“God Surely Will Guide” Deut. 18.15-20, Jan. ’18 Series B

1.              Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Have you ever wondered what God wants you to do with your life?  Have you looked to different places for advice, only to find that the advice you received wasn’t that great?  In today’s message from Deuteronomy 18:15-20, we’ll be looking at the words of Moses, who speaks to the people of Israel, telling them that a prophet greater than himself will come to show all the people of God the way to live.  Here in Deuteronomy 18 we learn that Israel is standing on the plains of Moab, needing someone to take them into the Promised Land.  Moses wouldn’t be able to do this because of his own sin against the Lord in Numbers 20, so the Lord promises another prophet who will lead his people by means of the Divine Word.  In the Gospel lesson for this day we learn that Jesus is Israel’s final prophet who teaches as one with authority.  Ultimately, by means of Jesus’ authority He leads all of us out of the realm of death to life.  The message is entitled, “God Surely Will Guide,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
2.             When Karen came to Ron, an elder at her church, she was frustrated.  She had an important decision to make.  To make matters worse, her friends were giving her different advice.  So Karen decided to come to church and ask Ron to tell her what to do.  No specific “thou shalt” or “thou shalt not” applied from Holy Scripture.  So Ron showed her several Bible passages with principles that might apply.  Finally he told her to pray and ask Jesus what she should do.  Karen became angry and burst out, “But, you’re an elder.  You’re supposed to tell me what to do.” 
3.             The truth is, all of us have times when we feel a need for special guidance.  We all want someone to tell us what to do.  In the ancient world people commonly turned to sorcery or divination, or casting spells, in a search for supernatural guidance.  TODAY, people do the same thing, by turning to palm readers, spiritists, astrologists or just reading their own horoscope in the newspaper or on the internet.  In Deuteronomy chapter 18 Moses is telling Israel that such practices of seeking spiritual advice is detestable to God.  God’s people weren’t to engage in any of them.
4.             But, then God made a promise to the people of Israel through the words of Moses the prophet.  Moses says in Deuteronomy 18:15-20, ¹⁵“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— ¹⁶just as you desired of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God or see this great fire any more, lest I die.’ ¹⁷And the Lord said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. ¹⁸I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. ¹⁹And whoever will not listen to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him. ²⁰But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.”  Here we learn that situations may arise that aren’t covered by Scripture.  There will be times when people need special, supernatural guidance.  But, God said, “I will raise up for you a prophet.”
5.             Here we learn that God made a commitment.  He Himself would provide any special guidance His people might need through prophets.  Israel would never need to look to any source but God.  Maybe you’re wondering what happened to Karen after she went to talk to Ron her church elder?  Well, Ron had explained that God has given His Holy Spirit to each believer and let Himself guide her.  Ron told Karen that he’s not God and that he didn’t know what’s best for her, but if Karen would study God’s Word and diligently pray to Him for guidance, God would show her what to do.  Karen stayed angry for a few days.  But, finally she decided to do what Ron said.  Later she came back, excited.  God had guided her, and she had found a solution neither she nor any of her friends had thought of.  Ron, a servant of Jesus Christ had helped another person learn that she truly could depend on God for help.  Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” 
6.             There was a reason that the people of Israel were scared in Deuteronomy 18.  Israel had been in the desert for 40 years wandering and now they were about to enter into the Promised Land.  As they were on the East bank of the Jordan River gazing into the Promised Land, the people knew that in all their travels they’d never been this way before.  To make matters worse many of Israel’s enemies were nearby.  They still had the problem of getting across the Jordan River and through the city of Jericho with its huge walls.  All of these problems were looming on the horizon and the people of Israel were at their wits end.
7.             You know that same feeling and so do I.  Maybe you’re terrified at the thought of raising your children, or watching your last child leave home.  Or even at the thought of your kids raising your grandkids.  Maybe you’re facing a situation on the job that has your stomach tied up in knots.  Or it could be that financial setback you’re currently facing or a spouse who aging parents are succumbing to dementia.  Some of us are facing a future that’s so painful and private that it’s only known by God.  Whatever problem we’re facing, many of us can be saying that we’ve never been this way before, just like Israel here in Deuteronomy 18.
8.             Moses promises the people of Israel here in Deuteronomy 18:15, “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me.”   Because Moses was under divine judgment and unable to lead Israel into the Promised Land, he promises another prophet just like himself.  The Lord knows that things we face in this life aren’t conquered by words such as, “I’ll be with you in spirit.”  A mystical and abstract presence does no good.  That’s why young Joshua would be the first of the prophets who was like Moses.  Joshua lead Israel to inherit the Promised Land.  Other prophets included: Samuel, Elijah and Elisha.  These prophets were the Lord’s voice, leading Israel in her journey of faith.  In contrast to the other offices given by the Lord, such as kings and priests, the prophets were the final authority.
9.             That’s why the final fulfillment of God’s promise of a prophet like Moses is Jesus who is greater than Moses.  Jesus not only speaks the truth, He is the truth.  He not only speaks God’s Word, He is God’s Word in the flesh.  Jesus not only knew the Father face-to-face, He is the face of the Father.  Moses led Israel to the brink of the Promised Land, but Jesus finished what Moses began.  Some who hear Jesus did everything they could to silence His teaching.  When their evil scheming and treachery failed, they used Judas and Pilate to kill Him.  They used whips, thorns, nails and a spear to put Him to death.  But three days later, the Jesus said to His disciples, “Peace to you!”  And then Jesus said in Matthew 28:18, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”  Unlike Joshua, Samuel and other prophets, Jesus carried out all of the Father’s promises.  When He had risen from the dead, He put an AMEN behind all of what the Father had said.
10.             Alive on the 3^rd day, Jesus lives to lead and guide us by His Word.  The giants of sin and selfishness are slain through Him.  Unclean spirits submit to His teaching and even Satan Himself must bow to His Word.  Jesus leads us by the Gospel proclaimed, our Baptismal remembrance remembered, and His Holy Supper celebrated.  With confident hope we await our final journey, the resurrection of the body and the life of the world to come!  Thanks be to God we have Jesus to guide us through His Word!  Amen.