Why did God not allow Moses his wish to cross over into the Promised Land?

Moses and Aaron sinned openly before all the Israelite community when bringing water from the rock at Meribah.(1) God had told Moses to speak to the rock, but instead, he struck the rock twice. Even worse, he and Aaron gave themselves credit for the miracle when he said, “Must we bring you water out of this rock?” (Numbers 20:10b, NIV). Afterward, God told both of them in Numbers 20:12 (NIV): “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.” By failing to honor God with the miracle that was performed, they displayed a lack of trust in God. In short, they broke faith with God.

The Israelite community had committed the same type of sin against God when they refused to cross over into the Promise Land.(2) Even after all the miracles they had witnessed, they did not trust God to deliver on His promise to go before them. They feared the inhabitants of the land more than they believed in God’s might. They broke faith with God, and because of it, God declared they would not be allowed to see the land He had promised to their fathers.

Moses begged God to forgive the people of their sins, which He did; however, God declared they would still bear the consequences of their sins. He replied to Moses, “I have forgiven them, as you asked. Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the LORD fills the whole earth, not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times—not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it” (Numbers 14:20–23, NIV).

When Moses and Aaron failed to honor God before the people, He declared there would be similar consequences for them. Neither of them would be allowed to enter the Promised Land. While Moses was granted the privilege of seeing it from afar, neither he nor Aaron ever set foot upon the land.

By God’s own admission, Moses had developed a close relationship with Him.(3) No doubt Moses had confessed his error and begged God’s forgiveness. In fact, it’s likely he made a sacrificial offering for his sin. Why, then, did God refuse to grant him this wish? God could not do this because He had declared consequences, and He is a just God. He could not selectively allow Moses to forgo the consequences while binding them upon all the others.

Footnotes:

1. The account of what happened at the waters of Meribah is recorded in Numbers 20:2–13.

2. See Numbers 14 for the account of the Israelites rebelling against God and refusing to enter the Promised Land.

3. See Numbers 12:6–8 for God’s admonishment of Miriam and Aaron, where He explained to them His relationship with Moses.

If Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible, how did he write about his own death in Deuteronomy 34?

When Moses completed his writings and turned over the Book of the Law to the Levites, he handed them a single scroll.(1) It contained what would later be called the Pentateuch—Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. To the Jews, this collective work would be known as the Torah. Presumably, Greek translators were the ones who later divided Moses’s writings into the five separate works we have in our Bibles today and gave the books their individual titles.(2)

It’s possible that God could have instructed Moses beforehand on what to write concerning his own death. However, it seems more likely that Joshua wrote the last bit of Deuteronomy. As God’s appointed successor to Moses, it would have been fairly easy for him to access the scroll and add this portion to the end. Moreover, Moses’s obituary is not written from a personal viewpoint and doesn’t sound like something Moses would write about himself. The tone of the writing is one of great respect toward Moses. The wording is much more in keeping with how Joshua would later refer to Moses in his own book, particularly in calling him “the servant of the Lord.”

Footnotes:

(1) See Deuteronomy 31:24–26 for the account of Moses handing his book over to the Levites.

(2) For more information, see “Pentateuch” in Smith’s Bible Dictionary and in Easton’s Bible Dictionary.

What is the meaning of the scripture in Jude concerningthe body of Moses?

Here is the scripture:

Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”

—Jude 1:9, NKJV

Bible commentators do not have a satisfying explanation for this scripture. Some feel the reference to the devil desiring to possess Moses’s body is one passed down verbally in Jewish tradition. Regardless, in the book of Daniel, Michael was the great prince or chief angel who stood watch over the Israelite people.(1) It makes sense that he would be the one to stand guard over the body of Moses.

We know from the transfiguration of Christ that the soul of Moses was safe from the devil’s grasp because God allowed him to appear on the mountain with Jesus. Why, then, would the devil want Moses’s body? Quite possibly, if he could make its whereabouts known to humans, they would turn his tomb into a sacred site.(2) Much like the golden calf, this would help turn the focus of the people’s worship away from God and cause them to violate God’s commands to not honor other gods or bow down to any images. Certainly, Moses, who fought so hard against idolatry, would never want his tomb to be revered in such a way either.

The greater lesson in this scripture is how Michael responded to the devil. The archangel fully understood the tremendous power Satan wields over this world. He also understood that Satan is no match for our God. Yahweh reigns supreme; He has the power to fully withstand Satan. Wisely, Michael put the dispute into God’s hands. What a great lesson for us today—allow God to handle evil as only He can do.

Footnotes:

(1) See Daniel 10:13, 21; 12:1 for references concerning the angel Michael.

(2) The body of the prophet Daniel provides an excellent example of why God may not have wanted Moses’s burial site known. Bitter quarrels arose over Daniel’s remains, and at one point, his bier was transferred each year across the Choaspes River, residing one year on one side and the next year on the opposite side. His body was thought to bring prosperity to those living nearby. A Persian shah finally stopped the practice, declaring it disrespectful to the prophet. He had the bier fastened with chains to a bridge and erected a chapel. Many other incidents have been reported concerning Daniel’s remains, and it’s unknown whether any of the sites named as his tomb actually contain his bones. For more information, see the article: “Daniel, Tomb of” in The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia.

How were people saved who lived under the Law?

The writer of Hebrews (presumably Paul) contrasts the Law, which Moses presented to God’s people, with the New Covenant, which came into effect after the death of Christ. Under the Law, the people were commanded to offer certain sacrifices for their sins. These sacrifices atoned for their sins, and God granted the people forgiveness.(1) These sacrifices, however, could not permanently take away their sins.(2) Once a year, every year, the high priest was required to enter the Most Holy Place in the Tabernacle and make a special atonement for all the sins of the Israelites.(3)

To better understand how the atonement process worked, you can think of the sacrifices made under the Law as being similar to the payments made on an interest-only loan. When you take out an interest-only loan, your payments are only for the interest due during that time period. All of the principal on your debt remains outstanding. Usually, the interest-only period lasts for only a few years before you’re required to start paying on the principal or refinance. Theoretically, you could pay on such a loan forever and never repay any of your debt, provided you could find a lender willing to hold such a loan. The interest payments made during the interest-only period simply keep you in good standing and prevent foreclosure on your loan.

That’s how it was for God’s people who lived under the Law. The debt that sin incurred was too great for any of them to ever repay. Their sacrifices only covered the interest due at the time but could never eliminate their debt. God was willing to grant them such a loan because He already had a plan in place. He knew that one day Someone would be willing and able to repay their debt in full for them—His Son, Jesus Christ. When Jesus died on the cross, His sacrifice covered not only the sins of all who would believe on His name in the future living under the New Covenant but also the sins of the faithful who had died under the Law.(4)

Footnotes:

(1) Leviticus 4 describes sin offerings. When God’s directives were followed, the offerings the priests made on behalf of others provided atonement for their sins, and they were forgiven. (See verses 19–20, 26, 31 and 35.) Leviticus 5 describes other circumstances which required offerings, and again, atonement would be made and forgiveness granted. (See verses 10, 13, 16, 18.)

(2) See Hebrews 10:1–4 (NIV): “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”

(3) The yearly Day of Atonement is described in Leviticus 16. In verse 34 (NKJV), God commanded that it was to be done year after year: “This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make atonement for the children of Israel, for all their sins, once a year.”

(4) See Hebrews 9:15 (ESV): “Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.”

How are people saved under the New Covenant?

Christians today no longer offer animal sacrifices. Jesus offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. He did this once and for all time. With the shedding of His blood and His death upon the cross came forgiveness—true forgiveness. No further sacrifice for sin will ever be needed. The price has been paid.(1)

Jesus lived a perfect life and fulfilled all the requirements of the Law. The Apostle Paul explains in Colossians 2:14 (HCSB) that Jesus “erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it out of the way by nailing it to the cross.” When Jesus poured out His blood (He did this with His death on the cross), He established a New Covenant.(2)

We avail ourselves of this great gift of salvation by doing what God told Jesus’s disciples to do long ago on the Mount of Transfiguration. After He proclaimed to them, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased,” He then instructed the disciples: “Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5b, NIV). We listen to Jesus today by studying the inspired Word of God, the Bible. As we come to understand all that Jesus has done for us, our listening leads us to love Him. Our love for Him then leads us to obey what He has commanded. As Jesus told His disciples in John 14:23 (NIV), “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”

The Ethiopian Eunuch

The New Testament contains numerous examples of people accepting Jesus as their Savior. The Ethiopian eunuch was someone who searched the Scriptures, seeking understanding.(3) This man was an important official in charge of the treasury of Candace, the Queen of the Ethiopians. He had been to Jerusalem to worship and was on his way home. As he was sitting in his chariot reading from the prophet Isaiah, an angel of the Lord sent Philip to him. The eunuch asked Philip to explain to him the scripture he was reading. Philip began with that very passage and went on to tell him the rest of the story, the good news of Jesus.

As they came to a place that had water, the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”(Acts 8:36b, NKJV). He ordered his chariot to stop. Then both he and Philip went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. After they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, possibly to go teach someone else, while the eunuch continued on his way rejoicing.

The Apostle Paul

The Apostle Paul provides another example of someone who accepted Jesus as his Savior, only he started from a very different place than the eunuch. Originally called by his Hebrew name of Saul, he was so convinced that the followers of the Way were wrong and in violation of the Law that he set about to persecute them.(4) He sought their death and watched as Stephen, a follower of Jesus, was being stoned to death, guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.(5)

Saul would ultimately prove useful in our Lord’s service, but first, he had to be converted to Christianity. The Lord got his attention by speaking to him while he journeyed to Damascus and temporarily blinding him with a bright light. Then He sent a disciple named Ananias to go minister to Saul and to lay his hands upon him in order to restore his sight.(6) Acts 9:18 (NKJV) tells us that when this occurred, “something like scales” fell from his eyes “and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.”

From that point forward, Saul became as zealous for the name of Jesus as he had been against Christianity before his conversion. He later began using his Roman name of Paul as he traveled to the Gentiles and preached the good news of Jesus.(7) Like Moses, Paul was an educated person. This served him well as he reasoned with people, spoke to his audiences, and trained other evangelists. The letters he wrote comprise a great portion of our New Testament.(8)

The Apostle Peter

Finally, the Apostle Peter provides us with an excellent summary concerning how to be saved. Shortly after Jesus had ascended back into heaven, Peter spoke to a large group who had gathered on the day of Pentecost. He explained to them that Jesus was the fulfillment of the prophecies concerning the Messiah, and then he told them, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36, NKJV).

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked what they should do. Peter told them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38, NKJV). The Scriptures tell us from that point on, these new believers steadfastly followed the apostles’ teachings. They prayed and fellowshipped with one another. In short, they did not revert to their old ways but went on to live a life devoted to serving Christ.(9)

Footnotes:

(1) Hebrews 10:1–18 explains how Jesus’s sacrifice was made once and for all time.

(2) During His Last Supper, Jesus explained that the cup He shared with His disciples represented His blood. With His death and the shedding of His blood would come the New Covenant. See Luke 22:20 and 1 Corinthians 11:25.

(3) See Acts 8:26–39 for the account of the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch.

(4) Followers of the Way was an early designation for the followers of Jesus, who were later called Christians. Jesus taught that the way to the Father was through Him. In this beautiful passage in John 14:1–7, as He was preparing His disciples for His death, He told them, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6, NKJV).

Acts 8:1–4 tells of the great persecution of the early church and Saul’s role in it. Verse 3 (NKJV) tells us: “As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.” As a result, believers fled to other areas, and as they scattered about, they preached the Word everywhere they went.

(5) For the account of Stephen, see Acts 6:8–7:60. Acts 7:58 states that those who stoned Stephen laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. Later, after his conversion, Paul stated in Acts 22:20 (NKJV), “And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.”

(6) Ananias was hesitant to go minister to Saul because he knew of the harm he had done to Jesus’s followers. The Lord reassured Ananias and told him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before the Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15, NKJV).

(7) This article discusses Saul later going by the name of Paul: “When and Why Was Saul’s Name Changed to Paul?”

For a summary of his life, see the article “The Life of Paul.” At this same site, https://www.biblestudy.org/, you can search for other interesting articles about Paul.

(8) The Apostle Paul authored at least thirteen books of our New Testament: Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. The book of Hebrews does not name its author, but many attribute it to Paul as well. This article gives a brief summary of each of these books: “14 Letters in Bible Attributed to St. Paul or His Followers.”

By word count, the writings of Paul account for over 5 percent of our total Bible and over 23 percent of the New Testament. Of the New Testament writers, only Luke wrote more. This article discusses the authors of the Bible and gives a brief biography of each: “The 35 Authors Who Wrote the Bible.”

This article considers the Bible as a whole: “Infographic: Who wrote most (and least) in the Bible?”

(9) See Acts 2:40–47 for the account of how the early church grew.

If we are saved by our faith in Jesus, what is the purpose of baptism?

By studying the Old Testament scriptures and the Law, we learn that no matter how penitent someone was for their sins, that wasn’t enough. None of the sacrifices was able to completely take away sin until Jesus came and offered Himself. By the same token, devoting oneself to God, doing good deeds, and following His directives are not enough either. No one, then or now, is able to live a perfect life, and at some point, we all sin. Our study of Moses bears that out. He did so much that was right, yet his sin kept him out of the Promised Land. It’s not possible for us to do enough on our own to earn salvation.

Thankfully, God had mercy on us. He extended His grace to us by sending His Son into the world. Jesus’s sacrifice would be enough for everyone, but it’s up to us to avail ourselves of this indescribable gift. We are free to either accept or reject Jesus. If we reject Him, there’s no other way to eternal salvation. Jesus declared in John 14:6 (NLT), “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” The Apostle Peter later reaffirmed this when he said of Jesus, “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12, NLT).

Because of God’s grace, we are saved through our faith in Jesus. The Apostle Paul stated this beautifully in Ephesians 2:8–10 (NLT): “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

Baptism is a way for us to symbolically begin our new life in Christ Jesus. Paul explains in Romans 6:3 that those who are baptized into Christ Jesus are baptized into His death. When we do that, we die to sin, put off our old, sinful ways, and rise up out of the water to walk a new life.(1) That’s not to say we’ll never sin again—because we will. However, sin can no longer condemn us to a spiritual death because now we live under grace. As John explained in 1 John 1:5–7, as long as we continue to walk in the light, Jesus’s blood cleanses us from all sin. He also tells us in verse 9 (NIV) of that chapter: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”(2)

When we are baptized into Christ, we put on Christ. Paul explained it this way in Galatians 3:27 (NLT): “And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.” We symbolically put off our old clothing that’s been tattered and stained by sin and put on the beautiful new clothing of Christ. Baptism shows we belong to Him—every one of us, regardless of our gender or earthly heritage. Moreover, we shall be heirs with Him to eternal life, and God’s promise to Abraham will belong to us as well!(3)

Footnotes:

(1) Read the rest of Paul’s explanation in Romans 6:3–14.

(2) See 1 John 1:5–10 for John’s admonition to walk in the light.

(3) See Galatians 3:26–29 for more of what Paul said on the subject.