Prophets: Moses and the Miracles

Prophets Talk to God Face to Face: 

Scriptures/summaries mainly from: Exodus 14:19-30 and Corinthians 10:1-4 

After the children of Israel finally made an escape from Pharaoh following a series of plagues caused by Pharaoh’s disobedience, they were led by divine help toward the promised land.  In Exodus 14:19, it says an “angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them.”  There was a pillar and an angel watching over them. A footnote in the LDS King James version of the Bible leads to Numbers 9:15 which describes a pillar as fire.  This shows how the children of Israel were protected by fire.

Later, the children of Israel are crossing the sea on dry ground because Moses parted it with the power of God.  The Egyptians followed them but eventually, “the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea” after Moses caused the sea to “return to his strength” (Ex. 14:27).  This shows how they were protected by water also.   

This in interesting to me beause in the Book of Mormon, is says: "Behold, it was the faith of Nephi and Lehi that wrought the change upon the Lamanites, that they were baptized with fire and the Holy Ghost" (Ether 12:14).  Besides the importance of baptism by water there is also a spiritual quality to fire of the Holy Ghost that ultimately saves us.  

Importance of a Prophet: Communicating with the prophet specifically

This principle stood out to me when I was reading Exodus 24: 1-3 when the Lord tell the leaders of Israel to come up to the mountain to worship him and then tells Moses specifically to come to him.  He instructs Moses regarding the children of Israel.  This is striking to me because he can talk to his people individually as well as in smaller groups.  He can also talk to the leaders in groups, but this time, he wanted just the prophet.  I think that this shows the importance of having a current prophet and trusting in him to reveal the Lord’s revelations of hope, warnings, instruction, etc. because if there was not a need for this particular communication, the Lord would not have a prophet.  He would just inspire individual men.  It’s important to have a signal mouthpiece at the head of the Lord’s church.