In Deuteronomy chapter 9, Moses once again reminds the people of God that the only thing that makes them special is God’s faithfulness. The chapter begins with Moses explaining, “You are about to cross the Jordan to dispossess nations greater and stronger than you“. Not exactly the pre-battle pep talk we would expect! Moses instead assures the Israelites that; “God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire… He will destroy them… drive them out… annihilate them… as the Lord promised“. Moses begins the history lesson with a dose of reality. “Do not say to yourself, “The Lord has brought me here… because of my righteousness.” No, it is because of the wickedness of these nations… to accomplish what He swore to your fathers.” Three times Moses repeats, “Not because of your righteousness“. For emphasis Moses adds, “For you are a stiff-necked people“. Our tendency is to over-look our weaknesses and be fooled into believing we deserve God’s blessings. Romans 3:10 declares, “There are none righteous, no not one“. As the bumper sticker says, “I’m not perfect, just forgiven”.
Moses spends the rest of the chapter reminding the Israelites of the many times when they rebelled. “Remember… how you provoked the Lord your God… from the day you left Egypt until now.” “At Horeb…He was angry enough to destroy you.” While Moses was receiving the Ten Commandments, Aaron and the rest of the nation began to worship the golden calf. Moses tells them, “I fell prostrate before the Lord for forty days and nights… because of all the sin you committed… I feared the anger of the Lord, for He was angry enough to destroy you. But again the Lord listened to me.” The list of failures goes on causing Moses to say, “You have been rebellious against the Lord ever since I have known you“. Moses once again explains how he prayed, “Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” (Your promise), and Moses reminds God what the other nations would say: “Because the Lord was not able” (His reputation). “But they are Your people, Your inheritance that You brought out by Your great power.” Notice, Moses DOES NOT point out their good deeds!
I do not wish to see anyone list my personal rebellion and sin; I know I am no less stiff-necked than the Israelites. We are all guilty; the Bible does not make any exceptions. Romans 1:24 explains the world is so set on rebellion that “God gave them over to the sinful desires of their heart“. Like Israel, we need an intercessor, someone to stand between our rebellion and God’s righteousness. The book of Hebrews is written to Jewish believers and explains how Jesus Christ is greater than Abraham, greater than the High priests and even greater than Moses. “We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all… but when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sin, He sat down at the right hand of God.” (Heb 10:9-12) We have a choice to stand on our own righteousness, or accept Christ as Savior. Romans 8:34 explains Jesus’ role. “Jesus Christ, who died more than that, who was raised to life is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” Because of His faithfulness we can say confidently, “Who can separate us from the love of Christ?” (Romans 8:35)