In this chapter, Moses tells the people the truth about themselves. He recounts the many times that the people of Israel rebelled against the Lord, calling them a stubborn people. They only made it to the Promised Land by God’s grace!
The chapter begins, “Hear, O Israel! Today you are about to cross the Jordan River to occupy the land belonging to nations much greater and more powerful than you. They live in cities with walls that reach to the sky! They are strong and tall--descendants of the famous Anakite giants. You’ve heard the saying, “Who can stand up to the Anakites?” But the Lord your God will cross over ahead of you like a devouring fire to destroy them. He will subdue them so that you will quickly conquer them and drive them out, just as the Lord has promised.” (Deuteronomy 9:1-3)
Wow! Who can stand against the Lord!?!
Moses continues, “After the Lord your God has done this for you, don’t say to yourself, “The Lord has given us this land because we are so righteous!” No, it is because of the wickedness of the other nations that he is doing it. It is not at all because you are such righteous, upright people that you are about to occupy their land. The Lord your God will drive these nations out ahead of you only because of their wickedness, and to fulfill the oath he had sworn to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will say it again: The Lord your God is not giving you this good land because you are righteous, for you are not--YOU ARE A STUBBORN PEOPLE.” (Deuteronomy 9:4-6)
Man, Moses is not playing with these folks! He is giving them the “business”!
At this time, Moses reminds the Israelites of their rebellion. “Remember how angry you made the Lord your God out in the wilderness. From the day you left Egypt until now, you have constantly rebelled against him.” (verse 7) He reminded them that the Lord was ready to destroy them on Mount Sinai, after Moses had been on the mountain receiving the tablets for forty days and forty nights, those same tablets on which God himself had written all the words he had spoken to the people of Israel from the fire on the mountain. This is when all of Israel heard God’s commanding voice for the first time and they were all terrified.
Moses continues, “At the end of the forty days and nights (Moses never ate or drank anything during this time), the Lord handed me the two stone tablets with the covenant inscribed on them. Then the Lord said to me, “Go down immediately because the people you led out of Egypt have become corrupt. They have already turned from the way I commanded them to live and have cast an idol for themselves from gold.” The Lord said to me, “I have been watching this people, and they are extremely stubborn. Leave me alone so I may destroy them and erase their name from under heaven.” (Deuteronomy 9:11-14)
Moses continues to unfold the events and states that he returned from the mountain with the tablets, and angry with how quickly they turned from the path the Lord had commanded them to follow, he smashed the stone tablets to the ground. Moses then said, “Then for forty days and nights I lay prostrate before the Lord, neither eating bread nor drinking water. I did this because you had sinned by doing what the Lord hated, thus making him very angry. How I feared for you, for the Lord was ready to destroy you. But again he listened to me.” (Deuteronomy 9:18-19)
Moses went on saying that the Israelites made the Lord angry at Taberah, at Massah, at Kibroth-hattaavah, and at Kadesh-barnea when the Lord instructed them to go take the land He had given them, and they rebelled. “Yes, you have been rebelling against the Lord as long as I have known you.” (verse 24)
Wow! Moses advocated for them unruly, disobedient, stubborn, rebellious people, but who’s standing in the gap for us? Who is carrying the burden of our sin, like Moses carried the burden/sins of the Israelites?
Moses saved the people of Israel several times through his prayers and sacrifice, and through JESUS CHRIST, we are saved! Jesus stands in the gap between God and us like Moses did! Jesus prayed for us even as He was dying on the cross…”Lord forgive them, for they know not what they do”. Jesus carried our burdens to the grave when He died on the cross for our sins! If we believe in Jesus, and accept Him as our Lord and Savior, we are forgiven!
Lord, thank you for your Word today! You continually show us your grace and mercy. Thank you for sacrificing your son, Jesus Christ, for us so we might have everlasting life with you. We love you!
“May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
Lan, this is a really powerful message!