Genesis and Deuteronomy - reply to sTs

Submitted by jennifer solis (United States), May 26, 2008 at 02:28

Genesis 21:18 is talking about Ishmael, and that Hagar should not forsake Ishmael (her son), rather she should "lift him up" because he will go on to be the fore-father of twelve "kings" and/or tribes (Nebaioth, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah) - these are the ancestors of the Arabs, by the way.

These are NOT to be confused with the twelve tribes of Israel - Asher, Benjamin, Dan, Gad, Issachar, Joseph, Judah, Levi, Naphtali, Rueben, Simeon, and Zebulun. These were the twelve tribes that came from Jacob's 12 sons. Jacob was Isaac's son.

Your other question -

Deuteronomy 18:18 - "I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you (Moses), and I will put My words in his mouth; and he (future prophets) shall speak to them all that I command him."

This is God speaking through Moses to God's people. If you look at the full context of Deut. chapter 18:9-22, you will see how, through Moses, God is telling His people that after Moses, there will be more prophets (and there were).

Deuteronomy 18:15 says, "The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me (Moses) from among you (the Israelites), from your countrymen (brothers, relatives, etc), you shall listen to him." Notice, the plural implication; more than one prophet.

Deuteronomy 18:20 says, "But the prophet who speaks a word presumptuously in My name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die." Deuteronomy 18:9-22 also warns against "false" prophets. Only God will provide the prophets that will truly give them God's Word.

Deuteronomy 18:18 is not specifically talking about, or describing, Jesus Christ, the Son of God; it is talking about the prophets, such as Joshua, Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Michah, Isaiah, Nahum, Jeremiah, Obadiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah, and Malachi, that will, and did, come after Moses, and like Moses, would reveal God's Word to the people.

Later, in the New Testament, there is reference to Deuteronomy 18:18 and Jesus Christ; however, this does NOT indicate that Deut. 18:18 was only, specifically, refering to Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ was much, MUCH more than a "prophet". The only thing he had in common with Deut. 18:18 was that Christ revealed God's Word. But again, Christ was MUCH MORE.

I hope this is not too detailed for you, sTs. I've read some of your other posts, and I believe your fluency in English is enough to understand this.

'Till later,

Jennifer

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