Deuteronomy 3:18-29
“And I commanded you at that time, saying, The LORD your God hath given you this land to possess it: ye shall pass over armed before your brethren the children of Israel, all that are meet for the war. But your wives, and your little ones, and your cattle, (for I know that ye have much cattle,) shall abide in your cities which I have given you; Until the LORD have given rest unto your brethren, as well as unto you, and until they also possess the land which the LORD your God hath given them beyond Jordan: and then shall ye return every man unto his possession, which I have given you.” (Deuteronomy 3:18-20)
Moses had been hesitant to give the lands east of Jordan to the tribes of Reuben Gad and Manasseh because he feared they would not assist the others in getting their land and that it would lead to problems. They had agreed to leave their belongings and families behind and go with the rest of the army to help take Canaan. Numbers 32 describes the agreement.
“And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, Thine eyes have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto these two kings: so shall the LORD do unto all the kingdoms whither thou passest. Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you.” (Deuteronomy 3:21-22)
The Israelite defeat and seizure of Heshbon and Bashan terrified the surrounding nations. Rahab described the fear felt in Jericho in Joshua 2:9-11. “And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.”
Moses was concerned that the Israelites themselves would be afraid to trust God, even after all the proofs of his power. God wouldn’t have wasted the effort if he wasn’t going to finish the job. He basically told Joshua the same thing God told hin in Joshua 1:1-9. “Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast. There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
We are directed to have a similar focus as Christians. In Luke 12:31-32 Jesus commanded, “But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Paul gave similar instructions in II Timothy 1:7-8. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God.”
“And I besought the LORD at that time, saying, O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to show thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might? I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon.
But the LORD was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the LORD said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter. Get thee up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold it with thine eyes: for thou shalt not go over this Jordan. But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see. So we abode in the valley over against Bethpeor.” (Deuteronomy 3:23-29)
About thirty eight years before, frustrated with the peoples constant complaining, Moses had taken the focus away from God, saying “Must WE bring forth water out of the rock?” and hitting it twice to emphasize his point. In doing so he implied that it was he and Aaron rather than God doing these things, and God told him he would not be allowed to go into the land because he had not sanctified God in doing so.
Though Moses begged to go into the land, God refused to allow it. He did allow him to go up to the top of mount Pisgah and look at the land which they would receive. Moses was commanded not to ask any more. Instead, he was to encourage Joshua to lead them.
“And I commanded you at that time, saying, The LORD your God hath given you this land to possess it: ye shall pass over armed before your brethren the children of Israel, all that are meet for the war. But your wives, and your little ones, and your cattle, (for I know that ye have much cattle,) shall abide in your cities which I have given you; Until the LORD have given rest unto your brethren, as well as unto you, and until they also possess the land which the LORD your God hath given them beyond Jordan: and then shall ye return every man unto his possession, which I have given you.” (Deuteronomy 3:18-20)
Moses had been hesitant to give the lands east of Jordan to the tribes of Reuben Gad and Manasseh because he feared they would not assist the others in getting their land and that it would lead to problems. They had agreed to leave their belongings and families behind and go with the rest of the army to help take Canaan. Numbers 32 describes the agreement.
“And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, Thine eyes have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto these two kings: so shall the LORD do unto all the kingdoms whither thou passest. Ye shall not fear them: for the LORD your God he shall fight for you.” (Deuteronomy 3:21-22)
The Israelite defeat and seizure of Heshbon and Bashan terrified the surrounding nations. Rahab described the fear felt in Jericho in Joshua 2:9-11. “And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.”
Moses was concerned that the Israelites themselves would be afraid to trust God, even after all the proofs of his power. God wouldn’t have wasted the effort if he wasn’t going to finish the job. He basically told Joshua the same thing God told hin in Joshua 1:1-9. “Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying, Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast. There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
We are directed to have a similar focus as Christians. In Luke 12:31-32 Jesus commanded, “But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Paul gave similar instructions in II Timothy 1:7-8. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God.”
“And I besought the LORD at that time, saying, O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to show thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might? I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon.
But the LORD was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the LORD said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter. Get thee up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold it with thine eyes: for thou shalt not go over this Jordan. But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see. So we abode in the valley over against Bethpeor.” (Deuteronomy 3:23-29)
About thirty eight years before, frustrated with the peoples constant complaining, Moses had taken the focus away from God, saying “Must WE bring forth water out of the rock?” and hitting it twice to emphasize his point. In doing so he implied that it was he and Aaron rather than God doing these things, and God told him he would not be allowed to go into the land because he had not sanctified God in doing so.
Though Moses begged to go into the land, God refused to allow it. He did allow him to go up to the top of mount Pisgah and look at the land which they would receive. Moses was commanded not to ask any more. Instead, he was to encourage Joshua to lead them.
I'm glad that you explained Moses' sin again. As young Christians my wife and I were confused by what transpired in Numbers. We found it difficult to comprehend why God was so wroth with Moses. Later, we were brought to understand this moment in Scripture, but I think it is a good thing for young believers to hear the why's they may sometimes easily miss.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately a lot of preachers distorted this adding to the confusion by insisting it was because Moses struck the rock the second time.
DeleteThank you for sharing this with us.You are invited to follow my blogs.
ReplyDeleteIt is sad to think how many blessings we may miss because of disobedience &/or ingratitude. God loves to bless us just as a father loves to give good gifts to his children, provided we are "blessable" and do not break our fellowship with Him.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great post, & God bless,
Laurie