Deuteronomy 18
Monday, February 23, 2026 | Brandon Bachtel
Hebrews 12:25–29 gives a sober warning: “See that you do not refuse Him who is speaking.” If those who rejected God’s voice at Sinai did not escape, how much less will we escape if we reject the One who now speaks from heaven? At Sinai, His voice shook the earth. Yet He promises, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”
The message is unmistakable—God still speaks, and we must train ourselves to listen and obey Him.
In Deuteronomy 18, Moses promised that God would raise up a future prophet like him. This prophet would speak God’s very words, and the people would be accountable to Him. The New Testament clearly identifies this Prophet as Jesus of Nazareth (Acts 3:19–26; Acts 7:37). In Jesus’ day, many were looking for this promised figure (John 6:14; 7:40), and some even wondered if John the Baptist might be the one (John 1:19–21), yet scripture leaves no ambiguity—Jesus is that Prophet!
To protect Israel from deception, God provided a threefold test for true prophets:1. He must speak in the name of the Lord, not another god.
2. His message must agree with God’s revealed truth.
3. His predictions must come to pass exactly as spoken, lest they die.
Jesus fulfilled each these requirements perfectly. He declared, “I speak these things as the Father taught Me” (John 8:28), and “I did not speak on My own initiative… the Father Himself… has given Me commandment, what to say” (John 12:49–50). His words were the Father’s words. His life fulfilled prophecy (Micah 5:2), and His predictions came true. He passed every test without exception.
In contrast, many today claim prophetic authority. Some boldly speak in God’s name, yet their words fail to come to pass. Others excuse inaccuracies as “learning” or “experimenting.” However, scripture
never grants such freedom when speaking for God. Under the Old Covenant, false prophecy carried severe consequences because it misrepresented the Lord.
How much more should we be accountable under the New Covenant, with the Holy Spirit’s guidance in our lives?
The New Testament continues to call believers to test everything (1 Thessalonians 5:21) and measure all teaching against biblical truth. Thankfully, Jesus is our final and ultimate Prophet, Priest, and King. God has spoken fully and finally in His Son (Hebrews 1:1–2).
Therefore, the warning of Hebrews remains urgent: do not refuse Him who speaks. To reject Christ’s word brings greater accountability than rejecting Moses. The shaking will come and only those anchored in His unshakable Kingdom will stand.
