Moses, the Man of God

Deuteronomy 33:1-34:12

Key Verse 33:1

** This passage talks about Moses' person and Moses' work, and the secret of his phenomenal success. 

Read Deuteronomy 33:1. What does the expression "the man of God" indicate about Moses and his life of service for the Lord? (Hebrews 11:25)

** Moses did not belong to himself but to God. He was not his own man. 

** He fully served the Lord God. He did not have his own agenda. He fully dedicated himself to serving the Lord and the Lord's purpose. He made the decision to leave a pleasure-seeking life, and to suffer for God's people, all for the glory of God.

Read verses 2-5. What does this passage tell us about the Lord Moses served?

** The Lord reveals himself to those who are ready for his revelation, so that by the revelations from the Lord's mountain people would come to know the Lord as the king and live under his blessed rule, and be used by the Lord serving the purpose the Lord has for all peoples on earth.  

 

Note 1: vs. 2b, "from His right had came the fiery law for them" (New King James Version) "the fire of religion to them from his right hand" (Living Torah as translated by Aryeh Kapan). 

Note 2: Seir – Esau (man of flesh)'s territory (Gen 36-8-9); Paran – Ishmael's territory (the fruit of compromise between the world and the God of Israel, or the compromise between flesh and the Spirit of God)

The Lord came with his revelations (the law of God, or simply the first five books of the Bible) by passing through Esau and Ishmael, only to arrive at the place where Israel were camped. This alludes to the truth that God found Esau and Ishmael not worthy of receiving God's revelations.  

Skim through verses 6-25 and consider Moses' words of blessing for the tribes of Israel. What does this passage tell us about Moses as the man of God?

** He received from the Lord the ability to see the flock of God from God's point of view, and bless his people according to the possibility they had in God, for God is willing to bless his people as much as they can possibly bear.

His sheep gave him a hard time. Some of them even tried to stone him to death. They always complained to Moses, never saying, "Thank you Moses". Yet the Lord blessed his sheep to get into the land, but did not allow Moses (who suffered so much for them) to get in. However, Moses did not become angry at them. He did not feel sorry for himself. He did not complain to God for this seemingly unequal treatment. Rather with a loving heart for the flock of God, as he sends them into the Promised Land, he has the heart to bless all of them one by one. This is a sign of a man who is truly born of God. This indicates that Moses lived in a domain which is above creation. So he was not subject to the things or people of this world; rather he was ruled by the Lord God; he bound himself and the world to God in whom there is simple unification. 

Note: 

V. 6 – Reuben: Moses might have been concerned about his tribe living outside of the boundary of the Promised Land, being subject to foreign attacks

Simeon is mission. Most likely it is in association with Gen 49:5-7.

V. 8 – Your = the Lord's; you = the Lord; contended (together) with him, indicating the Levites stood by Moses in times of Moses being challenged by the rest of the flock

V. 9 – Because the Levites were given out to God (being torn away from the family relationships), categorically (by God's command) they were not allowed to get involved in the family duties such as taking care of their parents, or attending the family picnic, etc. [During the public holidays like the feast of the Tabernacle, they had to serve the Lord and the general public.]

V. 20b – Gad also lived outside the boundary of the Promised Land, so Moses prayed for them that their territories would not decrease (due to enemies around attacking) but rather expand. 

V. 22 - Although Dan is described as a lion's cub, he will eventually turn out to be a viper (49:17) which is symbolic of the lawless man to appear. Dan's territory is directly to the west of Bashan. 

V. 24 – Asher is such a good cook that his brother must have liked him very much (cf. Gen 49:20)

Read verses 26-29. These are Moses' final words of blessing for the people Israel. In what respect was Israel blessed? What can we learn here about the way of blessing?

** It is because of the blessed Lord who is for them "the only true God who alone is eternal, who is their own refuge, the spring (or source) of life, the shield, and helper.  

** We must be a godly person, devoting to serving the Lord, and then as we bind ourselves and the things we have to the Lord, the Lord uses us to bless others in the way Moses did for his flock. 

 

Read Deuteronomy 34:1-8 and compare this passage with 32:48-52. What does this comparison indicate about Moses as "the servant" of the Lord?

** He did not forget his position as a "servant", for a servant cannot and does not ask the master, "Give me this or give me that" or "Why do you treat me like this?" 

Read Luke 17:10

Read verse 9. What did Moses do for Joshua? What is wisdom? Why is the spirit of wisdom necessary for a leader?

** Wisdom refers to the capability to distinguish what is right (or good) from what is wrong (or evil), shun the evil, and keep evil out of one's life. 

** The spirit of wisdom leads the flock of God to rise above the creation, so they would find themselves in the presence of God where there is a perfect unity of love peace and joy. 

Read verses 10-12. This passage speaks well of Moses. What is the secret of his success?

** The phrase "face to face" indicates his intimate knowledge (experience) of the Lord, with zero gap. He bound himself fully to God. This became the source of his success in his being (as a man of God) and in his deeds (accomplishments such as wonder and signs). 

The end  

 Religion = Esh Dath (Esh in Hebrew – fire; Dath in Hebrew – royal law or way)

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