The last Book of the Pentateuch, Deuteronomy, leads up to the death of Moses. After which Israel enters the Land of Canaan!
Living in God’s “Promised Land,” where His Tabernacle will finally rest. Where His abiding Presence will become permanent. Where eventually the “Tent of Meeting,” the portable Tabernacle … will become the “Temple of Solomon,” stable and enduring and God’s House among His people.
But WHY did Israel finally (the long delay being due to her sins) enter this grand Land, flowing with “milk and honey?”
Here’s why NOT … “Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people.” Deuteronomy 9:6, stubborn Israel did not earn that entrance!
This fact repeated: “Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Deuteronomy 9:5, God’s faithfulness to His Word is the impetus!
Then one more time: “Speak not thou in thine heart, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land.” Deuteronomy 9:3, three times now in a single Paragraph!
It is God’s Grace and not Israel’s Goodness that brought them into this Land of miraculous Provision. Where God will ultimately dwell in their midst in a grandiose Building, that Temple.
Then, back to the question … WHY can Israel enter this Land?
It looks to me like their entrance has something to do with the death of Moses!
Moses dies.
Joshua leads.
The Land is entered and conquered.
That simple.
I am using Moses today as a Type of Jesus, a Type of Christ. Moses who certainly was an intercessor for Israel. Moses who would himself have been Israel’s High Priest had he not balked at God’s Call for his life! (The appointment of Aaron was an afterthought, due to Moses’ hesitation, recalcitrance. See Exodus 4:10-16, my proof Text.)
And now with Moses being that Type of Christ our High Priest … note that the Israelites did not (could not) enter the Land of lasting Fellowship with God … prior to this death! (Some Preachers properly consider Canaan as a Type of “Spirit Filled,” victorious Christian living, in perpetual communion with Almighty God)
Get the sequence … Moses dies, the Land of Canaan is entered!
Or this is better … Moses dies, and consequently the Land of Canaan is entered!
Now the fulfillment, the antitype: JESUS OUR HIGH PREIST DIES … AND THEREAFTER WE CAN ENTER THE LAND OF CONSTANT COMMUNION WITH CHRIST. THE LAND OF VICTORIOUS CHRISTIAN HOLY GHOST EMPOWERED LIVING!
We can be “right” with God … commune with God, because of Calvary, because of our Lord’s shed Blood!
We can enjoy life, abundant life, life abiding in His Presence!
Hallelujah!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
One more quick thought along this line. In the Cities of Refuge legislation God gave to Israel, the “manslayer” had to flee to one of those six sanctuaries to be safe. BUT once the High Priest died, he was free to go home, to be at liberty … and safely so!
Again the Symbolism is clear: the DEATH of our great High Priest Jesus has set us free! No longer can the avenger “touch” (harm) us!
Thank You, Lord!
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