Spoken With Love: Week 4 Day 6

Deuteronomy 32:4

(From the Song of Moses)

He is the Rock, his works are perfect,

    and all his ways are just.

A faithful God who does no wrong,

    upright and just is he.

Deuteronomy 32:48-52

48 On that same day the Lord told Moses, 49 “Go up into the Abarim Range to Mount Nebo in Moab, across from Jericho, and view Canaan, the land I am giving the Israelites as their own possession. 50 There on the mountain that you have climbed you will die and be gathered to your people, just as your brother Aaron died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people. 51 This is because both of you broke faith with me in the presence of the Israelites at the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the Desert of Zin and because you did not uphold my holiness among the Israelites. 52 Therefore, you will see the land only from a distance; you will not enter the land I am giving to the people of Israel.”

Deuteronomy 34:1-12

Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah,across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the whole land—from Gilead to Dan, 2 all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea, 3 the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. 4 Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.”

5 And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. 6 He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. 7 Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. 8 The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.

9 Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses.

10 Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, 11 who did all those signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his

officials and to his whole land. 12 For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

James 4:6

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

“God opposes the proud

    but shows favor to the humble.”

The first passage we read today was from the Song of Moses. This was the recorded worship that Moses lifted up to the Lord before he died. Moses recognized that God is God, and whatever He decrees is right. Even though Moses had received a harsh punishment, he didn’t shake his fist at God or cry “this isn’t fair!”; he didn’t defend himself or blame others. Moses accepted God’s word in humility.

I don’t know if this is why, or if God had other reasons, but I find it very gracious that the Lord allowed Moses to see the Promised Land before he died. Though he would not enter, God gave Moses a glimpse of His promise fulfilled. The graciousness of God to us is so beautiful and miraculous. He does not punish us as our sins deserve. If we are in Christ, we can be forgiven. Moses still suffered the consequences of his actions, but God showed him great kindness. God will still allow us to suffer the earthly consequences of our sinful choices, but praise be to God that, if we are in Christ Jesus, we do not bear the eternal punishment our sin deserves.