Deuteronomy 32:48 And the LORD spake unto Moses that selfsame day, saying,
49 Get thee up into this mountain Abarim, unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho; and behold the land of Canaan, which I give unto the children of Israel for a possession:
50 And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people:
51 Because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because ye sanctified me not in the midst of the children of Israel.
52 Yet thou shalt see the land before thee; but thou shalt not go thither unto the land which I give the children of Israel.
The Bible makes it very clear that God is in charge. God is merciful and He gives man opportunity to choose wisely, but He also allows man to choose evil. Those who choose evil are limited in how much evil they can do.
In our text, God is speaking to Moses. Moses was God’s chosen leader for the nation of Israel. God had led Moses for more than forty years. Moses committed sins during that time. There was one sin he committed that sealed his fate. That sin would not allow him to enter the land of Canaan. He spoiled a very important picture. God told him to speak to the Rock to get water from it, and Moses was angry and in the flesh and he smote the Rock twice and that was a sin that held lasting consequences.
That act of Moses spoiled a very important visual picture that God was giving to all of mankind. The Rock was a type of the Lord Jesus Christ. Earlier in the travels of the nation, God had commanded Moses to strike that Rock and He would give them water. Moses did that and the nation received a bountiful supply of water.
The second time, God told Moses to speak to the Rock and He would give them an abundance of water. Moses was angry with the people and he took his anger out on that Rock. He struck It twice and God gave the nation an abundance of water, but He also declared right there that Moses would not enter the land of Canaan. Moses regretted his disastrous lack of judgment, but it was too late. God forgave him, and allowed him to keep his place as physical leader of the nation, but he would not lead the nation across the Jordan and into Canaan. That was the beginning of the prize, but Moses lost that opportunity.
In John 4 Jesus spoke with the woman at the well and reminded her that He was the living water. It took her a little time to grasp what Jesus was teaching her. That Living Water is important for all, but only available to those who repent toward God and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour.
Now Moses had led the children of Israel to the shores of the Jordan River. However, God was not going to allow Moses to enter Canaan. We said earlier that Canaan is not a picture of heaven. Man does not fight to enter heaven. Man does not fight to clean up heaven. Heaven is a place that is free from sin. Revelation 21-22 give us a description of heaven. Heaven is free from sin. God dwells in heaven. Jesus Christ made it possible for sinners to enter heaven. Those who repent toward God and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, have everlasting life.
Moses was not allowed to enter the promised land where Israel would have the opportunity to enjoy the blessings of God on this earth, and show the Gentile nations the blessings of knowing the true God.
Moses had shown a very bad example in disobeying a clear and important command of God. All of God’s commands are important. Many can be forgiven without any long lasting consequences.
Adam discovered too late that disobeying God’s command in the Garden had serious consequences. He was forgiven but he died. Moses discovered that his disobedience had serious consequences. He was forgiven but he could not enter the promised land.
We need to understand that God is a God of justice. He is willing to forgive the repentant sinner. God forgave the thief on the cross because he sought forgiveness from the Lord Jesus Christ. If you are reading this and understand your need for forgiveness, why not turn to God right now and ask Him to forgive you and save you through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Moses had tried to change God’s mind but no one can do that. Moses needed to obey God now and go up into that mountain and die there.
We can read the Bible and we can do one of two things. A person can ignore the many warnings given and keep on the path to destruction, or we can listen to God’s Word and receive the gift of eternal life. Those who have prayed to God and sought forgiveness through the blood of Jesus Christ have eternal life. Those who have that forgiveness, will demonstrate a changed life. Don’t believe the lies of the New Evangelical crowd. They are liars. Believe the Word of God.
Moses was able to see the land of Canaan before he died, but he was not allowed to set foot in that land. The thief on the cross entered heaven, but he did not get to experience the blessings of a faithful walk with God for very long. He was dying as he sought forgiveness. Those who are truly saved are not looking for fire insurance. They should not be satisfied with just squeaking into heaven. Those who are saved have a desire to know the God Who saved them.
II Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
The longer a person lives as a saved person on this earth, the more he or she should be growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. God provides all that is needed for His child to grow. It is up to His child to submit to His will daily and follow the leading of the indwelling Holy Spirit. He will lead God’s child into a true local church where the saint can grow and serve Him faithfully.
Pastor Bartel