In today’s scripture reading, we will finish reading Moses’ summary of how Israel got from slavery in Egypt to the banks of the Jordan River, ready to cross over into the Promised Land. His recitation of Israel’s history warns us to be diligent against ever disrespecting God.
The book of Deuteronomy contains a review of Israel’s history and laws. The review took place when Israel was on the banks of the Jordan River, ready to cross over into the Promised Land. When we stopped reading yesterday, Moses was recounting how he had given the land on the east bank of the Jordan River to Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh.
Deut. 3:18 ¶ “Then I commanded you at that time, saying, ‘Yahweh your God has given you this land to possess it; all you men of valor shall cross over armed before your brothers, the sons of Israel.
The pronoun “you” refers to Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh. A condition of them receiving land east of the Jordan River was that their armed men would help conquer the Promised Land.
Deut. 3:19 But your wives and your little ones and your livestock (I know that you have much livestock) shall remain in your cities which I have given you,
The reason Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh wanted to settle east of the Jordan was because they had a lot of livestock and the land on the east was good for raising livestock.
Deut. 3:20 until Yahweh gives rest to your brothers as to you, and they also possess the land which Yahweh your God will give them beyond the Jordan. Then you may return, every man to his possession which I have given you.’
Deut. 3:21 And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, ‘Your eyes have seen all that Yahweh your God has done to these two kings; so Yahweh shall do to all the kingdoms into which you are about to cross.
Deut. 3:22 Do not fear them, for Yahweh your God is the one fighting for you.’
Deut. 3:23 ¶ “I also pleaded with Yahweh at that time, saying,
Look at the pronoun “I” and the word “pleaded”. The pronoun “I” refers to Moses.
Deut. 3:24 ‘O Lord Yahweh, You have begun to show Your slave Your greatness and Your strong hand; for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as Yours?
Deut. 3:25 Let me, I pray, cross over and see the good land that is beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and Lebanon.’
Moses pleaded for permission to enter the Promised Land.
Deut. 3:26 But Yahweh was angry with me on your account and would not listen to me; and Yahweh said to me, ‘Enough! Speak to Me no more of this matter.
The word “angry” tells us Yahweh was still angry at Moses because of the disrespect Moses showed to Yahweh when he struck the rock instead of speaking to it (see Numbers 20).
Notice the word “Enough”. Yahweh had enough of Moses’ pleas.
Many people today think God never gets angry and has unlimited patience. This verse shows those beliefs are not accurate. In fact, Yahweh’s anger at Moses persisted.
Another fact to ponder is the long-term consequence of one sin. Despite Yahweh’s history of speaking with Moses face to face as a man speaks with his friend (see Exodus 33:11), when Moses disrespected Yahweh, he was prohibited from entering the Promised Land. There is no such thing as performing a bunch of good works and storing up a lot of grace so that we can get away with sinning. No matter how much we serve God, if we make a mistake, as Moses did, there will probably be consequences.
This means we need to always be diligent that we guard ourselves against sinning, particularly against disrespecting God. One moment of allowing our frustration, greed, lust, and/or anger to take over can have lasting repercussions.
Deut. 3:27 Go up to the top of Pisgah and lift up your eyes to the west and north and south and east, and see it with your eyes, for you shall not cross over this Jordan.
The colors on this map represent elevation. The dark greens are the lowest elevations and the browns and whites are the higher elevations. Israel was gathered in the Jordan River valley, on the low plain between Pisgah and Jericho. Yahweh told Moses to go up to Pisgah so that he could look across the Jordan River Valley and see the Promised Land.
Deut. 3:28 But command Joshua and strengthen him and encourage him, for he shall go across at the head of this people, and he will cause them to inherit the land which you will see.’
Deut. 3:29 So we remained in the valley opposite Beth-peor.
Deut. 4:1 ¶ “So now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I am teaching you to do, so that you may live and go in and take possession of the land which Yahweh, the God of your fathers, is giving you.
Deut. 4:2 You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of Yahweh your God which I am commanding you.
Don’t overlook the warning against adding to or subtracting from God’s laws. Every law which was included in the Mosaic law was placed there because Yahweh wanted it there. Yahweh is wise enough to put in place every law that is necessary. Therefore, the Israelites did not need to add or subtract anything.
We see a similar warning at the end of the book of Revelation. John, the author of Revelation, warned against adding to or taking away from the prophecy of his book. John wrote under the direction of the Holy Spirit. Everything he wrote is necessary. The Spirit did not fail to include anything that is necessary. Therefore, humans do not need to add or subtract anything.
Deut. 4:3 Your eyes have seen what Yahweh has done in the case of Baal-peor, for all the men who walked after Baal-peor, Yahweh your God has destroyed them from among you.
This is recorded in Numbers 25.
Deut. 4:4 But you who clung to Yahweh your God are alive today, every one of you.
Deut. 4:5 ¶ “See, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as Yahweh my God commanded me, that you should do thus in the land where you are entering to possess it.
Deut. 4:6 You shall keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’
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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.”