 The covenant of Moses was established with blood.
• "Moses took the blood and threw it upon the people, and said, 'Behold the
blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you in accordance with all
these words'." - Exodus 24:8
 The covenant of Jesus was ratified with an offering of blood.
• Jesus said: "This cup is the new covenant in my blood." -1 Corinthians 11:25

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