Facing the Impossible
Scripture
A New Prophet Like Moses
The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. This is what you requested of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said: “If I hear the voice of the Lord my God any more, or ever again see this great fire, I will die.” Then the Lord replied to me: “They are right in what they have said. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command. Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable. But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak—that prophet shall die.” You may say to yourself, “How can we recognize a word that the Lord has not spoken?” If a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord but the thing does not take place or prove true, it is a word that the Lord has not spoken. The prophet has spoken it presumptuously; do not be frightened by it.
Deuteronomy 18:15-22 NRSV
Background
The Israelites’ 430 years of slavery in Egypt represented the fulfillment of prophecy in Genesis 15:13-14. God’s tenth plague on Egypt changed their attitude toward the Israelites and their God. The entire Israelite population that exited Egypt may have been over two million.
Prayer
Dear Lord,
During the last year, we have found ourselves troubled and disheartened.
Remind us of the strength and fortitude of the Israelites as they escaped from slavery.
Help us to find leaders who speak the truth, and the ability to discern when they do not.
Fill us with peace and hope, even when our trials seem long, so that we know you are with us always.
Amen.
NCC’s 2021 Lenten Reflections follow the Committee on the Uniform Series plan for reading and studying the Bible. Each Wednesday, we will share the scripture from the week’s Sunday Bible verses. We call on each of us to reflect on these passages of scripture during the seven weeks of Lent in light of your own experiences and relationships.