How disappointing this had to be for Moses. He had given his life to bring the Israelites to the place where they were going to receive the good land that God had promised them. Moses had been faithful. He had been true to God. He had gone to bat many times for these ungrateful people. They had complained, and murmured, and grumbled throughout these nearly 40 years. Nothing pleased them. One time Moses had gotten so upset with these people that he reached his breaking point, became angry and disobeyed God. And now God was punishing him by not allowing him to go into that wonderful land with the very ones who had caused him to become angry in the first place.
What if you were Moses? How would you respond to this kind of punishment? Does this seem fair to you? I have to believe that many of us would not have reacted the way Moses did. Moses remained true to God, accepting his punishment like the true leader he was; like the man of the Lord his God that we know he was. Moses loved God, and he loved this rebellious people. He cared more about getting the Israelites into the promised land than he did about his own great desire to walk across the Jordan to enjoy the land flowing with milk and honey. No, Moses cared most about fulfilling his promise to bring God’s chosen people out of Egypt, out of bondage and into their new homeland. Instead of fuming or walking away blaming the Israelites for not getting to go into the promise land, he warned them about making idols and reminded them of the covenant promise they had made with God.
He continued, “Be careful not to forget the covenant of the Lord your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the Lord your God has forbidden. For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” Deuteronomy 4:23-24 This was a very crucial time for God’s people. Soon they would have a new leader. Obedience to God was vital as they were about to go and take possession of the good land God was giving them. Moses wanted everything to go right. He wanted them to remember that The Almighty God was jealous for their love. He would not share his love for them with a false god. Remember, Moses reminded, “God is a consuming fire. Don’t make him angry.”
Moses’ message seemed to help. Later God was talking to Moses, “I have heard what this people said to you. Everything they said was good. Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever.” God doesn’t ask much from us. All he asks is that our hearts be inclined to fear him, remembering that he is jealous for our love, and that he is an all consuming fire. And he wants us to be obedient by keeping his commands.
Those who see God as he is, knowing his great love as well as fearing him as an all consuming fire, will be inclined to be obedient to his commands. There is no one like God. There is no one to whom he can be compared. We are to be like Moses and accept God’s decisions no matter what that happens to mean for us.
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