Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 18: God gives His people His word

Begin in prayer

Before we come to the promise of a prophet like Moses, let us ask for ears that listen. Pray that our family would reject false guidance and hear the voice of God through Christ.

Yahweh’s voice is powerful. Yahweh’s voice is full of majesty.

Psalm 29:4

Father in heaven, thank You for speaking instead of leaving people to seek guidance in darkness. Help our family understand Your word and recognize the promised Prophet. Teach us to hear Your Son and refuse every voice that leads away from You. Please open our eyes as we read Your Word, make us more like Christ, and bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

The priests and Levites receive provision from the LORD’s offerings because they have no tribal inheritance. A Levite who comes to serve at God's chosen place receives the same share as the others there. Israel must reject child sacrifice, sorcery, divination, and attempts to consult the dead. God promises to raise a prophet like Moses from among their brothers and put His words in his mouth. Anyone who refuses those words will answer to God. A prophet who falsely claims His authority or speaks for other gods must die.

As you read Deuteronomy 18, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God provides His word through His appointed prophet and commands His people to listen.

The Levites had no land of their own, because the LORD Himself was their inheritance (verse 2). The nations around Israel looked for guidance through sorcery, omens and trying to speak with the dead. God forbids all of it, because His people must listen to Him alone (verses 13 and 14). At Horeb the people heard God's voice from the fire and were afraid they would die (verse 16). So they asked for a man to stand between them and God, and God said they had spoken well. He promised a prophet like Moses, and He would put His own words in that prophet's mouth (verse 18). Moses was more than a teacher, because God used him to give the law and to lead His people out of slavery. The book ends by saying that no prophet like Moses had yet arisen, so Israel kept waiting (Deuteronomy 34 verse 10). Peter preached that this Prophet is Jesus, and all who refuse Him must answer to God (Acts 3 verses 22 and 23).

How does Deuteronomy 18 show us that God provides His word through His appointed prophet and commands His people to listen?

God provides for those who serve Him.

Levi receives no tribal share of the land. The LORD provides food from the offerings and gifts brought by the people. Levites who come to serve must share in that provision.

God forbids guidance from evil practices.

Israel must never imitate the nations’ sorcery or attempts to consult the dead. These practices are detestable to the LORD. He calls His people to wholehearted faithfulness before Him.

God commands His people to hear His Prophet.

God will put His own words in the promised prophet's mouth (verse 18). Peter says this Prophet is Jesus (Acts 3 verse 22). Everyone who refuses to listen to Him must answer to God Himself (verse 19). A prophet who speaks without God's word is shown false when his words do not come true.

Memorise

Yahweh your God will raise up to you a prophet from among you, of your brothers, like me. You shall listen to him.

Deuteronomy 18:15

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what voices draw me away from listening to Christ?

The LORD promises a prophet, saying, “I will put my words in his mouth”. Israel needs the prophet He appoints, speaking with His authority. Peter applies this promise to Jesus and keeps its warning against refusing Him (Acts 3 verses 22 to 23).

The promised Prophet also gave His life as the sacrifice for His people. He carried the guilt of their refusal to hear God, and the Father raised Him up. His completed obedience and offering are enough for sinners who come to Him for forgiveness.

Turn from the voices that lead you away from God and trust His Son. Anyone who comes to Jesus is forgiven. He is the Prophet God promised, and His word leads His people to life.

Parent's note

Tell your children that Jesus speaks God’s truth and must be heard. Explain the forbidden practices without encouraging curiosity about them, and teach children to seek guidance in God’s word. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for speaking through His Son, and bring the listening asked about in the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so give each one room to respond.

For Moses indeed said to the fathers, ‘The Lord God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, like me. You shall listen to him in all things whatever he says to you. It will be that every soul that will not listen to that prophet will be utterly destroyed from among the people.’

Acts 3:22-23

Father in heaven, thank You for the promised Prophet who speaks Your truth. Turn our hearts from forbidden guidance and from every excuse for ignoring Your Son. Lead each of us to trust His finished sacrifice and to hear His word with obedient faith. In Jesus' name, Amen.