Today's Devotion

Deuteronomy 18:15-18

Listen to the Prophet

We live in an age of hyper-communication.  Many of us spend a good portion of our time with our cell phones, text messages and email.  We’ve become masters of communicating in short sound bytes and have forgotten how to listen to any one thing for too long.  On the internet we read 50 words here, 50 words there, and then click on another link and read 50 words somewhere else.  Even the evening news has reduced its stories to shorter segments, because the producers know that many of us have an “attention deficit disorder” of the ears.

Moses was a prophet called by God to speak his Word to the Israelites.  When he ascended Mount Sinai to receive God’s Law, there was thunder and lightning, the sound of a loud trumpet blast and the Lord himself came down in fire.  The whole mountain shook violently and the people trembled in fear.  After hearing the Ten Commandments and seeing God’s awesome display of power, the people said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen.  But do not have God speak to us or we will die” (Exodus 20:19).  The Law brings fear.

The Lord allowed Moses to peer into the future and see another prophet.  This prophet would be like Moses in some ways, but very different in others.  Jesus Christ was born among his people.  He came speaking the very word of God – the words that God himself put in his mouth.  While Jesus proclaimed and applied the Law spoken by Moses, he came primarily to speak good news of forgiveness and salvation.  The Law given on Sinai condemns all those who violate it.  The good news spoken by Jesus brings freedom, peace and everlasting life.

In the midst of the noise of everyday life, make sure to take the time to listen to the prophet Moses foretold – your Savior, Jesus.  Only his voice assures you that all your sins have been forgiven.  Only his voice calms your troubled heart and points you to your home in heaven.