Deuteronomy 32:44-52
44 So Moses came with Joshua the son of Nun and spoke all the words of this song in the hearing of the people. 45 Moses finished speaking all these words to all Israel, 46 and he said to them: “Set your hearts on all the words which I testify among you today, which you shall command your children to be careful to observe—all the words of this law. 47 For it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life, and by this word you shall prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess.”
48 Then the LORD spoke to Moses that very same day, saying: 49 “Go up this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, across from Jericho; view the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel as a possession; 50 and die on the mountain which you ascend, and be gathered to your people, just as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people; 51 because you trespassed against Me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin, because you did not hallow Me in the midst of the children of Israel. 52 Yet you shall see the land before you, though you shall not go there, into the land which I am giving to the children of Israel.”
48 Then the LORD spoke to Moses that very same day, saying: 49 “Go up this mountain of the Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, across from Jericho; view the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel as a possession; 50 and die on the mountain which you ascend, and be gathered to your people, just as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people; 51 because you trespassed against Me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin, because you did not hallow Me in the midst of the children of Israel. 52 Yet you shall see the land before you, though you shall not go there, into the land which I am giving to the children of Israel.”
The lesson here is to follow God’s word from a loyal heart, or to disregard His holiness by not following His word through a disobedient and rebellious heart. The people of Israel were warned through the LORD’s song of the consequences of rebellion which is sinful disregard for Him and obedience from the heart to all He says. They were therefore encouraged to put their heart into following God, contrasted with Moses’ own experience and example of his rebellious action which kept him from entering the promised land; he was only to be able to view it from above, but not allowed to enter in alive. He dishonored the LORD by not taking Him at His word in the manner God prescribed to get water out of the rock (Numbers 20:8-12). Instead of speaking God’s word to the rock, he struck it in anger at the people’s grumbling and in doing so made God appear to be less holy and true to His word, as if Moses led them instead of God using him. He therefore was kept from physically entering the promised country given them, though he was not rejected from being His. Likewise, we may sin in disbelief and disobedience, yet we are still His eternally (1 Corinthians 3:12-15). Let us strive to honor our Lord by following His word from the heart instead of suffering resulting regrets, and seeking repentance and forgiveness when we fail (1 John 1:9).
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