The prophet Moses was often seen as the ideal prophet in Israelite history. Biblical writers often portrayed subsequent Israelite leaders as prophets like Moses in a way that invites comparison and can highlight their legitimacy and the importance of their activities and teachings. Joshua, Gideon, Samuel, David, Elijah, Elisha, Jeremiah, and of course Jesus, are all portrayed in language which casts them as prophets “like unto Moses” in the tradition of Deuteronomy 18:18-19. One notable example of this pattern can be seen in the story of Elijah who, “smote the waters” of the Jordan River, “and they were divided hither and thither” so that he “went over on dry ground” (2 Kings 2:8, 14). This miracle recalled the parting of the Red Sea and showed that the power of God was with Elijah and Elisha as it had been with Moses (Exodus 14:21-22; 2 Kings 2:8, 14).
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| Moses with the Ten Commandments (Phillipe de Champaigne) |
Nephite Prophets like Moses
Latter-day Saints have discussed a
similar pattern in the Book of Mormon where Nephite prophets like Lehi, Nephi, Abinadi or Alma are likened to Moses (See further reading below). According to David Seely
While the Book of Mormon, like the
New Testament, specifically identifies the future prophet like Moses as Christ,
it also develops the idea that the institution of prophecy that continued in
Israel included other future prophets like Moses. Similar to the
Deuteronomistic History, the Book of Mormon records the continuation of the institution of prophecy in its history and in several cases specifically
portrays prophets with characteristics of Moses (Seely, 372).
The ministry of Nephi the son of
Helaman is described in many ways that show him to be a righteous prophet like
Moses. Nephi prophesied that destruction was imminent if the Nephites did not
repent. Having hardened their hearts against the Lord, like Pharaoh, the wicked judges
challenged him to provide evidence for the truth of his words, Nephi reminded
his audience of Moses.
Behold my brethren, have ye not
read that God gave power unto one man even Moses, to smite upon the waters of
the Red Sea, and they parted hither and thither, insomuch that the Israelites,
who were our fathers, came through upon dry ground, and the waters closed upon
the armies of the Egyptians and swallowed them up? (Helaman 8:11).
Nephi reasoned that “if God gave unto this man such power” as was evident from their own scriptural heritage, they should not dispute God’s ability to reveal their pending destruction if they did not repent (Helaman 8:12). The Lord’s power at the Red Sea, manifested through Moses was a precedent and a sign to the people in support Nephi’s prophetic claims. The comparison of the prophet Nephi to Moses is reinforced by various facets of the narrative in the book of Helaman.
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| Pharaoh's Army Engulfed by the Red Sea (Frank Arthur Bridgman) |
Unjustly Accused of a Crime
When the Israelites were in bondage to the Egyptians, Moses killed an oppressive Egyptian official who was abusing a fellow Israelite and hid the body in the sand. After the crime became known, Moses fled Egypt for his life (Exodus 2:11-15). The account in Helaman also involved a killing, the murder of the wicked Nephite Chief Judge, who was part of the oppressive Gadianton faction. Nephi, however, was innocent and made no attempt to flee. Initially hidden, the identity of the murderer was miraculously revealed by God. The Lord later commends Nephi for his faithfulness. “And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments” (Helaman 10:5).
Nephi’s deliverance and the Red Sea Miracle
After the Lord revealed the murder
of the Chief Judge, leaders of the Gadianton party accused Nephi of complicity in
the crime, putting his own life in danger. Nephi then provided a miraculous
prophetic sign in which the true murderer was confronted, confessed, and Nephi
was fully vindicated. In the aftermath of his acquittal, his former accusers were left
in confusion, and like the waters of the Red Sea, were divided among
themselves. “And it came to pass that there arose a
division among the
people, insomuch that they
divided hither and thither and went
their ways, leaving Nephi alone, as he was standing in the
midst of them (Helaman
10:1). The allusion to the miracle at the Red Sea is further reinforced by the use of the words "hither and thither" which Nephi had previously used to describe that event.
Power to Smite the
People Like Moses’ Power to Smite Egypt
After his miraculous deliverance
from the wicked judges, the Lord gives Nephi an endowment of power.
Behold I declare it unto thee in
the presence of mine angels, that ye shall have power over this people, and
shall smite the earth with famine, and with pestilence, and
destruction, according to the wickedness of this people. . . . And behold if ye
shall say that God shall smite this people, it shall come to
pass (Helaman 10:6, 10).
The Lord gave Moses power to smite
Egypt and its people with plague and pestilence (Exodus 3:20; 7:17; 8:2, 16;
9:15; 12:12-13, 23), and also gave him power to “smite” the waters of the Red
Sea (Helaman 8:11). When the Lord commands Nephi to go
forth again and warn to the people to repent, he prophesies that they will be
“smitten even unto destruction” (10:14), but the people continue to “harden
their hearts” like Pharaoh (Exodus 8:15). When they try to apprehend him, Nephi
is “taken by the Spirit and conveyed out of the midst of them.” His
enemies and former accusers are “divided against themselves,” and descend into a maelstrom of
contention and bloodshed (Helaman 10:18). The wicked Nephites, like the chaotic
waters of the sea, can be smitten or divided according to God’s will and power.
A Famine Delivers the
Repentant from Destruction
Hoping to deliver his people from
the escalating bloodshed Nephi uses his Moses-like power to ask the Lord to
send a famine to stop the destruction by the sword (Helaman 11:4-5). In an
interesting variation on the Red Sea miracle in which the Lord provided “dry
ground” (Exodus 14:16, 21-22) for the escape of his people, “the earth
was smitten that it was dry” in order to bring the people of Nephi to the path repentance and salvation (Helaman 11:6).
The People Plead with
Their Leaders to Listen to the Prophet
When the more wicked Nephites
perish, the residue are led to repent. Like the Egyptians who plead with Pharaoh
to listen to Moses and let Israel go lest “we be all dead men” (Exodus 12:33),
the Nephites “began to plead with their chief judges and their leaders” to ask
Nephi to cry unto the Lord to turn away the famine so they will not be
destroyed. Nephi does so and the people are spared (Helaman 11:8-17). Moses is
the first prophet to be called a “man of God” (Deuteronomy 33:1), a title subsequently used of
other biblical prophets. “He is presented as the prototype of the Jewish man of
God, of the future religious leaders" (Teeple, The Mosaic Eschatological Prophet, 32). Following their deliverance from the famine, the Nephites considered Nephi to
be “a great prophet, and a man of God, having great authority given unto him by
God” (Helaman 11:18).
Nephi Resolves Controversies Like Moses
Nephi, a former Chief Judge of the
Nephites warned the Nephites about the corruptness of the law under the rule of
unrighteous judges (Helaman 8:3). When new contentions arose after the famine,
Nephi and his brother Lehi, like Moses and his brother Aaron, were able to
receive divine guidance. “But it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi, and many of
their brethren who knew concerning the true points of doctrine, having many
revelations daily, therefore they did preach unto the people, insomuch that
they did put an end to their strife” (Helaman 11:23). Moses was an inspired
lawgiver who received many revelations from God to govern the people. “The main
function of Moses in the history of Israel was to mediate the law" (Jackson, 123). Nephi, in contrast to the wicked judges, performs a similar function in Helaman.
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| Nephi was falsely accused of the murder of the Chief Judge |
Unrepentant Nephites Dismiss Miracles Like Pharaoh and the Egyptians
When the Lord, through Moses, smote Egypt with plagues, signs and wonders, Pharaoh promised to release the
Israelites from bondage, but soon went back on his word once the wonders ceased. Similarly, the
Nephites repented in times difficulty, but then quickly returned to their
wicked ways (Helaman 11:34-37). As the signs of Christ’s coming appeared with
greater frequency, the Nephites, like the Egyptians did “harden their hearts,
all save it were the most believing part of them” (Helaman 16:13-15). “And
notwithstanding the signs and wonders which were wrought among the people of
the Lord, and the many miracles which they did, Satan did get great hold upon
the hearts of the people upon all the face of the land” (Helaman 16:23)
Nephi’s Departure
Like the Departure of Moses
In the biblical account, Moses did
not join the Israelites when they crossed into the land of promise. He departed
and was assumed to be dead or buried by God, although “no man knoweth of his
sepulchre unto this day” (Deuteronomy 34:6). The Nephites knew of a
non-biblical tradition that “the Lord took Moses unto himself” (Alma 45:19).
Like Moses and Alma, Nephi, the son of Helaman did not remain with the people of Nephi
after his ministry, but “departed out of the land, and wither he went, no man
knoweth” (3 Nephi 1:3).
The Lord was with Nephi as he
had been with Moses and previous Nephite prophets (Helaman 8:23). By evoking
the events and language of the Red Sea deliverance, the narrative in Helaman also teaches
that the God who led Israel through Moses to salvation was still present and would
lead his people to safety and happiness if they would let him.
Learning from Nephi's Experience
The account of Nephi in the Book of Helaman shows us how the word of God can provide guidance and protection. Nephi was able to see and explain how the teachings of former prophets pointed his people to Christ (Helaman 8:11-23). Those who followed Nephi’s counsel were able to act in faith and receive their own testimony that Nephi was truly a prophet of God (Helaman 9:1-5, 18).
As with the Lord’s people
anciently, Latter-day Saints have also been blessed with prophets who receive commandments and
revelations for the Church “even as Moses” (D&C 28:2; 107:91-92). The
President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holds the keys to
minister all the blessings of the Gospel in our day including the sealing power
to bless families. Like Nephi and other prophets in the Book of Mormon,
modern apostles and prophets testify of the Savior and point us to Christ.
Nephi, as a prophet like Moses, had
the spirit of revelation. This enabled him to know the Lord’s will for this day and time. This gift also gave him
comfort, guidance, and protection when confronted with evil. Each of us
needs to seek and cultivate the spirit of revelation as we negotiate complex
and even dangerous situations in our own lives. The scriptures and the
teachings of living prophets and apostles today can “divide asunder all the
cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ
in a strait and narrow course across the everlasting gulf of misery which is
prepared to engulf the wicked” (Helaman 3:29). The Lord taught the prophet the Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery
Yea, behold, I will tell you in
your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost which shall com upon you and
which shall dwell in your heart. And now, behold, this is the spirit of
revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses brought the children of
Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground. Therefore, this is thy gift; apply
unto it, and blessed art thou, for it shall deliver you out of the hands of
your enemies, when, if it were not so, they would slay you and bring your soul
to destruction (D&C 8:2-4).
The Holy Ghost can not only alert us to dangers, but prepare
us for the opportunity to participate in the Lord’s work of gathering Israel
and the Lord’s return.
President Russell M. Nelson has taught
Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus
Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes
again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son,
Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory. But in coming
days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding,
directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.
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| President Russell M. Nelson |
Sometimes even the difficult experiences and trials we pass through can prove to be a path of deliverance if we will remain humble, follow the counsel of current Church leaders, repent, and turn to God for support and guidance.
Moses
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Nephi
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But lift up
thine rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the
children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst
of the sea (Exodus 14:16).
And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left (Exodus 14:21-22).
[Elijah repeated the miracle of the Red Sea at the Jordan river] and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground (2 Kings 2:8; see also verse 14).
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And it came
to pass that there was a division among the people,
insomuch that they divided hither and thither, and
went their ways, leaving Nephi alone, as he was standing in the midst
of them (Helaman 10:1).
But behold, the power of God was with him, and they could not take him to cast him into prison, for he was taken by the Spirit and conveyed away out of the midst of them (Helaman 10:16).
And there began to be contentions insomuch that they were divided against themselves, and began to slay one another with the sword (Helaman 10:18).
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And I shall harden
the hearts of the Egyptians (Exodus 14:17).
He hardened
his heart and hearkened not unto them (Exodus
8:15).
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Now behold,
notwithstanding the great miracle which Nephi had done in telling them
concerning the murder of the chief judge, they did harden their hearts and
did
not hearken unto the words of the Lord (Helaman 10:13).
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[Elijah repeating the miracle of the Red Sea at the Jordan river] smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground (2 Kings 2:8).
[Nephi
teaches his people] God gave power unto one man, even Moses, to
smite
upon the waters of the Red sea, and they parted hither and thither,
insomuch that the Israelites who were out fathers, came through upon dry
ground, and the waters closed upon the armies of the Egyptians and
swallowed them up (Helaman 8:11).
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Ye shall have
power
over this people, and shall smite the earth with famine
(Helaman 10:6)
For the earth
was smitten that it was dry (Helaman 11:6)
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Intreat
the Lord (Exodus 8:8. See also 8:9, 29-30; 9:28; 10:17-18).
And the
Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send out of the land
in haste; for they said, We be all dead men (Exodus 12:33).
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And the
people began to plead with their chief judges and their leaders, that they
would say unto Nephi . . .cry unto the Lord our God that he turn away from us this
famine lest all the words which thou hast spoken concerning our
destruction be fulfilled (Helaman 11:8).
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Moreover the man Moses
was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh ‘s
servants, and in the sight of the people (Exodus 11:3).
Moses the man
of God blessed the children of Israel (Deuteronomy 33:1)
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We know that thou art a man of God (Helaman 11:8).
And they did
no more seek to destroy Nephi, but they did esteem him as a great
prophet, and a man of God, having great power and
authority given unto him from God (Helaman 11:18).
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And I will
harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land
of Egypt (Exodus 7:3).
When Pharaoh
shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you (Exodus 7:9).
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Nevertheless,
the people began to harden their hearts, all save it
were the most believing part of them (Helaman 16:15).
And
notwithstanding the signs and wonders which were
wrought among the people of the Lord, and the many miracles which they
did, Satan did get great hold upon the hearts of the people upon all the
face of the land (Helaman 16:23).
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But no
man knoweth of his sepulcher unto this day (Deuteronomy 34:6).
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Then he
departed out of the land, and wither he went, no man knoweth (3 Nephi
1:3).
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Further Reading
Dale C. Allison, The New Moses: A Mathean Typology (Eugene, Oregon: Wipf & Stock, 1993),
11-95.
S. Kent Brown, “The Exodus Pattern in the Book of Mormon,” BYU Studies 30/3 (Summer 1990): 111-126.
Havilah Dharmraj, A Prophet Like Moses? A Narrative Theological Reading of the Elijah Stories (Wipf & Stock, 2011).
Bernard S. Jackson, "The Prophet and the Law in Early Judaism and the New Testament," Cordozo Studies in Law and Literature 4/2 (Autumn 1992): 123-166.
Mark Leuchter, “Samuel: A Prophet Like Moses or A Priest Like Moses?” Mignon R. Jacobs and Raymond F. Person, eds., Israelite Prophecy and the Deuteronomistic History: Portrait, Reality, and the Formation of a History (SBL Press, 2014), 147-168.
Noel B. Reynolds, “The Israelite Background of Moses Typology in the Book of Mormon,” BYU Studies 44, No. 2 (2005): 5-23;
Noel Reynolds, “Lehi as Moses,” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 9, No. 2 (2000): 26-35, 81-82;
David R. Seely, “`A Prophet Like Moses’: (Deuteronomy 18:15-18) in the Book of Mormon, the Bible, and the Dead Sea Scrolls.” In Paul Y. Hoskisson and Daniel C. Peterson, eds., “To Seek the Law of the Lord”: Essays in Honor of John W. Welch (Orem, Utah: Interpreter Foundation, 2017), 372-373;
Noel B. Reynolds, “The Israelite Background of Moses Typology in the Book of Mormon,” BYU Studies 44/2 (2005): 5-23;
Noel B. Reynolds, “Lehi and Moses,” Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 9/2 (2000): 26-35, 81-82;
David R. Seely, “`A Prophet Like Moses’: (Deuteronomy 18:15-18) in the Book of Mormon, the Bible, and the Dead Sea Scrolls.” In Paul Y. Hoskisson and Daniel C. Peterson, eds., “To Seek the Law of the Lord”: Essays in Honor of John W. Welch (Orem, Utah: Interpreter Foundation, 2017), 372-373.
Howard M. Teeple, The Mosaic Eschatological Prophet (Society of Biblical Literature: 1957).
