Muslims use Deuteronomy 18:18 to prove that their prophet Muhammad was the last prophet sent by God. Does Deuteronomy 18 really points to Muhammad? I will compare Moses and Jesus’ relationship to Yahweh and see if Muhammad can even come close to both of them.
I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. I will put My words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. –Deuteronomy 18:18
Muslims claim that since Moses was a prophet and a warrior, just like their prophet Muhammad, they try to say that that meets the qualification for being like Moses. That type of interpretation is like what a butcher does to meat. Let us see what the real qualification was for the prophet who fulfilled Moses’ statement, “I will raise up for them a prophet like you [Moses] from among their brothers”
Moses’ relationship with Yahweh in 7 points
1.) God met with Moses in the mountain and told him to free His people from slavery. Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 Then the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire within a bush. As Moses looked, he saw that the bush was on fire but was not consumed…10 Therefore, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh so that you may lead My people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” -Exodus 3:1-2, 10
2.) God told Moses that he was going to function like God to his brother Aaron, and Aaron like a prophet (Moses’s mouthpiece). He [Aaron] will speak to the people for you. He will be your spokesman, and you [Moses] will serve as God to him. -Exodus 4:16 [Emphasis added]
3.) Moses spoke to God face to face. The LORD spoke with Moses face to face, just as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his assistant, the young man Joshua son of Nun, would not leave the inside of the tent. -Exodus 33:11
4.) Moses’ face shone like the sun on the mountain. As Moses descended from Mount Sinai—with the two tablets of the testimony in his hands as he descended the mountain—he did not realize that the skin of his face shone as a result of his speaking with the LORD. -Exodus 34:29
5.) Moses brought the Word of God to the people. As Moses descended from Mount Sinai—with the two tablets of the testimony in his hands as he descended the mountain—he did not realize that the skin of his face shone as a result of his speaking with the LORD. -Exodus 34:29
6.) Moses was the mediator between God and the Israelites. 10 Now leave Me alone, so that My anger can burn against them and I can destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.” 11 But Moses interceded with the LORD his God: “LORD, why does Your anger burn against Your people You brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a strong hand?…14 So the LORD relented concerning the disaster He said He would bring on His people. -Exodus 32:10-11, 14
7.) Moses performed signs and wonders to show the Israelites that he was sent from God. 8 “If they will not believe you and will not respond to the evidence of the first sign, they may believe the evidence of the second sign. 9 And if they don’t believe even these two signs or listen to what you say, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. The water you take from the Nile will become blood on the ground.” -Exodus 4:8-9
To put all 7 points together, you will see and have to conclude that Muhammad was nowhere near the person of Moses and could not be the prophet that was to come. Moses was a picture of a heavenly person that was going to come to bring us God’s Word and free us from sin. Now, let’s compare Jesus to Moses.
7 points that will illustrate that Jesus was the one Moses spoke about
1.) Jesus came from heaven, from God’s presence to free the world from the slavery of sin. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! -John 1:29
32 You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 “We are descendants of Abraham,” they answered Him, “and we have never been enslaved to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus responded, “I assure you: Everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. -John 8:32-34
31 The One who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth is earthly and speaks in earthly terms. The One who comes from heaven is above all…35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hands. -John 3:31, 35
2.) Jesus was God in human flesh. but to the Son: Your throne, God, is forever and ever, and the scepter of Your kingdom is a scepter of justice. -Hebrews 1:8
7 “If you know Me, you will also know My Father. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.” 8 “Lord,” said Philip, “show us the Father, and that’s enough for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been among you all this time without your knowing Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? -John 14:7-9
3.) Jesus spoke to God the Father face to face. 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…14 The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. -John 1:1, 14
4.) Jesus’ countenance transformed and shone like the sun on the mountain. After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. 2 He was transformed in front of them, and His face shone like the sun. Even His clothes became as white as the light. -Matthew 17:1-2
5.) Jesus brought God’s Word to the world. for the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. -John 1:17
6.) Jesus is the mediator between God and men, and through whom men can find eternal life. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus -1 Timothy 2:5
But Jesus has now obtained a superior ministry, and to that degree He is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been legally enacted on better promises. -Hebrews 8:6
7.) Jesus’ evidence the He was sent by God was clearly seen in the works (signs, wonders, and miracles) that He performed in the presence of the Jewish people. 37 If I am not doing My Father’s works, don’t believe Me. 38 But if I am doing them and you don’t believe Me, believe the works. This way you will know and understand that the Father is in Me and I in the Father.” -John 10:37-38
After you have read the 7 points of Moses and Jesus, compare them to each other point by point, and you will see a perfect parallel.
Can you being a Muslim with a clear conscience say that Muhammad was the prophet that Moses referred to in Deuteronomy 18:18? Did Muhammad even come close to be like Moses and have the relationship that Moses had with Yahweh?
The only one that fulfilled every aspect of Moses’ relationship with God was Jesus Christ.
Reject Islam and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. For the god of Islam, Allah, is not the same God of the Scriptures. You are worshiping a false god who will take you to hell. Repent and believe in the good news found in the New Testament.
Spiritual Minefield 