Today, we will read that Moses implored Yahweh to spare Aaron and the Israelites even though they had committed a grave sin. The arguments Moses used illustrate some teachings we see in the New Testament about putting God above ourselves.
In the passage we read yesterday, Moses told Israel that Yahweh was not going to give them the land of Canaan because they were righteous. Instead, Yahweh was going to give them the land because the Canaanites were wicked. Moses went on to prove that Israel was not righteous. He reminded them of the golden calf they made at Horeb and how Yahweh wanted to destroy Aaron and the people.
Deut. 9:22 ¶ “Again at Taberah and at Massah and at Kibroth-hattaavah you provoked Yahweh to wrath.
At Taberah, the Israelites complained about their calamity and Yahweh sent a fire which consumed the outskirts of the camp (see Numbers 11). The event at Massah took place before Israel arrived at Mount Sinai and was the time when Israel had no water and tested Yahweh by asking, “Is Yahweh among us or not?” (see Exodus 17). Kibroth-hattaavah was the place where Yahweh brought quail into the camp, and some of the Israelites died because they had been greedy (see Numbers 11:31-35).
Deut. 9:23 When Yahweh sent you from Kadesh-barnea, saying, ‘Go up and possess the land which I have given you,’ then you rebelled against the command of Yahweh your God; you did not believe Him, and you did not listen to His voice.
This event happened shortly after Israel left Mount Sinai. They sent spies to spy out the land, and the spies discouraged the Israelites, saying the land was too strong for them to conquer (see Numbers 13).
Deut. 9:24 You have been rebellious against Yahweh from the day I knew you.
Don’t miss the meaning of this verse. This was spoken by Moses. From the time Moses went back to Egypt to lead Israel out of slavery up to the time when Israel was on the banks of the Jordan River ready to enter the Promised Land, the Israelites had rebelled against Yahweh time after time after time. That was a time period of about 40 years.
In verses 7-21 of Deuteronomy 9, verses which we read yesterday, Moses reminded Israel about the sinful golden calf which they had made. Verses 22-24 list of times Israel rebelled. In the following verse, verse 25, Moses returned to the golden calf incident and explained how he prevented Yahweh from destroying the Israelites.
Deut. 9:25 ¶ “So I fell down before Yahweh the forty days and the forty nights, which I did because Yahweh had said He would destroy you.
Deut. 9:26 And I prayed to Yahweh and said, ‘O Lord Yahweh, do not destroy Your people, even Your inheritance, whom You have redeemed through Your greatness, whom You have brought out of Egypt with a strong hand.
Deut. 9:27 Remember Your servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; do not look at the stiff-neck of this people or at their wickedness or their sin,
Deut. 9:28 lest the land from which You brought us say, “Because Yahweh was not able to bring them into the land which He had promised them and because He hated them He has brought them out to put them to death in the wilderness.”
Don’t miss Moses’ top priority. Moses was not primarily concerned about himself or the Israelites. His first priority was to think about what was best for God’s reputation. Moses asked Yahweh not to do anything which would cast any doubt about Yahweh’s power or ability.
This illustrates some teachings we see in the New Testament. Jesus said, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10:37). Jesus declared that anyone who loses their life for His sake will actually save their life (see Matthew 16:25). Paul wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). Paul exhorted us to present our bodies as living sacrifices (see Romans 12:1).
Deut. 9:29 Yet they are Your people, even Your inheritance, whom You have brought out by Your great power and Your outstretched arm.’
Deut. 10:1 ¶ “At that time Yahweh said to me, ‘Carve out for yourself two tablets of stone like the former ones, and come up to Me on the mountain, and make an ark of wood for yourself.
Deut. 10:2 And I will write on the tablets the words that were on the former tablets which you shattered, and you shall put them in the ark.’
Deut. 10:3 So I made an ark of acacia wood and carved out two tablets of stone like the former ones and went up on the mountain with the two tablets in my hand.
Deut. 10:4 And He wrote on the tablets, like the former writing, the Ten Commandments which Yahweh had spoken to you on the mountain from the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly; and Yahweh gave them to me.
Deut. 10:5 Then I turned and came down from the mountain and put the tablets in the ark which I had made; and there they are, as Yahweh commanded me.”
The verses leading up to and including verse 5 are words Moses spoke to Israel. Verses 6-7 appear to be some parenthetical comments inserted by the author of Deuteronomy.
Deut. 10:6 ¶ (Now the sons of Israel set out from Beeroth Bene-jaakan to Moserah. There Aaron died, and there he was buried, and Eleazar his son ministered as priest in his place.
Deut. 10:7 From there they set out to Gudgodah, and from Gudgodah to Jotbathah, a land of brooks of water.
Deut. 10:8 At that time Yahweh set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, to stand before Yahweh to minister for Him and to bless in His name to this day.
The phrase “At that time” refers to when Israel was at Mount Sinai.
Deut. 10:9 Therefore, Levi does not have a portion or inheritance with his brothers; Yahweh is his inheritance, just as Yahweh your God spoke to him.)
Humans are naturally selfish. Thus, our natural instinct is to put ourselves before everything, including God. However, just as Moses’ first instinct was to think about what was best for God’s reputation, so too we should think first about God and how best to serve Him.
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”