Elevations on Prophecies: 2, The Prophecy of Moses

Even though the whole state of Moses and the law is prophetic in its essence, as we saw, there is still a special prophecy of Moses about Jesus Christ and here it is: God will raise up for you a prophet like me, from your nation and from among your brothers; you will listen to him. It is a particular prophet that God promises to his people: a prophet like me, says Moses, a prophet similar to me, as he also adds, that is to say, a legislator prophet. For, moreover, it is written of the other prophets, that one never rose up like Moses. Joshua, who succeeded him in the government of the people of God, was much below him, not only in wonder and in power, but also in dignity, having received the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had put his hands on him. We therefore obeyed him, not as a legislator, but on specific deeds. This is not so with this prophet whom Moses announced to be like him. He said of him, You will listen to him. Which is also the same thing that the Eternal Father said of his Christ: This is my beloved Son; Listen to him.

There are therefore two prophets of a particular character, the ministry of one was to succeed that of the other, and it is said singularly of each: Listen to him; one mediator of the old law, and the other mediator of the new, as different from each other as the two laws they established. However, there is something in common between them, which is that at the head of each law which was, so to speak, to reign, there is a prophet par excellence for each, but the last one especially since he is the Son; in place of the other, who was the servant. The one whose ministry was temporary shows the other, whose ministry was eternal; also he names no successor, and he gave him for always authority and prophecy. What if we listened to Moses with a fear so religious, and if those who violated the law were put to death without mercy, what punishment is worthy for those who have trampled the Son of God and that have not obeyed Jesus?