Page 97 - Pentateuch

word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path (Ps. 119:105).” God has spoken. God has spoken clearly. We
might not understand parts, yet we can understand quite a lot.

Besides claiming to be a revelation from God, the law gives a few guidelines about how to differentiate
between true and false words from God. Deuteronomy 18:9-22 is one of those passages. As we might
expect, we are warned about adopting any of the methods used by the nations of the day. “Let no one be
found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery,
interprets omens, engages in witchcraft or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the
dead (vv. 10-11).” All of these activities were, and are still, used to force a god to divulge information or to
manipulate him into doing something. By knowing the proper spell, for example, a person could bind his
god and make him carry out actions against or for another person. All of these methods reflected gods with
different characteristics than YHWH. Their methods did not work. When used with YHWH, their methods
were offensive, calling into question his uniqueness.

Instead, God gave them a clear example of his method of revelation by speaking to Moses. For more than
forty years, they saw exactly how God would speak to them. When God originally met them at Mount Sinai,
the people were afraid and asked not to hear the voice of God. Moses instead spoke with God (v. 16). “The
LORD directed me,” wrote Moses, “at that time to teach you the decrees and laws you are to follow (4:14).”
Over the years, when someone protested the role of Moses, that person was in trouble. “Has the LORD
spoken only through Moses? Hasn’t he also spoken through us (Num. 12:2)?” were the questions of Miriam
and Aaron. In answer, God gave Miriam a case of leprosy (v. 10). Apparently, the ringleader of this little
rebellion, as her name is listed first (v. 1).

The pattern is set. YHWH promises to raise up another hw"hy> rm;a' hKo – Thus says
prophet like Moses. The people would be required to
listen to him. “I will put my words in his mouth. He
will tell them everything I command him (18:19).” The promise carries an implication of a whole line of
prophets, as many as God might need over the centuries to communicate to his people. God might use
other methods, such as the events of history, to teach them, yet prophets would be his preferred method.

God also anticipates certain problems that might arise. How can his people distinguish between a genuine
and a false prophet? He has already warned them about prophets who encourage them to follow other
gods. Even if such a person foretells by dreams in connection with a “sign or wonder” that takes place, they
are not to listen (13:1-3). We can imagine the temptation. Someone we know well, someone we might
admire, foretells an event or seems to cause an event to happen. At the event, they give instructions on
how to live and worship. We are tempted to follow them if only because the event happens. A person is
healed. The year’s crop fails. A spring bubbles up out of the ground. We are impressed. Yet their
instructions accompanying the sign do not line up with what God has already said. In some way, they
contradict his word, diverting attention to another god, either by implication or outright directive. God’s
people are not to listen. The OT law requires the death of the prophet.

In Deuteronomy 18, the situation is a little different. “Someone presumes to speak in my name (v. 20),”
says God. They may use the phrase, “thus says the LORD,” or they may simply claim, “I have a message
from God for you.” The message may even line up with what God has already said in his word. Here, a
second test is given. “If what a prophet claims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true,
that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be
alarmed (v. 22).” Once again, some type of prediction is made. Now, however, the prediction fails. Since
God knows the future and knows exactly what he intends to do in the future, his true prophets will not fail
either.

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