Deuteronomy 32:23-52
Q.1. Why would God relent from bringing an end to Israel as a nation? What made it ridiculous for Israel to overlook God in their success? What made intervention inevitable? – (Dt.32:23-33)
Moses predicted that Israel would provoke God to anger and chastisement. However, there was a limit imposed on His judgment, so that the surrounding nations would not malign God – 26 I would have said, “I will cut them to pieces, I will remove the memory of them from men,” 27 Had I not feared the provocation by the enemy, that their adversaries would misjudge, that they would say, “Our hand is triumphant, and the Lord has not done all this.”‘ (Dt.32:26-27). God lamented that Israel’s prowess and success had gone to her head. In the process, she had left the Lord out of her calculations, where wise men would have admitted that their success would have been impossible had it not been for the fact that God was with them (Dt.32:28-32).
Q.2. How would chastisement give way to compassion? What would judgment reveal about the nature of God? How would God treat those who mock His people? – (Dt.32:34-43)
The wrath of God will eclipse all human vengeance. Nowhere will this be more apparent than in the way God treats His chosen ones – “For the Lord will vindicate His people, and will have compassion on His servants, when He sees that their strength is gone, and there is none remaining, bond or free (Dt.32:36). Sadly, that will not occur until the nation has endured much correction and chastisement. The curses outlined in Dt.28:15-68 were more than three times more detailed than the blessings described in Dt.28:1-14. However, God was duty-bound to do what He said, to establish His sovereign authority and trustworthiness – 39See now that I, I am He, and there is no god besides Me; It is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded and it is I who heal, and there is no one who can deliver from My hand. 40 `Indeed, I lift up My hand to heaven, and say, as I live forever, 41 If I sharpen My flashing sword, and My hand takes hold on justice, I will render vengeance on My adversaries, and I will repay those who hate Me (Dt.32:39-41). Not only will God atone for the people and the land of Israel, but He will also especially avenge His own servants – “Rejoice, O nations, with His people; For He will avenge the blood of His servants, and will render vengeance on His adversaries, and will atone for His land and His people.” (Dt.32:43). It is a reason for praise, to know that God will overcome the frailty and failure of sinners, both of Israel and the nations. That should give confidence to the feeblest of saints.
Q.3. What was the theme-song that Moses taught Israel? In what way would the song protect God’s people? – (Dt.32:44-47)
The theme-song of Moses was that there is blessing in obedience. Doing what God commands will prolong our days. This side of the cross, this truth takes on a whole new meaning for believers since we are saved by the merits of Christ. Obedience is our way of expressing our gratitude for the grace of God.
Q.4. What final vision was Moses given? How was the way God treated His faithful servant a reminder that He keeps His promises? What is the lesson for us? – (Dt.32:48-52 c.f. Dt.1:37; 4:21-22; 31:2)
Moses had started his life in the great empire of his day – Egypt. The next third of his life was spent in the backblocks of Midian. It finished with a forty-year stint, wandering with a rebellious nation in the wilderness. God’s final reward was to allow Moses to see the Promised Land spread before him, from Mount Nebo. Moses would never fail to warn Israel why God had dealt with him that way – 51 because you broke faith with Me in the midst of the sons of Israel at the waters of Meribah-kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin, because you did not treat Me as holy in the midst of the sons of Israel. 52 For you shall see the land at a distance, but you shall not go there, into the land which I am giving the sons of Israel.” (Dt.32:51-52 c.f. Dt.1:37; 4:21-22; 31:2). We must never forget that God keeps His word, and that it is foolish to ignore what He says.